News & Journal

Welcome to my blog for the latest news and journals of my adventures. In the sidebar, find posts listed by Categories or Tags, or use keywords in the search bar. Browse posts about classes and workshops, read snippets of personal accounts of gigs, find out about my progress on projects... capture a glimpse into my life as a polymath.

Best wishes,
Annette

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Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts (2015)

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Annette

The Sacred Concert flier - Sheldonian Theatre, Sun 22 Feb 2015

Sunday 22nd February 2015
Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford

Following The Tipton Project’s successful debut of co-compering The Greentop Circus Cabaret my journey from Sheffield back to London included a trip to Oxford University for the first of my tap dance gig’s this year. This was an exciting gig to be a feature tap dancer in, alongside the talents of saxophonist Nigel Hitchcock, jazz singer Tina May as well as the fabulous talents of the Oxford University Jazz Orchestra, the Schola Cantorum of Oxford and the enthusiastic and amazing music director, James Burton.
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Posted in All News & Announcements, Events, Past, Projects, Tap dance

Music projects

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Annette
Myke Masters Band at Hideaway Jazz Club, 4th Nov 2015

Ongoing

The Rezidents (Tomorrow’s Warriors)

The Rezidents The Rezidents developed out of an open jam at the Southbank Centre led by award-winning bassist and composer Gary Crosby OBE. I’ve been fortunate to attend these regular jam sessions and work with Gary on various projects.

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Posted in All News & Announcements, Events, Past, Piano, Professional development, Projects, Theatre, Film & TV, Violin

Nick Zinner: 41 Strings

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Annette
Violin close-up

It would seem that I hadn’t learnt my lesson in taking on big performance projects. I signed up to play violin for this event after seeing a callout for past and present student/volunteer violinists to take part from Goldsmiths, University of London.

Lo and behold I have parts to learn to play in the string orchestra, to be performed at the Royal Festival Hall on Friday 20th June. My first time playing in in this iconic hall. Excited much? You betcha!
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Posted in Events, Past, Projects, Violin

Celebrating the Life of Will Gaines

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Annette

Thanks to all those who contributed to the Will Gaines’ Funeral & Wake Fund*

Celebrating Will Gaines

Annette Walker is our featured tap dancer at Mycenae House on Friday 13th June from 8pm. With the failing health of Will Gaines – tap dancing legend from Detroit – this was scheduled as a Benefit Concert with The Honkin’ Hepcats, Mick Foster and the Phil Mead Trio. Sadly on Wednesday 7th May Will passed away. However – The Show Goes On – as Will would have wished, now more in the form of a Tribute to, and Celebration of the life of this ‘King of The Hoofers’.

Jazznights.co.uk
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Will Gaines

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Annette
2008 photo of Will Gaines (80), Annette Walker (30), Frank Holder (80)

Royce Edward Gaines, dancer, born 6 April 1928; died 7 May 2014

Will Gaines (known as Willy Gaines until he relocated from the USA to the UK) was a bebop master hoofer, a tap dance legend from Detroit who settled in the UK and subsequently influenced the UK jazz tap scene including the London Tap Jam.

Feature image: Will Gaines, Annette Walker and Frank Holder backstage at the Purcell Room, Southbank Centre in London, UK for Will Gaines’ 80th Birthday celebratory concert in 2008

Obituaries

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Posted in All News & Announcements, Research projects, Tap dance

Sugar Dandies’ High Tea in aid of Dance UK and ADAD

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Annette
One Dance UK staff of Tea Dance fundraiser

Dance UK and ADAD are now part of One Dance UK (since 2017)

I was delighted to take part in this champagne high tea, fundraising event for Dance UK and ADAD at the Royal Ballet School in Covent Garden, on Sun 6 April 2014.

A phenomenal £40,000 was raised with nearly £9000 of donations specifically towards Dance UK’s Healthier Dance Programme.
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Venus Nights

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Annette
Venus Nights - Photo by Robert Youngson

Sunday 30th March 2014, 7:30pm showtime
London’s Hippodrome Casino, Leicester Square

I had a thoroughly fantastic time sharing the stage with talented female musicians at an event for women’s charities. There were two bands for the event. I put together a musical arrangement of “Cute” by Neil Hefti for the band incorporating Jessica Lauren on piano, Gail James on drums, Francesca Shaw on double bass, Vicky Cowles on tenor saxophone/flute, Natalie Verhaegen on alto saxophone and Lucy Morgan on trombone.
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Posted in All News & Announcements, Events, Past, Tap dance

In the Press

Posted on December 7, 2013 by Annette
Press & reviews

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Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing – A tap dance teacher’s perspective

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Annette

danceuk092013

Published on Dance UK‘s website Tue 28 May 2013 and in Dance UK‘s magazine issue 86/Autumn 2013

By Annette Walker, professional tap dancer and teacher
www.annettewalker.co.uk
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Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Annette

Introduction
From October 2012 to April 2013 I’m one of 6 specialist dance teachers on a Continuing Professional Development course with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) for their new Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing project. So far I’ve taught tap dance to participants from the age of 50 to 102!

Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing: A tap dance teacher’s perspective

Read the article on the Dance UK's website

Read the article on the Dance UK’s website

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Posted in Dance Classes, Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing, Professional development, Projects, Tap dance

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