SHE’S TAPPING OUR TROUBLES AWAY
Tap superstar Ayodele Casel returns to The Joyce in NYC for a world premiere digital engagement that explores the joys of everyday life and the art of tap dance. The Joyce will host the one-time-only digital dance event of the spring, Chasing Magic, an evening stacked with collaborators both brand new and tried and true. Filmed on stage at The Joyce, Casel’s collection of magical moments will premiere in a live stream event on Thursday, April 8 at 8pm ET, and remain on demand through April 21, 2021.
In 2019, tap artist Casel was riding a wave of unanimous praise for her world premiere collaboration with one of our greatest jazz artists Arturo O’Farrill. Then you-know-what hit. After a year of artistic isolation, this two terrifically talented duo are coming back with a select group of dancers, musicians, and artistic visionaries for another world premiere on the Joyce stage. Chasing Magic is an evening of music and dance that captures the spark of connection and creation inherent in art-making and living in our world.
“Chasing Magic is an offering of old stuff, new stuff, and undefined stuff,” says Casel. “I called on my friends, who I hadn’t seen in over a year. We gathered for a short time, focused on the sweetness of being reunited, and humbly honored the fact that we are still here.”
Casel’s long-time collaborator Torya Beard directs, with singer/songwriter Crystal Monee Hall, music director and composer Annastasia Victory, and percussionist Senfu Stoney on hand. Tap dancer and filmmaker Kurt Csolak captures this lightning in a bottle on film from the Joyce stage like no other artist can, created specifically with the home audience in mind.
Anthony Morigerato, a like-minded tap dancer and choreographer, co-creates the New York premiere of the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers inspired “Fly Me To the Moon” and “Cheek to Cheek.” Fellow tap artists Naomi Funaki, Amanda Castro, and John Manzari will also lend their talents and spark of creation throughout the evening. Rounding out the impressive list of collaborators is the artistic fusion of Casel’s thrilling signature tap and Ronald K. Brown’s blend of traditional African movement and contemporary dance, set to the a capella soundtrack of Casel’s own archival tapes in a call-and-response dance not to be missed.
photos of Ayodele Casel by Michael Higgins
Ayodele Casel’s Chasing Magic
world premiere
streaming begins on Thursday, April 8 at 8pm ET (live stream)
remaining on-demand through April 21, 2021
for tickets ($25 per household), visit The Joyce
