The Dutch tapdancers TAFEL 9

HOW DOES TAFEL 9 WORK?

Improvisation is the foundation of Tafel 9’s rhythm-tap. Members train individually daily and rehearse together twice a week. Using tap shoes as their instrument, they create a musical ensemble of sound and rhythm. This forms the origin of their choreographies, whereby the emphasis invariably lies on rhythm. This can extend from a robust house number to samba or blues. The shifting of rhythm patterns and the way they are achieved, inverted and sometimes even discarded as recognisable rhythm, make the performances of Tafel 9 fascinating to watch and to listen to. Time and time again.

WHAT MAKES TAFEL 9 SO UNIQUE?

If you look to the past, you’ll soon discover that tap dancers have fed from and built upon the same sources for centuries. Rooted in the traditions of jazz, films and musicals, tap has been just more of the same. Until ...

Tafel 9 came into view. Tafel 9 took leave of the standard tap combinations that have grown from the very beginning. The Tafel 9 dancers departed from the narrow beaten path of tradition. By doing that, they broke totally new tapping ground, whereby the emphasis lies on the technique of their tap shoes as percussion instrument.

AND THERE'S MORE..

From way back, tap dance has been characterized by two emotions: cheerfulness and now and then a touch of aggression. Tafel 9 adds a range of emotions to this: varying from power, sorrow, desperation and pain to euphoria, sensuality and serenity. This makes each performance a captivating and compelling spectacle. Tafel 9 gives tap dance a new level of quality and form.

WHO ARE THE DANCERS? HOW DID THEY GET TOGETHER?

It all started 11 years ago, when Marieke van der Ven was accepted into the tap course of Peter Kuit. Peter already had an impressive record and Marieke was a very talented and driven student. Six years later they set up Tafel 9: seen world-wide as the home of innovative tap dance.

Marieke has in the past years more than proved herself on the tap stage, whilst Peter’s star continued to rise.

Marieke van der Ven

WHAT DOES TAFEL 9 OFFER AND WHAT DO THEY REQUIRE TO DO IT?

Tafel 9 offers an exciting, impressive, sparkling and percussive show, varying in length from 2 minutes (without music) to 35 minutes (with music/musicians), depending on the occasion.

The performance LOSBIJTEN can also be booked.

Next to a substantial fee, the following is required:

-    wooden floor or platform
-    electricity
-    P.A.
-    at least 2 monitors on stage
-    1 hour time for the soundcheck
-    sound technician
-    extra monitors and extra space for extra musicians

Phone: 0031 (0)6 21 963 837, e-mail: info@tafel9.nl

WHERE COULD YOU HAVE SEEN AND HEARD TAFEL 9?

The list is extensive. Below a random selection:

-    Practising Suma - Mijzenfestival/Festival de Boulevard
-    Grachtenfestival Amsterdam - Taptoi
-    China: Dutch tap dancers on tour in China - TAPTOI
-    Parade LOSBIJTEN
-    VARA LIVE, television Nederland 3
-    Poetry Night Vredenburg, Utrecht
-    Over 't IJ festival Amsterdam
-    Marathon Amsterdam
-    Parade Tafel 9 tapt Vitriool
-    Percussion Festival AMP, Amsterdam
-    Water Nederland, with Willem Alexander as guest, Egmond
-    Millenium Party Paradiso, Amsterdam
-    Stranger than Paranoia Festival, Paradox, Tilburg
-    Tapbreizh, tap dance show, Polanen Theater, Amsterdam
-    Wereldkinderfestival, TV & concert hall, Amsterdam

WHAT'S IN STORE FOR TAFEL 9?

In 2007 a large exciting project named Practising Suma, directed by Moos d'Herripon, music by Kees Wieringa.

The swinging choreography on wooden shoes of Taptoi will be performed at the Grachtenfestival in Amsterdam.

We're working hard on the new tap instrument: the Giant-Marimba.

Schoolperformances in the Netherlands

See also our playlist!

Photo by Petra Stavast

Tafel 9 offers workshops for schools, universities and academies, from beginner level to professional level.

The beginners workshops by Tafel 9 will give the participants an introduction in tap dance. No tap dance experience is needed. It starts with a special performance of 10 minutes, followed by a workshop of one and a half hours. The participants will be introduced to tap dance as a percussion instrument and tap dance as a way to tell a story.

During the workshop the participants will learn four tap patterns each of eight counts. At the end we'll combine the four different tap combinations. Together they will sound as a very groovy energetic piece of tap!

Tafel 9 also gives workshops for advanced tap dancers. Depending on the level of the participants we'll work on technique, introduce our own unique way of tap dancing and we'll work on one of our specialities, orchestrated rhythms: different patterns that sound together as one.

Peter Kuit and Marieke van der Ven are very experienced teachers. In their years of training and teaching they found ways to explain the complicated movements that make tap. They share everything they invent with their students, encouraging their students to be creative and inventive. They have experience in teaching people from all over the world.

Workshop at a high school in Holland,
The Cals College in Nieuwegein
Thanks to the teachers and students!

PerformanceTafel 9

PREVIEWS TAFEL 9
Click on photo's to see video

Performance Losbijten (1)

Performance Losbijten (2)

Rehearsel choreography on wooden shoes Taptoi

Special thanks to Maarssen - Holland

INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS

Contact: Marieke van der Ven

Phone: 0031 (0) 6 21 963 837, e-mail: info@tafel9.nl

If you want to be kept up-to-date on the activities of Tafel 9, send an email with the subject: 'mailinglist'.

Photos: Marjolein van Hout and Dorinde de Tempe. Photos may not be used without their permission.

Translation to English: Faith McGirr

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