The Destination is the Downbeat is a new concert work that considers the notion of ‘keeping time’ in jazz music. TAKE IT AWAY DANCE!

Time is a feeling; it is swing, groove and rhythmic feel – the essence of tap dancing itself. For tap dancers, how they play time in jazz music has everything to do with who they are as musicians and as human beings. Rhythm is intimately personal and music is the original DM (direct message). Pamela Hetherington’s choreography explores the theme of keeping time across different types of jazz music, including blues, hard bop, free and post-bop. One new work will explore the music of legendary Philadelphia jazz musician, Bobby Timmons. The concert also leaps into the music of Oscar Peterson, Thelonious Monk, Christian McBride, Miles Davis and original compositions by Nicholas Krolak and Erica Mack.

Performing in the sweeping industrial space at Rittenhouse Soundworks, on the only tap performance floor in the city, five musicians and seven dancers deliver a deeply connected performance that fuses physicality and musicality. The musical accompaniment is provided by piano-vocalist, Erica Corbo, (who is also the music director), saxophonist, Jonathan Katz; bassist, Nicholas Krolak, drummer, Erica Mack, and vocalist, V. Shayne Frederick. Along with the musicians, there are seven tap dancers working in concert: Lauren Belasco, Alec Chupik, Rosie Marinelli, Khalil Munir, Morgan O’Shea, Kristin Potocki, and Vanetta Wood.

+Artistic direction and choreography: Pamela Hetherington
+Two shows: 5:30 and 8 pm
+Concert runs 75 minutes with no intermission

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Take It Away Dance maintains the connection of music and dance. We are a tap dance and live music company. 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 Concert), The Philadelphia Jazz Project (7X7 Series), Reading Terminal Market (Music at the Market Series), Creative Philadelphia (Culture in the Courtyard), Dixon Place (30-30-30, Eight in Show), The Barnes Foundation (Free First Sunday), The Outlet Dance Project, the Allentown Art Museum (Third Thursday), and Symphony Space (Stam-Pede/APAP). Commercially , Take It Away Dance has been contracted for Philadelphia appearances by The Fillmore and SEPTA. The company creates new tap repertory works each year, and they have presented five, evening-length original concerts since 2014. They have also presented the work of world-renowned women tap dance choreographers through the re-staging and performance of their classic works. Take It Away Dance has been featured on the nationally-syndicated arts program, Articulate, has been directed by Pamela Hetherington since 2014.