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New Work with the 2nd Generation Silver Belles

Jaye Allison
Karen Callaway Williams, Jaye Allison, Delphine T. Mantz, Jilisa McCullough, Crystal Johnson, Tamica Boyce, Britney Davis, Kashmir Williams, and Ashley Bridgewater performing For Dancers Only. Photo by M. Enbion Oh.
Karen Callaway Williams, Jaye Allison, Delphine T. Mantz, Jilisa McCullough, Crystal Johnson, Tamica Boyce, Britney Davis, Kashmir Williams, and Ashley Bridgewater performing For Dancers Only. Photo by M. Enbion Oh.

Jaye Allison created a new work with the 2nd Generation Silver Belles tap group, honoring the memory of five women tap legends who were the original Silver Belles: Harriet Brown, Baby Edwards, Bertye Lou Wood, Hortense Allen, and Hazel Walker. The craft and legacies of tap dancing are ideally passed down in their cultural context, which dancer Jaye Allison felt was a gap that this project could address. The Silver Belles taught their signature work For Dancers Only to a second generation of dancers. For Dancers Only was presented at the Philly Tap Challenge '09, a yearly tap festival founded by Allison.

Recipient
Jaye Allison

Jaye Allison

Philadelphia tap dancer and founder of Philly Tap Challenge, an annual tap festival, Jaye Allison has performed and choreographed with local dance companies such as Philadanco, Philadelphia Civic Ballet Company, and Dancefusion, among others. Her work in the tap genre has been vital in keeping Philadelphia's rich tap legacy in the public eye. Ms. Allison's teaching has been another important contribution to regional dance training.

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