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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Applying for a Diploma in Jazz and Pop music

Goldsmiths University of London logo

I’m glad to have finally enrolled on the part-time diploma in jazz and pop at Goldsmiths College, which starts October 2011. I applied in July and had received an conditional offer (woohoo!) so was quite excited about starting the course. That was until I heard that another student had received a bill for £5000 because of already having a degree. What? That’s big fee inflation. A friend finally pointed me in the direction of something called ELQs – equivalent or lower qualifications and things began to look clearer but not better.
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Posted in Piano, Professional development, Projects

Trailblazer Fellowship Award Thank yous

I’d like to thank everyone for their support through my ADAD Trailblazer Fellowship project with special thanks to:

The jazz piano and tap dance journey is just beginning…

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Posted in Trailblazer Fellowship

Taal: Tap meets Afro-eclectic dance @ROH2

TAAL

Taal is a collaboration between Alesandra Seutin (Afro Eclectic dance) and Annette Walker (Tap dance). It is one of the new ROH2 commissions for Exposure: Dance 2011.

Taal will be performed in Programme 2 of Exposure: Dance at the Royal Opera House, Upstairs Clore Studio.

Exposure: Dance celebrates distinctive work created by inspiring young and more established choreographers.

Taal is in Programme 2 of Exposure: Dance @ROH2
21 & 22 July 2011, 7pm
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Posted in All News & Announcements, Events, Past, Projects, Tap dance

Portable Tap Dance Floor

Portable Tap Dance Board

Following my post about the requirements of Tap Dance Flooring I was fortunate enough to meet an executive of Stagestep Flooring Solutions, a US based company that specialises in dance floors and who has a keen interest in tap dance. It turned out that one of their floors, which is suitable for tap dance and that I had been interested in, had just become available in the UK through Flints Theatrical Chandlers.

As a result of this opportune meeting with Stagestep at Flints I was able to invent a portable, sprung tap dance board ideal for practice and gigs, which is built by Flints from the Stagestep Encore hardwood dance flooring ‘click & go’ panels.
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Posted in All News & Announcements, Projects, Research & Publications, Research projects, Tap dance

The Tipton Project

A sassy jazz duo with swinging jazz songs, engaging rhythms of tap dance, mesmerising aerialist…

The Tipton Project

Natalie Verhaegen and Annette Walker are a highly talented duo that bring you skillfully crafted physical comedy through the medium of tap dancing and music. Can YOU tap dance and play the recorder at the same time?

They have performed at a number of cabaret events including The Chicken Cabaret, Monkey Cabaret, Clappy Hour at Dance Attic, The Political Cabaret and Greenwich Dance Family Cabaret.

[button style=”btn-primary” align=”left” type=”link” target=”true” title=”The Tipton Project” link=”http://www.tiptonproject.com”]

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Posted in All News & Announcements, Events, Projects

Lisa Ullmann Travelling Scholarship Fund Report

by Annette Walker

[button style=”btn-primary btn-sm” align=”left” type=”link” target=”true” title=”Read the full report on the LUTSF website (PDF)” link=”http://www.lutsf.org.uk/reports/RepAnnetteWalker.pdf”]

LUTSF logoThe project outline

The Lisa Ullmann Travelling Scholarship Award enabled me to undertake the international travel element of my Trailblazer Fellowship (Sept 2009- Nov 2010), which was awarded by The Association of Dance of the African Diaspora (ADAD). My Trailblazer Fellowship project involved professional development in my career as a tap dancer. Read more ›

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Posted in All News & Announcements, Articles, Awarded Funding & Scholarships, Lisa Ullmann Travelling Scholarship Fund, Tap dance, Trailblazer Fellowship

pre-NYC

Gearing up for travel…

On Thursday 1st July I fly to the Big Apple for a month of all things tap related. Although I’m not signed up for any TAP CITY classes I’ve been browsing the website and thinking about doing one of the 4-day intensives. But I’ll have to wait and see how it goes. I’ve noted down the events that are happening and plan to attend talks, films and perhaps a performance. There are so many things to do in NYC so I know I’ll have to pace myself in order to make the most of it.

The real focus of my trip to New York is to attend Heather Cornell’s 20th Anniversary NYC Rhythm Tap Intensive Workshop with live music and do research at the Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts. With two solid weeks of Back to our roots – Jazz the intensive is just what I’ve been looking for. And being in New York it is also the perfect opportunity catch up with friends and relatives, and put some faces to those Facebook tap acquaintances!

Research and professional development supported by LUTSF and ADAD

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Posted in Professional development, Projects, Tap dance, Trailblazer Fellowship

ADAD Trailblazer Interim Report 2009-2010

Achievements, 19 April 2010

The Jazz Trio

When I first put my Trailblazer Fellowship proposal together my biggest concern was finding musicians I could work with. However, it turned out that fortune was on my side. I met Michèle Drees at the London Tap Jam during the summer of 2009 and by the end of the year we were scheduling time in her home studio to begin creative work. Not only was Michèle a well-experienced, fabulous drummer interested in developing in tap dance, she had just put together a jazz trio specifically to work with tap dancers. And by the beginning of January 2010 the Michèle Drees Trio were playing for the monthly London Tap Jam at Ronnie’s Bar in Soho.
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Posted in Articles, Professional development, Projects, Tap dance, Trailblazer Fellowship

Lisa Ullman Travelling Scholarship Fund

Lisa Ullmann Travelling Scholarship Fund

I recently received the great news of being awarded a Lisa Ullman Travelling Scholarship (LUTSF) for my professional development trip to New York this July.

The LUTSF supports travel to attend a conference, to pursue a research project or undertake a short course of study in the field of movement or dance. For further details of how and when to apply go to www.lutsf.org.uk

It’s certainly proving to be good year so far when it comes to my professional development project in tap dance.

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Posted in All News & Announcements, Awarded Funding & Scholarships, Lisa Ullmann Travelling Scholarship Fund, Trailblazer Fellowship

Tap Dance Flooring

Photo by Vicky Annand

Photo by Vicky Annand

On 17th February 2010 I posted the following on my Facebook status:

Why does it seem dance studios are becoming more selective than inclusive of dance styles? Why is it so difficult to find affordable studio space for tap dance in London? Sprung WOODEN floors please, not vinyl/marley etc. Grrrrr!

Over the next day I received a number of comments from tap dance friends and associates from different cities around the world who have the same issue. Whilst this post is focused on floors specific for tap dance it may also apply to other percussive dance styles.
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Posted in Projects, Research projects, Tap dance, Trailblazer Fellowship

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