2008 Woodie Awards
Tap ensemble inspires audience
By: Ben Baird
Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: News
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Rodriguez, a Central Michigan University graduate and graphic artist, and her daughter, Sedona, watched from the front row of the Music Building's Staples Family Concert Hall.
However, the toddler spent most of the time in the aisle trying to emulate the tap dancers.
"I loved it, she loved it," Marcie Rodriguez said after the performance Saturday, which was one of the various events included in this past weekend's Michigan Story Festival.
Sara Randazzo, artistic director of jazz dance company Sole Full of Rhythm, took notice of Sedona during the performance and briefly spoke with Rodriguez between several of the dances.
"This Sedona has to dance," Randazzo said.
Rodriguez said she plans to have Sedona take dancing lessons before she is old enough to feel self-conscious performing.
There were five dancers at the performance - Randazzo and four of her students. The youngest dancer was 13 while the oldest was in his 20s.
"When we're dancing, we're playing," Randazzo proposed to the audience of about 70 before beginning a dance. "You want to play? Let's play."
Randazzo said dancers are usually in their 30s, but she was glad to have a diverse group to put on a varied performance. The dance company performed swing, funk, blues and Latin pieces.
Rick Roe, musical director of Sole Full of Rhythm, played the piano to accompany most of the pieces.
Mount Pleasant senior Kara Strawn went to the show at the request of members of her Girl Scouts troop.
Strawn said she took the girls because they chose the tap dancing ensemble as the one out of at least 15 Michigan Story Festival events they were most interested in. Strawn said she enjoyed the different forms of music and dance.
"I thought it was wonderful," Strawn said.
Randazzo is the director of Randazzo Dance School in Ann Arbor, which has more than 300 students and was established in 1940, according to its Web site. Sole Full of Rhythm is a company affiliated with the school.
The dance company also did a dance workshop Friday night at Mount Pleasant High School, said John Klak.
Klak, drama director at the high school and member of the Michigan Story Festival executive committee, said he was impressed with them.
"They're a really dynamic group," he said.
Klak said they made rhythm in many ways, using the piano and drums to accompany their tap dancing.
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