September 12, 13, 19 + 20, 2019

This new tap dance and jazz music work by Pamela Hetherington considers how to “keep time” in jazz music. For tap dancers, how they keep time in jazz music has everything to do with who they are as human beings. Time is a feeling; it is swing, groove, and rhythm—the essence of tap dancing itself. Rhythm is personal and music is the original DM (direct message).

$15 / 75 minutes

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Pamela Hetherington’s choreography explores the theme of keeping time across different types of jazz music, including blues, hard bop, free and post-bop and features the music of Bobby Timmons, Oscar Peterson, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Mel Lewis, and original compositions by the band. Featuring Erica Corbo on piano, Paul Giess on trumpet, Nicholas Krolak on bass, and the company of three tap dancers. Along with the musicians, there are three tap dancers working in concert: Lauren Belasco, Alec Chupik, and Kristin Potocki.

Artistic direction and choreography by Pamela Hetherington

Pamela Hetherington brings her company Take It Away Dance to the Philadelphia Fringe Festival for four presentations of The Destination is the Downbeat, a new work that considers the notion of ‘keeping time’ in jazz music. Distinctly Philadelphian in its sound, approach and vibe, Take It Away Dance creates a thrilling combination of movement and music, improvised solos and group choreography. The show explores the theme of keeping time across different types of jazz music and leaps into compositions by Bobby Timmons, Oscar Peterson, Miles Davis and Mel Lewis, along with original compositions by the band. The musical accompaniment is provided by Erica Corbo, (who is also the music director), trumpeter, Paul Giess; and bassist, Nicholas Krolak. Along with the musicians, there are four tap dancers working in concert: Lauren Belasco, Alec Chupik, Morgan O’Shea and Kristin Potocki.

This is the company’s fifth anniversary year. Music Director, Erica Corbo and Pamela Hetherington started working together in 2018, and their musical relationship has extended into other projects that claim a space for women in jazz. The jazz future is female.

Drummers is a former warehouse space renovated into a sophisticated jazz venue by internationally-renowned drummer, Sherrie Maricle. Doors will open at 7 pm, and the music will start at 7:30 each evening. The set will last approximately 75 minutes with no intermission.

About Take It Away Dance: Take It Away Dance maintains the connection of music and dance. Our work is inspired by diverse jazz music influences with a distinctive focus on the music and grooves that originated here in Philadelphia. Take It Away Dance has been presented by Jazz Bridge Neighborhood Concerts, The Philadelphia Jazz Project (7X7 Series), Creative Philadelphia (Culture in the Courtyard), Dixon Place Eight in Show), The Barnes Foundation (Free 1st Sunday), Allentown Art Museum (3rd Thursday), and Symphony Space (Stam-Pede/APAP). The company has presented five original evening-length original concerts since 2014. They have also presented the work of world-renowned women tap dance choreographers, such as Dorothy Wasserman and Heather Cornell, through the re-staging and performance of classic repertory. Take It Away Dance has been featured on the nationally-syndicated arts program, Articulate, and has been directed by Pamela Hetherington since 2014.

About Pamela Hetherington: Pamela Hetherington is a Philadelphia tap dancer. Her artistic work aims to expand the boundaries of jazz tap, both as a soloist, a choreographer, and a composer. She was a principle dancer with Tap Team Two & Company, under the direction of Robert F. Burden, Jr., from 1996-2011. In 2014, she created Take It Away Dance, a tap dance and live music company has been presented consistently in Philadelphia and New York for the last five years. For Take It Away Dance, she has choreographed and directed five evening-length tap dance and live music concerts since 2014. Her work moves fluidly into music writing and recording: she has an original jazz composition published in the Philadelphia Real Book and is a featured recording artist on “The Whitman Project” mixtape, published by The Philadelphia Jazz Project. Pam has been interviewed about her work on Articulate (WHYY) and The Arts Desk (WRTI), and she was recognized in The Philadelphia Inquirer and Dance Teacher Magazine for her work directing The Philadelphia Community Tap Project. She owns Philadelphia’s principal studio for percussive dance: Sound Space Performing Arts.

Learn more:
takeitawaydance.com
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