The gleaming wood floor of St. Mark’s Church in the East Village, NYC is a perfect surface for tap dancing. But, metal-tipped tap shoes are forbidden; they would scuff and nick the floor. So… Michelle Dorrance’s dancers slide around in their socks.
For the premiere performance of “SOUNDspace” at St. Mark’s all feet wore socks, or nothing, or shoes with leather soles, some affixed with taps of wood. No rules were broken; much music was made. The footwear choices gave the dancers freedom to roam. They explored the space through sound. At the beginning, and several times throughout the performance, the church was dark. The audience tracked the dancers with their ears. A train of feet outlined the nave. Foot thunder shook the balconies and tumbled down the stairs.
For more on ‘artistry and articulate feet’, check out: “The softest shoe: tap in socks, even bare feet”. By Brian Seibert, New York Times,January 23, 2013
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