Last week was tap dancer Will Gaines’ birthday (April 4th). I don’t purposely do anything special here for tap dancers’ birthdays – thinking of them is an ongoing practice for me – but after seeing this clip and noticing the timing, well, it was made to be. The hard swing, the sideways cap, the buoyancy of the whole thing all remind me of Will. A kid from Detroit who ended up making a way for himself in London, Will was a consummate improviser, and incredible showman. He told jokes, had his gimmicks, but the times I got to dance with him are what will remain with me forever. His feel for the music and the rhythmic conversation were special. Not competitive, he wanted the moment to thrive, which made me want that, too. To know that tap dance could be experienced that way opened doors of possibilities for me. Steps like this are gifts that help me remember the memories and the possibilities.
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Ep. 79 Tap Dance Notes