Interview with tap talent Joseph Wiggan

By Winston Morrison.

Would you like to tour in a world-class show? Winston Morrison catches up with tap dancer Joseph Wiggan to discover how he made it to the Cirque du Soleil Michael Jackson Immortal tour, and his life behind the scenes.

What training and experiences did you have to become the dancer you are today?

I started when I was nine in Paul and Arlene Kennedy’s dancing school (LA). They had a kids performing group and after joining that company, we began to look for more information and who else we could also learn from. We performed at dance venues, random variety show jobs, on the morning news, at benefits and did stuff for the homeless.

So you looked for opportunities yourself?

Yes, we sure did. Our teacher was quite ill when we began to learn with him so there was a point when the repertoire that we had already established wasn’t being added to. So my dad, who was our first manager, began to look around and see what was up in the Los Angeles area. If it weren’t for him we wouldn’t have made any progress. We would have kept doing shows, but he began to look elsewhere to make sure that we were continuously challenged.

What was the next turning point?

When I was 16, I met Jason Samuels Smith who had moved down to LA. He started jam sessions and he started a company of his own. That was really the beginning of my professional work. Before I met Jason, my sister and I were improvising and were able to perform choreography, but Jason is a master and dances at a very, very masterful level – nothing like I’d ever experienced.

My sister Josette and I began to practise with a different focus after meeting Jason. He showed us that there was no limit to what you can practise. In his jam sessions he would take a 20-minute solo and be like “Okay, your turn. You do the same thing.” That really made you dig deep because at 10 minutes you are already tired and have exhausted all your steps!

Who are your mentors?

Dr. Harold Cromer really encourages us to not stick to one thing, as that limits us. He says, “Learn everything, do everything. Make sure you know how to sing, play instruments. Make sure you know how to act, speak languages. Make sure you know how to create a show, sell a show. Make sure you know how to dress.” I think it’s very valuable because I really appreciate the 1940s-1950s where the performance level was such a high standard. All of those elements were in every production.

Dr. Arthur Duncan said, “You’ll never know when you get your break. Just be ready when you get it.” He said he got his break in his 50s on the Lawrence Welk show. He wasn’t sure if he was going to ‘make it’, but he just kept practising and practising.

Joseph Wiggan with his sister Josette Wiggan. Photo © Kristie Kahns.

How did you get into Cirque Du Soleil?

They saw a clip of my sister and me and asked us to come in for a call as they were casting for a show back in 2008. The clip they saw was from the LA Tap Festival show; a piece my sister and I choreographed in four hours on a carpet in our living room the morning of the show because we said, “We gotta do something!” We ended up going to Los Angeles to audition and after a few months of corresponding through email, they booked us. The show (Banana Shpeel) was a lot of fun. It didn’t open but we performed a segment of it on TV. That show really changed my life because I’d never been a part of a production of that nature and with the circus arts. The dedication of the other artists in the show really inspired me. It was a great experience with so many different artists, jugglers, contortionists, singers, hip-hop dancers and ballerinas.

There was one entire tap dance act – a tap dance number that happened towards the end. My sister and I actually had a duo tap act, the rest was kind of Charleston, hip-hop dance.

Tell us about Derick Grant’s show Imagine Tap!?

That was amazing. I can’t wait for it to return. That was the most difficult show of my life actually, probably because of the amount of work. If there were eight dances in the first act, we’d be in six out of those eight. Derick would say “You really have to give your maximum – after a while your body will catch up with stamina.” It was so difficult, but it was so wonderful to be around six wonderful tap dancers from different generations, different styles and different cities.

Being one of the best visual tap dancers out there, what have you done to make your visual aspect strong?

I think most of the visual work came from my first teachers focusing on my posture. I try to make dancing easier for myself and I know that if I stand a certain way, it will allow me to dance better. My teachers were about being as polished as possible. I don’t dance in front of a mirror much these days at all, but I try to be as polished. I try to create a strict form (posture) for myself, even down to my toes.

I enjoy using the floor. My teacher used to say, “You can’t fight the floor, because the floor will win.” If you really want to be able to dance for a long time, you have to find a way to bounce. Instead of jarring, find a way to place the foot just right and have a certain bounce, as little or as much as you need, to help you continue on to the next step. Jarring will only tire you out.

What are you thinking when you are dancing? What’s actually going through your mind?

I’m trying to be as clear as possible so the audience can hear exactly what I’m trying to share and also the band at the exact same time. Clarity is the most important thing. And I try not to do too much, to really find what areas the taps can fit into what’s happening.

Joseph’s Top 4 Career Values:

1.     Happiness.
“Do what you like.”

2.     Forgive yourself and forgive others.
“Rather than taking things personally, I do my best to forgive.”

3.     Give what you can.

4.     Work hard for your job.

Joseph’s Top 3 Life Values:

1.   Relationship with God and Jesus Christ.
“With that relationship, other values come with that. I love the Lord and I really want to stay connected to him. God is really at the forefront of everything that I do. Whether I’m dancing, attempting to sing or attempting to play the sax, I try to do it unto him. I found the joy in dancing because of him so I do it for him.”

2.     Sharing all that I have with everyone, my family and friends.
“Whether through the arts or conversation. Everything else is secondary.”

3.     Everyone should take care of their parents and their family.

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Ayodele Casel

Big news on the Australian tap scene – a world class tap dancer from New York is coming to Melbourne this year!  Hailed by Gregory Hines as “one of the top young tap dancers in the world today”, Ayodele Casel is headlining the 2nd annual Australian Tap Dance Festival.

Happening September 21 – 27 (Spring school holidays), the Australian Tap Dance Festival will once again bring together the tap community to create a buzzing atmosphere of energy, rhythm, and dance. 

Attend intensive tap workshops, meet tap leaders and have a blast making friends with friendly dedicated tap dancers from around Australia and the world. The faculty consists of artists from Australia, USA, UK and Canada.  For more information about participating and attending the Australian Tap Dance Festival and the early bird discount, visit
www.AustralianTapDanceFestival.com.au

Photo (top): Tap dancer Joseph Wiggan. Photo © Kristie Kahns

Maybe you can tap out a rhythm, but how much do you really know about tap dance?

By Rain Francis.

1. Which of the following steps would you associate least with tap dance?

a) shuffle

b) cramp roll

c) layout

d) wings

2. Which of the following musicals would you find the most tap dancing in?

a) 42^nd Street

b) A Chorus Line

c) Oklahoma!

d) Hair

3. True or false: Mr Bojangles is a fictional character.

4. With which style of tap dance would you most associate Michael Flatley?

a) Irish tap dancing

b) Soft shoe

c) Broadway tap

d) All of the above

5. Which of the following is not a character from Anything Goes?

a) Billy Crocker

b) Reno Sweeney

c) Moonface Martin

d) Billy Flynn

6. What is the name for a tap dancer who dances very close to the floor, using mostly footwork and little upper body movement?

a) flapper

b) shuffler

c) stepper

d) hoofer

7. The USA celebrates National Tap Dance Day on May 25. In what year was this signed into law?

a) 1909

b) 1949

c) 1989

d) 2009

8. Mumble, Gloria, Memphis and Norma Jean are all characters from which tapping movie?

a) Step Up

b) Happy Feet

c) Singing in the Rain

d) Tap

9. Which famous tapper is not an actor in the 1989 film Tap?

a) Savion Glover

b) Gregory Hines

c) Sammy Davis, Jnr

d) Fred Astaire

10. In the film Anchors Aweigh, Gene Kelly famously performs a tap dance number with which cartoon character?

a) Mickey Mouse

b) Jerry Mouse

c) Bambi

d) Jessica Rabbit

ANSWERS:
1 – c; 2 – a; 3 – false; 4 – a; 5 – d; 6 – d; 7 – c; 8 – b; 9 – d; 10 – b

Photo: Melinda Sullivan and dancers perform the winning routine at this year’s Capezio ACE Awards at Dance Teacher Summit New York.
Photo courtesy of Break The Floor Productions

We all need a little inspiration, or sometimes just a little entertainment as we snuggle up on the couch on a cold, wintry weekend.  So gather your dance friends, some popcorn and these dance movies, for a night of fun. Who knows, you might even learn a move or two?

Enjoy this two-part series looking at some of the best dance movies in motion picture history.

By Rain Francis

Swing Time (1936)
No dance movie list would be complete without a mention of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Swing Time is considered by many to be one of their best. Beautifully directed by George Stevens, and with dance numbers choreographed in collaboration with the great Hermes Pan, this film is the perfect showcase for the melding of tap, ballet and ballroom, made famous by Astaire and Rogers.

The Red Shoes (1948)
Based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy-tale about an enchanted pair of red ballet shoes, this film won two Oscars and was nominated for three more. It is a tragic story of love, manipulation and obsession – themes which are echoed, 63 years later, in Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan.  Starring Moira Shearer, Leonard Massine and Robert Helpmann, The Red Shoes is a must-see for lovers of either dance or great movies. Apparently it’s one of Martin Scorsese’s favourite films too! 

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Surely one of the greatest movie musicals ever made, Singin’ in the Rain was choreographed and co-directed by the one and only Gene Kelly. Dancing alongside him are Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds. Cyd Charrise makes a wonderfully slinky appearance in one of the best dance sequences in the movie, Broadway Melody Ballet. Other classic scenes include the ground-breaking title number, as well as Good Morning, Fit as a Fiddle and Make ‘Em Laugh – which showcases O’Connor at his best.

West Side Story (1961)
Directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, West Side Story won 10 Oscars, including Best Picture. Adapted from the highly successful Broadway musical from 1957 (also directed by Robbins), it retells Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Verona is replaced with New York City, and the warring families are instead two street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. 50 years on, the staging and choreography of West Side still looks innovative – this film was ahead of its time.

Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Before he was Danny Zuko in Grease, John Travolta starred as Tony Manero, the streetwise disco king from Brooklyn. The famed soundtrack, composed and performed mostly by the Bee Gees, became the best-selling movie soundtrack ever, and remained so for 15 years after the film’s release. Against the glitz and glamour of the disco world, the story of Saturday Night Fever is pretty dark,  involving racial conflict, violence and depression. Travolta landed an Academy nomination for Best Actor for his role.

The Turning Point (1977)
Nominated for 11 Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor for Mikhail Baryshnikov, The Turning Point reflects on the choices we make through life, and the dreams we sometimes cannot fulfil. With amazing performances by Anne Bancroft and Shirley MacLaine, and featuring artists of the American Ballet Theatre, such as Lucette Aldous, Peter Martins and Suzanne Farrell, this is surely one of the best ballet movies ever.

All That Jazz (1979)
This is a semi-autobiographical story, directed by Bob Fosse. Perhaps the greatest jazz choreographer of all time depicts himself – through central character Joe Gideon – as an over-worked, substance-addicted womaniser, in the pull of a downward spiral. With its fantasy elements, disjointed sequences and graphic medical scenes, All That Jazz is not for everyone, however if you’re a Fosse fan, it’s a must see.

Nijinsky (1980)
This film tells the story of Vaslav Nijinksy, his relationship with the controlling impresario of the Ballets Russes, Sergei Diaghilev, and an eventual descent into madness. It is said to be based on biographical fact, using Nijinsky’s personal journals and his wife’s book, Life of Nijinsky, as its main source of research. It is directed by Herbert Ross, who also directed The Turning Point, Footloose and Dancers.

Flashdance (1983)
With its leg-warmers, big hair, step-ball-changes and legendary soundtrack, this cult film IS the 80s. Jennifer Beale stars as a welder by day, exotic dancer by night, with dreams of training at a prestigious ballet school. It’s cheesy in all the right ways, and scored a load of awards and nominations in its day (mostly for music and editing), despite being panned by many critics.

Footloose (1984)
Based loosely on events which took place in a small town in Oklahoma, Footloose is a classic story of teen rebellion. A very young and agile Kevin Bacon stars as a city kid who moves to a small town – one that has banned dancing and rock music. Among its many great features are one of history’s best ‘angry dance’ sequences, a cracking soundtrack, and even an appearance by Sarah Jessica Parker. Look out for the remake, which is due for release in October 2011.

Breakin’ (1984)
As far as films go, Breakin’ is pretty flawed, but features some awesome popping, locking and breaking, from a time when these styles were just being developed. A must-see for today’s b-boys and b-girls, this film was inspired by the German documentary Breakin’ and Enterin’. Ice T makes his cinematic debut in this one, and keep your eyes peeled for Jean-Claude van Damme!

A Chorus Line (1985)
A stylised depiction of the audition process, this film doesn’t really live up to the Broadway show version, although it is fun. It features a young Michael Douglas, some super high-cut leotards and a lot of over-acting. Classic numbers include I Can Do That, Dance: Ten; Looks: Three and the  impressively gold-lycra clad finale, One.

White Nights (1985)
This movie is another vehicle for the great Mikhail Baryshnikov, this time co-starring with Gregory Hines, Helen Mirren and Isabella Rossellini, with choreography by Twyla Tharp. If you haven’t seen White Nights, check out www.youtube.com/watch?v=02EvsGal-Wc&feature=related for a taste of its brilliance.

Dirty Dancing (1987)
You’d have to have been living under a rock not to have seen this one! The late Patrick Swayze is magnificent as dance instructor Johnny, teaching the young ‘Baby’ a thing or two – including some new, sexy dance moves, and possibly the most famous lift ever seen in a movie. The soundtrack is a classic, and includes some hits which are now favourites at karaoke bars the world over. Dirty Dancing spawned a 2004 prequel, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, as well as a highly successful stage version.

Dancers (1987)
Mikhail Baryshnikov, Leslie Browne, Alessandra Ferri and Lynn Seymour star in this movie about a ballet company rehearsing for a production of Giselle in Southern Italy. Critics’ reviews were, in short, caustic, but as ballet lovers, we’re prepared to turn a blind eye to a dodgy script and some under-developed characters, in the name of beautiful dancing – right?

Tap (1989)
Gregory Hines stars as Max, a dancer who, through lack of opportunity, has turned to crime. As with many dance films, it’s generally agreed that the storyline is fairly lame but the dancing is awesome. Gregory Hines was the most incredible tap dancer of his day, and if that’s not enough, Tap also stars Sammy Davis Jr, in his last screen appearance.

By Linda Badger.

Jesse Rasmussen is a well known dancer and choreographer, who has had an expansive and exciting career in the dance industry. Jesse is fresh off the Tap Dogs tour and New Zealand Stan Walker tour and is gearing up for the biggest dance convention of the year – Flow City Australian Dance Convention. Flow City will be bringing some of the latest and greatest local and international choreographers to our shores, and it is not to be missed.  There is also a hip hop competition and scholarships being given away!  Dance Informa had the chance to chat to Jesse about his creative journey, and find out what Flow City is all about…

Tell us a little about your dance background. What drew you to hip hop and tap specifically?
I grew up and learnt to dance on the Gold Coast, beginning at the age of 10 at the ‘Paradise Performers Academy’.  Back then I was your typical dance eisteddfod kid trying to compete and win as many solos as possible because I had a pretty competitive nature.  I loved it. The school that I trained at was a very technical jazz and musical theatre school where we learnt every style of dance 5 nights a week…. thank you mum!   

I booked my first big gig at the age of 17 touring around Australia playing the role of ‘Tip’ in Hot Shoe Shuffle.  I didn’t know it at the time, but this was the beginning of my professional dance career and I have never looked back. From there I went on to perform and tour with four other musical theatre shows.   It wasn’t until I moved to Sydney that I discovered the commercial dance world and fell in love with hip hop.  From there I made it my goal to spend three months of each year training over in LA to learn from the best, and I’ve been doing that for six years now. As for tap, I have always loved it since the very beginning and I think I will be tapping long after I hang up my hip hop shoes!

What was it like being involved in the recent tour of Tap Dogs?
WOW. Tap Dogs – what an incredible show.  I had a great time working on the recent tour.  Tap Dogs is definitely the physically hardest show I have ever performed in.  While we were over in London the reviews said that we were the hardest working show on the West End, and it was true! It’s hard work, but it was worth it. I had a great role in the show and seeing the way the audience responded to us eight times a week drove me to get up the next day and do it all again.  The success Tap Dogs has had over the past 16 years has been incredible.  Dein Perry created an amazing product that managed to stay hip and up to date for two decades and I take my hat off to him.

What is your personal creative statement and what drives you creatively?
‘If you want something bad enough and you put your heart and soul into it – then anything is achievable’.  

I think the thing that drives my creativity is that I like to succeed in whatever I put my mind to. I’m not one to give up easily.  I like getting to the end of a project and saying to myself ‘Yes! I did that ‘.  I’ve learnt that once you think you know everything, that’s when you close your mind and you stop learning.

What will be different about Flow City – Australian Dance Convention?
It’s hard to create a product that sets itself aside from all the other dance workshops that come to town, especially in this day and age when I can already name four international workshops that have toured this year.  That’s the industry we live in now. There is always a workshop or dance event happening every other week.  People have caught onto the market, which is a great thing because people no longer have the excuse anymore that there is nothing going on in Australia.

The thing that is different about the Australian Dance Convention is that I strive to bring the very best from around the world to five major Australian cities every year. This year in 2011 the two international choreographers I have on board, I believe, are two of the greatest hip hop dancers that have ever lived apart from Michael Jackson.  They are the most in demand, every country wants these guys, and they are teaching in Australia for the first time. The Squared Division on the other hand have just got back from directing and choreographing KE$HA’s world tour and are currently the highest working choreographers in Australia, booking dancers on a weekly basis.  For working professionals NOT already working for The Squared Division, you would be crazy to miss them.  Tap and commercial jazz have been introduced to Flow City this year for the first time, so we are building a convention that caters for everybody.

Jesse in Tap Dogs

What do you want dancers to come away with from the convention?
I want people to walk away from the Australian Dance Convention and say… ‘WOW that was amazing, I am so inspired and I want to be a better dancer.’  That is what it’s all about. All it takes is just that one moment or feeling in class or on stage that can change your life. 9 times out of 10 it’s when you’re watching someone that inspires you to dance. We do most of our learning when we’re watching. And that’s what this convention is all about, it’s about spending the day dancing with the best in the biz, watching, learning and being inspired.

What are the future aims for the convention? 
I definitely have big plans for the future of the Flow City.  I want to get it to a worldwide status where people from around the world travel to Australia for our events.  Funnily enough this has happened this year, with dancers from Singapore and New Zealnad booked in for our 2011 event .  Exciting stuff!  

Flow City – Australian Dance Convention is not to be missed if you want to be inspired, keep up with the latest in the hip hop scene and further your tap and jazz skills.  For all aspiring professionals, Jesse is one to watch and learn from.  He is definitely carving the way for those who take initiative to the next level, having such a positive influence on the Australian and international dance scenes.  

For more information on Flow City and to register, check out the website www.flowcity.com.au

Video: Courtesy of youTube.
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