Go See Glover's STePz @ The Joyce - ends 6/6

Savion Glover

Savion Glover is back at The Joyce with yet another one of his knock out iterations of tap dance.  For this season’s show, called STePz, Glover is joined by Marshall Davis Jr. & 3CW (3 Controversial Women), Robyn Watson, Ayodele Casel and Sarah Savelli.  This cast is a force to be reckoned with because they fill the stage with true tap dance—thank goodness for that.  First of all, it must be noted that it is wonderful to see a tap performance on a well-equipped stage—there was a tap floor lifted off the stage!  This, as tap dancers often intone, makes a huge difference.  For the first half, the program lists some funky titles including “Mission Impossible” where Marshall and Glover, magically revealed two sets of stairs that flanked the tap floor which was center stage, and with their fake guns and warm smiles began a friendly battle of opposing stairs.  The thump, thump of the “Mission Impossible” score was a lively match for their bullet-speed feet.   True to Glover’s penchant for adding something more, in the other works, the mood continually shifts and so too does the sound of the taps.  For instance, in “Flamenco Sketches” there is a lilting ease, in “Bugle Call Rag” we go back in time, in “Melody’Sizn” Glover and Marshall snap their fingers and playfully sings ‘Rhythm is my business,’ in “Gregory Mode” there is no mistaken the sounds of Gregory Hines, in “Stevie Delicious” to Stevie Wonder’s ‘You Can Feel It All Over,’ each of these technicians careen through step after step with joy.  Glover has two memorable solos, one at end the first half and the other “Bojangles” that close the show.  Both are different, both pull you in to hear his very controlled and breath-taking command of the taps.  He leans way in when he delivers each sound, his body reverberates when it hits, and we always gasp when it reaches us.  Glover is a master at what he does and this cast is a fine blend of tap artists.  Don’t miss this standout show.   

Savion Glover’s STePz runs June 18 – July 6.  For more information visit www.joyce.org

---