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Recently dubbed by CBC’s
national television arts program, ZeD as ‘Toronto’s leading authority
on tap dancing’, Paula Skimin brings years of study to her craft. This
dancer, choregrapher and teacher has studied with world-class New York based
tap dancers such as Dr. James ‘Buster’ Brown, Brenda Bufalino and
Heather Cornell. She has worked in New York with the prestigious Manhattan Tap,
in Michigan with Sole Full of Rhythm, and in Ohio with Rhythm in Motion.Ms.
Skimin has developed her own Toronto-based tap company Turn On The Tap, and
as Artistic Director has mounted three full scale tap productions. Two Women
Who Tap, Shifafa, and A Tribute to Gregory Hines all featured live music blended
with Ms. Skimin’s unique choreography. Shifafa with it’s original
musical score premiered November 2002 at Toronto’s Poor Alex Theatre.
In addition to her work with Turn On The Tap, Paula is also an innovative and
energetic teacher. Her teaching has reached dancers throughout Canada and the
U.S. She currently is affiliated with Learning Through the Arts, a wonderful
teaching program offered through The Royal Conservatory of Music. Paula has
also developed her own program for schools called "Turn on the Tap into
Learning" A dynamic program designed to bring rhythm, song, and dance into
the classroom.Turn on the Tap is the brainchild of Canadian dancer Paula Skimin,
recently dubbed by CBC’s national televisions arts program ZeD, as “Toronto’s
leading authority on tap dancing.”This hard-earned accolade comes on the
heels of years of study that included instruction from world-class New York-based
tap dancers such as Dr. James ‘Buster’ brown, Brenda Bufalino and
Heather Cornell. Tap Dancers go to New York for the same reason that artists
pilgrimage to Florence-to learn from the masters."NYC Tap DancerPaula took
her exposure to these masters seriously and returned to Toronto determined to
bring this historically underrepresented art form into the limelight. To that
end, she created Turn on the Tap Productions in 1999, but was immediately tapped
herself to feature in Inside Out Productions sell-out performance “Just
Jazz”, a show that was labeled “the (re) birth of cool.” An
invitation to work with the prestigious Manhattan Tap quickly followed, culminating
with “Danzas para Sone” performed in March 2001. Back from New York,
Paula was finally able to focus her attention on creating work for Turn on the
Tap. Her first full-length production “Two Women Who Tap” a collaboration
with Kim Chalovich had a successful debut in April 2002. The production used
live music and highlighted the theme of breaking with tradition to facilitate
personal expression.Building on the momentum created by “Two Women Who
Tap”, Paula used the ideology of contemporary personal expression and
put the special relationship that has always been acknowledged between dancer
and musician in the foreground to create “Tap to the Beat”, a night
featuring fifteen performers fusing together cultural tradition with urban contemporary
sound, at C’est What Toronto’s top spot for cutting edge live entertainment.
The incredible “Shifafa” came next. This full-length production
featured live music and an original score, and had a successful premiere run
at Toronto’s Poor Alex Theatre November 2002.Turn on the Tap is a program
led by tap dancer Paula Skimin. Through the use of rhythm, movement and song
this group of musicians and dancers have developed creative performances that
interact with teachers and students. Through these performances Turn on the
Tap unfolds a new approach for teaching in the classroom. By using rhythm, movement
and song in the classroom students and teachers will create effective teaching
and learning tools that will enhance their understanding of ciricular subjects.
This program effectively meets the ciricular requirements set by the Ministry
of Education of Ontario.If you need further information regarding assembly,
performances, or individual classroom sessions, please contact: info@turnonthetap.com"Dancer
Paula Skimin and drummer David Peters put on a fantastic, dynamic and interactive
performance that engaged students and teachers...a must have program that should
enter every classroom." Leyla Kfoury-Grade 2 teacher Thorncliffe Park Collegiate"Paula
is pasisonate about dance and it shows in everything that she does. She is very
personable with a strong work ethic and commitment to responsiblities. Her integrity
and knowledge of dance would be an asset to any school."Larry Gerow Branksome
Hall Music Department