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Founded in 1977 as a charitable not-for-profit company, The National Tap Dance Company of Canada’s mandate is to preserve the history of Tap Dance with an on going artistic exploration of this North American dance form. It was the first in North America to use Tap Dance as a story telling medium, commissioning scores for it’s productions of The Tin Soldier, Oliver Button is a Sissy and The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Since it’s debut, critics have been unanimous in their praise of the Company’s adventurous artistic spirit. The Company’s interpretation of J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto #3, set the stage for future choreography by it’s Artistic Director, William Orlowski, and a host of guest choreographers such as John Stanzel, Brian Macdonald, Barbara Perry, and Paul Draper. The Company was chosen as the cultural representative to China by the Province of Ontario when it announced the twinning of Jiangsu Province with Ontario. This was followed by performances with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. The National Tap Dance Company of Canada has performed at the prestigious Spoleto Festival, Spoleto Italy, the Kennedy Center, Washington, Lincoln Center, New York City, The National Arts Centre,Ottawa, Jane Mallett Theatre, Toronto, Theatre London, Theatre New Brunswick and The Premiere Dance Theatre as well as many other venues throughout Canada and the U.S. Appearances with Canadian Symphony Orchestras have incuded: Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec, Orchestra London, Montreal Philharmonic, McGill Chamber Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Kitchener/Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Hamilton Philharmonic, Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, Edmonton Philharmonic, Vancouver Symphony. Appearances with United States Orchestras: National Symphony Kennedy Center, Nashville Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Grand Rapids Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. The National Tap Dance Company of Canada had been presenting Tap Dance Theatre for young audiences since 1977. It’s long history of quality productions have included Jennifer’s Dream, Oliver Button is a Sissy, Tap Dancing Sam, Feats of Feet, The Tin Soldier and it’s new production ABLE dis ABLE. Educators have praised the high standards and relevant curriculum issues presented in these productions. The use of Tap Dance and it’s toe-tapping rhythms make these presentations a not to be forgotten experience by teachers and students alike. William Orlowski William Orlowski is one of the greatest tap dancers Canada has ever produced, not to mention an award-winning choreographer! Orlowski has won two Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Outstanding Choreography in a Musical (Dames at Sea, That Scatterbrain Booky) and was assistant choreographer for the Paramount Pictures feature film, Stepping Out, starring Liza Minnelli. He is featured in a tap dance short aired on TVO and was seen on CBC in Cynthia! as special guest and tap choreographer. He has also appeared on television in such acclaimed works as the CBC's award-winning documentary, Dance Makes Waves, and All That Bach which was nominated for an Emmy award. He created special choreography for Ginger Rogers in the television series The Palace Presents hosted by Jack Jones. William Orlowski has won critical acclaim for his work at the Shaw Festival. He returned for his seventh season in 2001 as choreographer for the Noel Coward musical Shadow Play. His choreography was seen in the 1999-2000 season with She Loves Me!, the smash hit Gershwin musical A Foggy Day (1998-99), The Chocolate Soldier (1997), choreographer and featured performer Mr. Cinders (1996) and tap choreographer and featured performer Lady, Be Good! (1994). William Orlowski co-founded the National Tap Dance Company of Canada in 1977 and for 28 years has been it’s Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer. He has created over thirty works for the company: among them, The Tin Soldier, Oliver Button is a Sissy, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and Brandenburg Concerto #3. His Artistic Direction of the company lead to performances in China, Hong Kong, Bermuda, the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy and the Kennedy Center in Washington. William Orlowski has appeared throughout North America as a Guest Artist with symphony orchestras. Most recently he has appeared with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, the Kingston, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Windsor, Winnipeg, Quebec City and Vancouver Symphony Orchestras. The repertoire of this esteemed performer includes Morton Gould's Tap Dance Concerto appearing as guest tap dance artist with the Toronto, Winnipeg, London, West Shore, and Hamilton Philharmonic Symphony Orchestras, and under the direction of the late Paul Draper, Orlowski performs Mr. Draper's classic works: A Political Speech (1940) and Tap Dance Sonata (1952). His most recent Tap Dance Theatre project is ABLE dis ABLE, touring Ontario in the spring of 2006, through the Outreach Programme for Arts in Schools, The National Tap Dance Company of Canada. For more information on the touring show ABLE dis ABLE see www.prologue.org |
