The Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers Perform At 'Berg
THE SHELLEY OLIVER TAP DANCERS in concert with THE DAVID LEONHARDT JAZZ GROUP has toured concert halls, campuses and festivals nationally and internationally.Wednesday, March 1, 2006 01:59 PM
Shelley Oliver and David Leonhardt, professional artists and teachers who reside in Easton, PA, are bringing their exciting brand of live jazz music and jazz tap dance to the Baker Theatre on the Muhlenberg College campus this month. Shelley Oliver is also Muhlenberg College’s Jazztap instructor and the Artistic Director of be The MuhlenbergJazztap Ensemble, which will join the professional 5-member tap group and the jazz trio for this concert. Performances are Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 19 at 2 p.m. in the Baker Theatre, Trexler Pavilion for Theatre & Dance, Muhlenberg College . Tickets are available by calling 484-664-3333 or visiting www.muhlenberg.edu/tickets. An exuberant music and dance event for all ages, tickets are $15, youth tickets $8.
The staples of Oliver’s choreography are impressive synchronized ensemble work and moments of solo improvisation for each of the members of her ensemble. With The David Leonhardt Jazz Trio live on stage, improvisation happens almost effortlessly as the musicians and dancers feed off each other’s energy. According to Oliver, this relationship is the heart of her performances. Leonhardt has had over twenty-six years of experience and worked with such jazz talents as Buddy Tate, Slide Hampton, and Jon Hendricks. He has toured internationally, in locations as diverse as France and China, and has released several CDs.
The concert program includes original jazz compositions by David Leonhardt as well as his musical arrangements of music by Thelonious Monk, Vince Guarldi, Ned Washington & Victor Young, and Hanna-Barbara. The David Leonhardt Trio plays twice on its own (Slippin’ Down, Iberian Lament); The Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers and The Muhlenberg Jazztap Ensemble each have their own numbers with the Trio (Funk Monk, Follow Me!), and the 14 dancers join forces on three numbers (Fun with the BS Chorus, Bedrock, Shim Sham Shimmy Finale). Shelley Oliver dances solo on Stella by Starlight (for Buster & Cookie), and each troupe takes the stage once without instrumental accompaniment (Metal on Wood,Diction Lesson).
