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History
Rhythm Explosion has evolved since 1996, from a small workshop, housed in one studio with 4 faculty members and 25 students to a 10 day workshop, housed in 3 studios and a theater, with 13 faculty members and 75 students. The class offerings have expanded to include not only classic jazz and tap classes, but Modern Dance, Salsa, Swing, Improvisation, Drumming, African, Cuban and Brazilian dance forms, Music for Dance and Performance Workshops. As well, we now incorporate a Faculty concert, a Performance/Dance Party which showcases students, and a number of other events which shed light on the history and traditions of these dance forms.
Take a look at how we've grown and evolved.
1996 -"Swingin' Jazz and Tap"
Katherine Kramer, Josh Hilberman, Jeannie Hill and Erin O'Connor offered classes in Classic Jazz and Tap and were featured performers with a jazz trio at Bozeman's annual Sweet Pea Festival.
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1997 - "Rhythm Tap and Swingin' Jazz Dance"
Katherine Kramer, Erin O'Connor, Pamela Raff and Jean Leroy expanded the offerings to include Music for Dance and were joined by students in a performance at the Sweet Pea Festival.
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1998 - "Rhythm Explosion!"
Katherine Kramer, Erin O'Connor, Jeannie Hill, Jean Leroy, Hannah Stilwell and Drika Overton expanded the offerings to include Drumming, Swing Dance, Salsa and African Dance. They included a Performance Dance Party at the Baxter Hotel as a closing event.
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1999 - "Rhythm Explosion!"
Katherine Kramer, Erin O'Connor, Jeannie Hill, Hannah Stilwell, Josh Hilberman expanded the offerings to include a Drumming intensive with master percussionist, Michael Spiro. They closing night Performance Dance Party at the Emerson Cultural Center featured 2 local bands as well.
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2000 - "Jazz on Tap - with a twist of Cuba!"
Katherine Kramer, Erin O'Connor, Josh Hilberman, Michael Spiro, expanded the offerings to include traditional Afro-Cuban dance taught by Cuban dancer, Lourdes Tamayo and fusion-artist Max Pollack, blending these Afro-Cuban rhythms with tap. The closing night party at the Baxter Hotel featured an explosion of Cuban and Jazz Rhythms.
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2001 - "Jazz on Tap"
Katherine Kramer, Erin O'Connor, Josh Hilberman returned and were joined by tap legend, Brenda Bufalino, body percussionist, Keith Terry, jazz dancers, Gail Benedict and Sarisa Figueroa and tap artist, Jeanette Frame. Collaboration, comedy, Cuban rhythms, song - all blended in the final event at the Emerson Cultural Center.
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2002 - "The Art of Improvisation"
Katherine Kramer and Josh Hilberman returned and were joined by very special guest artists. Legendary dancer/choreographer/writer, Daniel Nagrin brought a focus on improvisation and tap master, Sarah Petronio, from Paris, brought her improvisational approach to the art of tap. Jazz dancer Kimberley Cooper was on hand, as well as, modern dance improvisers Ara Fitzgerald and Dale Andree.
The closing performance featured a new work directed by Daniel Nagrin, performed by Kramer, Fitzgerald and Andree.
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2003 - "Jazz on Tap - with a Brazilian Twist!"
Katherine Kramer, Kimberley Cooper and Hannah Stilwell were joined by percussionist, Kenneth Metzker in welcoming the exciting Brazilian artists, Valeria Pinheiro, Orlangelo Leal and Angelo Marcio who provided an huge burst of energy in their Brazilian drumming and dance classes. Also on hand were tap artists Jane Goldberg and Acia Gray. The workshop included a special 3 day event at the beginning which culminated in a Brazilian Dinner and Dance Party at the Baxter Hotel.
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2004 - We decided to become a bi-annual event and took a leave of absence!
2005 - "Conversations in Jazz"
Katherine Kramer, Kenneth Metzker, Kimberley Cooper, Valeria Pinheiro returned and Salsera, Katya Kuznetsova, Jill Crosby, jazz dancer and Heather Barinaga, tap dancer joined us. We featured as well, Afro-Fusion dancer/choreographer from Brazil, Augusto Soledade and tap master, "Lady Di" Dianne Walker. Rounding out the faculty and bringing a musical focus was Andy Wasserman, pianist/drummer/composer. We had our first Opening Day "Faculty Concert" starting a new tradition of introducing the faculty through performance at the beginning of the week. The title of the concert, "Conversations" was a theme that brought students and faculty together for a unique and intimate week of dialogue and dance.
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