Amsterdam Tap Festival, 18.-21.09.2014
Amsterdam Tap Festival (18.-21.09.2014) – Keep calm and tap dance!!!
It is one of these last summerdays where leaves start to fall, the air you’re breathing is colder but the sun still warms your skin. I just got back from Amsterdam where the first Amsterdam Tap Festival took place hosted by Ronny Cuyt (http://www.hooferz.com). I had no idea what was expecting me and to be honest, I didn’t even know where I would sleep...I only knew that I was going to tapdance the whole weekend and more : )!So I arrived in Amsterdam around five and as you might know I am still trying to avoid smartphones so I tried to find a map...it turns out it is very very hard to find a map these days and very expensive...I got lucky at the centralstation but my map had the size of a poster so it was very embarrasing and also very difficult to find my way. Joris Roelofs (http://www.jorisroelofs.com), a former member of the VAO and an incredible all kinds of saxophones and bassclarinet-player was so kind to offer me a place to sleep for my first night...after quite some time of collecting my first impressions of Amsterdam I arrived at Javaplein, where Joris picked me up! We were sitting on his balcony drinking beer, talking about music, Nietzsche and Kant. It was a beautiful calm night. I went to bed not too late and so tired that I fell asleep at once. Next morning it was time to get ready for the Festival, I was so excited and nervous. As this summer was so intense and challenging, I have to admit that I haven’t been tapdancing for quite some time and I was excited to dive back into it. The Festival was located in a wonderful building and my first classes were with Chris Naish and Ruben Sanchez. I was overchallenged in every way. The level was so high, I was scared, shocked and fascinated at the same time. I was glad I didn’t have to much time to think about it. I was surrounded by so so so many good dancers...it was crazy!!!So after the first classes I was talking to my teacher about how challenging they have been for me and then I met her : ). Her name was Sarah and she saved me : ). We were starting off with our frustration about the overwhelming classes and I think after 3 or 4 minutes I introduced myself and I asked if I could stay with her : )!I have NEVER done this before, I swear. Sarah instantly said yes and our journey began...I journey of rythm, frustration, laughs, prosecco and cigarettes. I had the most wonderful time and I felt so lucky! When she told me she was a dance teacher and I asked her what kind and she answered: „Lindy Hop“, I simply couldn’t believe it...she is the one of the founders of this school: http://lindyspirit.wordpress.com!!!
We danced through the weekend with teachers like the one and only Andrew Nemr, charming Ruben Sanchez and wonderful Chris Naish! At this point I wanna say thank you for the all the dancing and the great party!!!!!
On my last day there was a celebration going on in the beautiful district Jordaan where I saw the most funniest thing: public urinals. I am not kidding, you will find a picture below : )!!!
Sarah and I danced our last dance in the middle of the street before we went back home on our bikes (I was still screaming while driving because it is just too wild for me : ))and I started to pack!I didn’t want to leave...but the next morning it was time to go and hug a new, dear friend goodbye!She taught me how to swivel in so many ways...
Before I finally got back to Vienna, I was stuck in Frankfurt for quite some time...but eventually I got back home...ready to continue tapdancing with my wonderful teacher Sabine Hasicka - you can see her live on 24th October...with us : )...at Porgy...and I can’t wait to see you there, yours Lia!!!
http://www.porgy.at/prog-01.php?id=6639
http://www.amsterdamtapfestival.nl
http://www.rubensanchezdancewear.com
http://www.projectfusionfighters.co.uk/2014
Amsterdam selfie - my bike - many bikes : )