The Jazz Dance Collective is an organisation that is making JAZZ HISTORY the foundation of its practice. Jazz was created by African Americans, emerging at a period to liberate the people from the pain and inequality of the New World. It was born out of oppression but gave great freedom to the wider African diaspora, working through pain and hardship using skill and joy. Jazz enriches and frees the soul.
In the autumn of 2020, I worked with Swing Sister Swing and Young Music Makers on Feel That Rhythm, an exciting jazz dance and music project commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Presentation and panel discussion remembering Bebop Jazz Hoofer, Will Gaines. With guests Andrew Nemr and Junior Laniyan.
“TDRN UK provides a space for researchers, artists, academics, and practitioners to share knowledge, information, and research around Tap Dance.”
I joined the steering committee from its initial formation in May 2019.
In February 2019 I was invited as a guest artist to Jumoké Fashola’s Jazz Verse Jukebox at Hoxton Hall (London, UK) and was thrilled to close a fabulous evening of poetry and jazz.
‘Swinging at The Cotton Club’ is the action-packed show celebrating the music, dance, and songs of the Cotton Club – New York City’s legendary nightclub of the 1920s and ‘30s. I joined the cast as a guest solo tap dancer…
Watch the promo video of Old Kent Road’s Fall Out following our debut performance at The Place’s Resolution! in February 2015.
For more information about the company please visit Avalon Rathgeb’s contact page
In May 2016 I joined Sole Rebel Tap rehearsals for Spatterdash.
In 2016 I joined dancer/choreographer Jessica Murray and dancer Matt Coghill in a new live music and dance show. With music played by the pop and rock vintage jazz style band, The Black Sheikhs, there’s tap dance, Lindy Hop and comedy. For the show I’m excited to have dusted of my shiny silver, LaDuca Roxie tap shoes to pay homage to Ann Miller’s Too Darn Hot tap routine complete with a hot pink costume with tassels, a pair of long pink gloves and a fan!
