The Souls of Your Feet - A Tap Dance Guidebook for Rhythm Explorers

Washington Dance Review
her dancing keeps us riveted . . .


Chicago Sun--Times
. . . makes tap look like pure joy.


DIANNE WALKER, INTERNATIONAL TAP ARTIST, BOSTON
"Thank you Acia for writing a book that bridges the gap between tap dancers of all styles. This necessary tool will bring us all together. I love it!"


LYNN DALLY, THE JAZZ TAP ENSEMBLE, LOS ANGELES
"Acia Gray's THE SOULS OF YOUR FEET offers valuable information guaranteed to build your skills. Her refreshing point of view will no doubt help you find the thrill of tap from your head down to your toes. A delightful addition to any dancer's library."


BRENDA BUFALINO, THE AMERICAN TAP DANCE ORCHESTRA, NEW YORK CITY
"Acia Gray has compiled and documented so much of the tap dance nomenclature in THE SOULS OF YOUR FEET that is should now be clear to everyone that this artform is so deep it takes a lifetime to master and yet we're still not finished inventing it. The teacher, the scholar and the dancer in search of identification and clarification of tap terms and basic rhythm structures will find Ms. Gray's vast and inclusive guide a very helpful resource."


SARAH PETRONIO, PARIS, International Tap Dance Artist
"Artists constantly seek, and sometimes find. Acia has taken the time to discover. From Tapestry in Austin, TX a tightly woven joyous tap history has emerged. Written with remarkable sensitivity and tenderness, dedication and strength, it's all there - in black, white and brilliant shades of Gray. A loving gift from one hoofer to us all!"


Book Description
Acia Grays The Souls of Your Feet is an exciting self-paced journey into the world and creation of the art of tap dance. Whether student, professional or fan of this indigenous American dance form, this guidebook leads the reader on an exploration of the essentials and basics of tap dance composition and communication from the perspective of a career professional.


About the Author
Acia Gray has toured extensively as soloist, choreographer and teacher in over 250 cities across the U.S. and abroad and, along with Deirdre Strand, is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Tapestry Dance Company in Austin, TX, one of the few professional, multi-form companies in the country. With TDC, her works have shared the stage with such companies as the New York City Ballet, the Houston Ballet and Doug Varone & Dancers among many others. After graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, NYC, Ms. Gray began her professional dance career as a principal dancer and Managing Director of Austin on Tap, one of the busiest touring tap companies in the l980's. As a soloist, she has since shared the stage with such tap greats as Steve Condos, Jimmy Slyde, Lon Chaney, Chuck Green, Sarah Petronio, Brenda Bufalino and Savion Glover among many others. Ms. Gray was chosen as one of 12 dancers worldwide to work with tap legend Charles "Honi" Coles in America's first Creative Residency in the art of tap at the Colorado Dance Festival and again in l990 with Jimmy Slyde. She has appeared in The Great Tap Reunion, Tap/Dowop, Chicago on Tap, the Las Vegas Tribute to Cholly Atkins, Just Friends with Sarah Petronio and the PBS documentary Honi Coles - A Class Act. Ms. Gray is an original steering committee member of the International Tap Association, Artistic Director/Tap of the Dance Arts Institute of America and is currently on faculty for Austin Community College and The TDC Academy. She has also taught for the International Summer School/Cyprus, Dance Masters of America, the Dance Center of Columbia College, the Colorado Dance Festival, Chicago on Tap, the University of Texas, the Texas Association Teachers of Dance and numerous other college, theatre and community dance organizations. In addition to Tapestry works, her choreography has been commissioned by Ballet Austin, St. Louis' Tapsichore, numerous modern dance choreographers and equity productions of She Loves Me, Cabaret, Man of La Mancha and Nunsense! Ms. Gray continues as choreographer, collaborator, educator and dancer in the effort to bridge the gap between traditional and contemporary views of dance and American rhythm tap.


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"Artists constantly seek, and sometimes find. Acia has taken the time to discover. From Tapestry in Austin, TX, a tightly-woven joyous tap history has emerged. Written with remarkable sensitivity and tenderness, dedication and strength, it's all there - in black, white and brilliant shades of Gray. A loving gift from one hoofer to us all!


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