Erin Dunn, the self-proclaimed "Madd Tapper" has a lot to say, and she says it with both her mind and her body. In her shows, Dunn performs rhythm tap without music, keeping the beat in her head as she reads politically charged monologues from notecards, according to this story in the Metro West Daily News. "My mother brought me up to be a liberal feminist; to raise my voice and change the world," explained Dunn. "This is a career for me. If I wasn't tap dancing, I don't know what I'd be doing."

Dance professor Bill Evans (who is also a professional tap and modern dancer) is concerned. "People are not finding the performing arts relevant," says Evans. "The younger generation has a shorter attention span. They want quick images. It's the impact of technology. We need to re-energize our art form to make it relevant for a larger audience." To that end, he urges dancers from all disciplines to support one another. "I go to independent choreographers' concerts and civic ballet just to be there," he said. "Even if there are only 10 or 20 people in the audience, it's important to support each other." Read more in this article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Divine Rhythm Productions, a talent and management agency for professional tap dancers, has launched a new web site. Founded by Elka Samuels in 1999, the agency seeks to meet the needs of select professional tap dancers and musicians, as well as dancers in other genres, such as Jazz, Hip Hop, Samba, and Clogging. The agency currently represents tap dancers such as Jason Samuels-Smith, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Chloe Arnold, and others.

Tony Waag's Tap City, will tour across the United States in Spring 2005, hitting Kansas, Texas, Missouri, and Louisiana, among other states. Tap City plans to bring an "international cast of legendary tap veterans, cutting-edge tap soloists, and up-and-coming young talent" to their shows. Check out their tour schedule here.

The New York Public Library's Dance Division has created the The Gregory Hines Collection Of American Tap Dance. The collection intends to "gather films and videos, texts and photographs to document the history of tap dance." Find out how to donate your videos, books, oral histories, or other tap history here.

Riverdance honcho Michael Flatley is considering opening a studio in China to teach tap dancing (or Irish Step Dancing?) to the masses, according to this article in the China Daily newspaper. "One of my dreams is to have Chinese dancers in our shows," said Flatley, just after arriving in Beijing for a run of his Lord Of The Dance.

Tap dance activist Melba Huber has a three part article in the November issue of Dancer Magazine Online. The free online article (registration required) discusses the legacy and importance of some recently departed tap masters (and some still with us).

Newswoman and tap dancer, Sondra Lowell, whose tap dance newscasts entertained radio listeners in the Los Angeles area during the 80's and 90's, has reinvented herself for a wider audience using Podcasting. Her news broadcasts, which feature her tap dancing while delivering the latest news, are available for free download to your iPod, or to any MP3 player. You can get the latest broadcasts at openpodcast.org.