YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Renowned masters of American tap dance, who have arrived in Yerevan from New York, will have three concerts in Armenia: in Gyumri, in Vanadzor, and in Yerevan. The will try to present interesting pieces of this dance having Afro-American origin. As Suzan Brandistain, a Public Relations Department representative of the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, said at the October 9 press conference, the New York dance group's visit is the continuation of cultural events implemented by the Embassy. And the tap dance soloists' tours are held within the framework of the Highfest international performing arts festival. The Yerevan concert will be held jointly with the Nane dance group. According to Tony Waag, the head of the American Tap Dance: Tony Waag's Tap City dance program, this is their first visit to Armenia, and they are not familiar with Armenian musicians. "However, I heard folk music during rehearsals with the Armenian dance group and understood that I had heard it earlier as well." The tap dance emerged in the historic period, when slaves were brought from Africa to America: drums, with which the slaves kept in touch with one another, were taken away from them at that time, which became the reason for them to give a signal to one another with their feet, through tap. According to Tony Waag, tap dance was first presented in the Five Points district of Manhattan, then individual performers took up this art. They continued to perfect the dance styles, in the 19th century at plantations and in the 20th century already in city streets. In his words, today tap dance is internationally spread and has been enriched with various cultural rhythms, musical feet, and blows. In 2001 Tony Waag together with leading specialists and supporters of this art founded New York City Tap Festival. According to the American artist, every year many tap dancers gather there from different parts of the world to learn, to teach, to present, to reveal the wonderful art of tap dance.

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