2009 Jazz on Tap Festival

Information about the 2009 Jazz on Tap Festival, a 2009 tap dancing event in Georgia.

EVENT: 2009 Jazz on Tap Festival
DATES: March 6-8, 2009
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Marcus Alford
HOSTED BY: Dancecentre South Company
VENUE: Southern Polytechnic State Universikty
LOCATION: Marietta, Georgia

2009 Faculty and Guest Artists

Marcus Alford
Jazz on Tap Festival director Marus Alford has choreographed, taught, danced and toured with the legendary Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago. He has been on the faculty of D.M.A., Internationale Tanz Werkstatt, Southeastern Regional Ballet Association, Boston Dance Teachers Club and Chicago National Association of Dance Masters. He has inspired students at the Festival of the World in Hungary, The American College Dance Festival, The International Ballet Competition, Jackson, Mississippi, Hubbard Street Dance Studio and the North Carolina School of the Arts. With Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Marcus danced “The Rehearsal”, an Emmy Award winner. Mr. Alford’s industrial choreography includes clients such as Kohler Corporation, Sprint, I.B.M., Milliken Carpets and N.F.L. Commissioners. His concert choreography can be seen on companies throughout the dance world. In 1986, Marcus founded “JAZZ ON TAP” (the Metro Atlanta Jazz and Tap Dance Festival). Serving the Ballet community with its own festival, Mr. Alford founded “BalletFest Atlanta” in 2003. Along with his wife Annie Day, Alford was awarded the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters “Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2003.

Dustin Phillips
Dustin Phillips is a dnacer, singer, music producer and choreographer. In film he danced alongside Martin Lawrence in the movie Black Knight, choreographed by Paula Abdul. Dustin danced in the elite group, Kids of the Kingdom at Walt Disney World and has toured the world performing on cruise ships. He has been in industrials for Quicksilver, First Union Bank and Bank of America. Dustin has worked on commercials for Seibel Computer Systems, Paramount and 20th Century Fox. He has produced music for the NBA, Disney and college dance teams across the country.

Julie Cartier
Founding member of Chi Town Jazz Dance and has performed with RiverNorth Dance Company, The Lynda Martha Dance Company, and has done a great deal of work in both the commercial and industrial aspects of dance. She is an original member and now the Artistic Director and Principal Performer with Chicago’s Especially Tap Company. This company was the first tap company to perform at the prestigious Kuopio Dance festival in Finland. Julie has taught master classes in ballet, jazz and tap throughout the United States and Germany and is the director of Chicago’s National Tap Day. She also choreographs and stages productions for Celebrity Cruise Lines.

Simone Depaolo
Sione Depaolo was a ful scholarship dancer with Alvin Ailey and, in addition to being well-versed in Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Modern, she has sung and recorded lead and back-up vocals for various artists throughout the world. Simone has performed as a singer/dancer in Rome, Milan and Naples as well as touring nationally in Pippin, Smokey Joe’s Cafe and Jesus Christ Superstar. She works extensively as a choreographer and vocal coach and is currently Assistant Artistic Director at D’Valda abd Sirico Dance and Music Center in Fairfield, CT.

Tom Alexander
Tom Alexander is a choreographer, judge and master teacher for DMA, Dance Makers, Dance Teachers United, Southern Association of Dance Masters and private studios throughout the US. He has worked with many stars including Anne Miller, Bob Hope, Marie Osmond, Ella Fitzgerald, Dolly Parton and Debbie Reynolds. Tom has traveled the world performing and teaching and his Tap and Jazz style landed Tom a teaching position in Japan for 3 years after performing with Tokyo Disneyland.

Vince Gulley
Vince Gulleytis an accomplished break-dancer and hip hop choreographer. He has been a featured dancer for regional TV dance shows and for local and major recording artists. Vince has an Associate in Arts Degree in Music Education from Jones College in Laurel, MS.