RHAPSODY in TAPS, The First 35 Years! Video Anthology
Artistic Director Linda Sohl-Ellison is excited to premiere RHAPSODY IN TAPS, The First 35 Years! Video Anthology in collaboration California State University’s Department of Dance. Ms. Sohl-Ellison co-founded Rhapsody In Taps, a California based tap dance and live music touring company in 1981. The longest operating professional tap dance company in the United States, and hence the world, Rhapsody In Taps is recognized for its choreographic invention and experimentation, its efforts to preserve and present tap’s legacy, and for its significant contributions to the worldwide resurgence of tap dance since the company’s beginnings in the early 1980’s. Artistic Director and choreographer, Linda Sohl-Ellison, is one of a handful of tap dancers who changed the trajectory of tap dance -- creating a concert aesthetic and framework, and influencing tap dance both in the United States and internationally.
In celebration of Rhapsody In Taps’ 45th anniversary this year, the eight hour anthology will be shown in four individual two-hour screenings at CSULB’s Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theatre (co-presented by the CSULB Dance and Rhapsody In Taps). Each screening focuses on one particular period in the company’s history. A narrated photo montage begins each screening, providing context for the dance/music footage. Throughout the anthology brief interviews with Ms. Sohl-Ellison and RIT company members help pull the history of the company and its creative works into focus.
Enjoy video excerpts from Rhapsody In Taps’ expansive repertoire including traditional choreography and innovative tap collaborations performed with live music: jazz, Latin, klezmer, big band, percussion, African drumming, Balinese gamelan, marimba, classical, and much more!
Experience the magic of historic tap dance and showbiz legends: Gregory Hines, Fayard and Harold Nicholas, Jimmy Slyde, Leon Collins, Arthur Duncan, Foster Johnson, Eddie Brown, Sandman Sims, Bunny Briggs, Buster Brrown, Leonard Reed, Frances Nealy, Iron Jaw Wilson, as well as renowned tap soloists: Brenda Bufalino, Fred Strickler, Bob Carroll, Dianne Walker, Sam Weber and many others.
RHAPSODY IN TAPS, The First 35 Years! Video Anthology provides four different educational, entertaining and engaging evenings that speak to tap dance artistry and how Ms. Sohl-Ellison and her work have helped shape the most recent generations of tap dance. Join us as the company celebrates its 2026 milestone 45th Anniversary and introduces new audiences to its inspirational work and artists!
At the end of each screening below, the audience is invited to stay for a 30 minute Q & A with Ms. Sohl-Ellison and RIT artists, moderated by tap dancer and historian, Steve Zee.
Four Tap Anthology Screenings
- Screening #1 sets the stage for the entire documentary, RHAPSODY IN TAPS, The First 35 Years! Video Anthology. We sincerely hope you will join us opening night!
Highlights: Rare archival footage of historic tap legends Foster Johnson, the Nicholas Brothers, Jimmy Slyde, Leon Collins, Eddie Brown, “Sandman” Sims, “Bunny”Briggs, and “Iron Jaw” Wilson; Foster Johnson Memorial “jam” with brief clips of tap elders: Leonard Reed, Gene Bell, Willie Covan, Nick Stewart, Eugene Jackson, Louis DaPron, Bill Chatham and Marlys Lipari. Linda Sohl-Ellison’s solos: Waltz, Tribute to Eddie Brown, Seven Steps to Heaven, Duet with Brent Lewis (Ikauma drums), Piru Bole with M.B. Gordy (tablas & vocals), April in Paris, and Rhapsody In Taps’ group pieces with the RIT band: Tap Rhapsody, Trio, Overtime, Stickato (stick dance), Dark Eyes, Live Wire, Crossroads, Blue Skies, Milestones, and Eddie’s Suite choreographed by Eddie Brown (featuring Brown, Pauline Hagino, and Sohl-Ellison). Anthology screening l includes a narrated Rhapsody In Taps photo montage and brief RIT artist interviews. (2:07) No Intermission
Post screening: 30 min. Q&A with RIT artists moderated by tap dancer/historian Steve Zee.
Highlights: Rare Footage of historic tap legends dancing to jazz music with Rhapsody In Taps’ band: Eddie Brown, Arthur Duncan, and brief clips of Gregory Hines, Frances Nealy, Leonard Reed, Fayard Nicholas, Skip Cunningham, Glenn Turnbull, Pat Rico, and Lou Wills. Solo performances with the RIT band by tap masters Fred Strickler, Dianne Walker, Sam Weber, Linda Sohl-Ellison, Bob Carroll, jazz dancers Billy Siegenfeld and Jeannie Hill. Rhapsody In Taps’ duets and group works with the RIT band: Interplay, Drum Thunder, Swingin’ with Cedar, Raindance (African percussion), Suite Echoes, (Louie Bellson Big Band), and commissioned choreographies supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and performed by the entire company: Toeing the 3rd and Fifth (Gregory Hines), Banderillas (Linda Sohl-Ellison), Just Around the Corner (Fred Strickler) Cheatin’ the Snake (Keith Terry), plus additional works with percussion and classical music. Anthology screening II includes a narrated Rhapsody In Taps photo montage and brief RIT artist interviews. (1:51) No Intermission.
Post screening: 30 min. Q&A with RIT artists moderated by tap dancer/historian Steve Zee.
Highlights: Rare footage of historic tap legends dancing to jazz music with Rhapsody In Taps’ band: Arthur Duncan, “Buster” Brown, Glenn Turnbull (Soft Shoe and Legomania solos), and brief clips of Fayard Nicholas, Leonard Reed, Alfred Desio and others; solo performances with the RIT band by tap masters Brenda Bufalino, Dianne Walker, Fred Strickler, Bob Carroll, Steve Zee (Step Dance) Linda Sohl-Ellison, Christy Hernandez, Van Porter, and Jimmy Fisher. Tap trios and Quartets to latinjazz music: Accent Simpatico and Los Coyotes Diagonal (original scores); acappella works: Prelude and Fugue, 50/50, and Tacit Agreement. Tap andpercussion pieces: Dragonfly, BEAT! Percussion Discussion, and other works with percussionist Monti Ellison: Riptide (African drumming), Espiritu (berimbau) and FOIL/Copper, Zinc, Brass (RIT band plus marimba and steel pan). Also excerpts of Nusantara (Bridge Between Islands), Sohl-Ellison’s ground breaking tap and Balinese gamelan music collaboration with composer I Nyomen Wenten, Nanik Wenton and RIT artists, supported by the James Irvine Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Other NEA commissioned choreographies for the entire company: Bufalino Bop (Brenda Bufalino) and Close to You (Sam Weber). Anthology screening III includes a narrated Rhapsody In Taps photo montage and brief RIT artist interviews. (2:03) No Intermission
Post screening: 30 min. Q&A with RIT artists moderated by tap dancer/historian Steve Zee.
Highlights: Solo performances with the RIT band by tap masters Bob Carroll, Linda Sohl-Ellison, Steve Zee, Mindy Copeland, and special guests: Lane Alexander withclassical pianist Althea Waites, and German tap dancers Tap and Tray/ Kurt Albert & Klaus Bleis; very brief excerpts of tap legends Arthur Duncan, Skip Cunningham, Fayard Nicholas and others. Brief excerpts from Rhapsody In Taps’ 20 year Lecture-Dem program at the Aratani Japan America Theatre for LAUSD students and teachers, performed by RIT dancers, musicians, tap/showbiz legends Frances Nealy and Leonard Reed, plus a moment with Eddie Brown. RIT reunion tap trio by Fred Strickler, Christy Hernandez, Steve Zee and musicians. RIT company works supported by the National Endowment for the Arts: Just One of Those Things (Foster Johnson, archival reconstruction) and Sohl-Ellison’s celebratory Laughing With Tears (for RIT’s 25th Anniversary, set to klezmer music with dramatic costumes and Tree of Life), Mambo Musings (latin jazz),and Chugarump (bucket drumming & stick percussion). Additional company tap works: Salute to Soul (celebrating RIT’s 30th Anniversary to music by Otis Redding and Sam Cooke), and Canadian Sunset (jazz music and rhythmic ball bouncing by Aaron Williams). Duet collaborations by Linda Sohl-Ellison and Monti Ellison (percussion & vocals): Dat’s Right, Deciduous Dances, Wade, and Heart Songs, plusgroup percussion works: Stroke of the Oarsmen and Boot Brigade (tap, body percussion & African drums). Anthology screening IV includes a narrated Rhapsody In Taps photo montage and brief RIT artist interviews. (2:10) No Intermission
Post screening: 30 min. Q&A with RIT artists moderated by tap dancer/historian Steve Zee.
Tickets must be purchased in advance through Carpenter Performing Arts Center’s online ticket sales, or by phone during CPAC’s box office hours. Tickets are NOT available at the Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theatre (in advance nor at the door). General admission.
Tickets on the Carpenter Performing Arts Center website: Link to Purchase Tickets Coming Soon!
Tickets must be purchased before 11:59pm (PT), Friday, August 28, 2026.
All Four Events Ticket: $60
Single Event Ticket: $18 per screening
Purchased after 11:59pm Friday, August 28, 2026
All Four Events Ticket: $75
Single Event Ticket: $20
Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theatre
(located adjacent to the Walter Pyramid)
6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach CA 90815
$15 campus parking is available in CSULB Parking Lot G12, directly in front of the Carpenter Performing Arts Center (6200 Atherton Street), via parking kiosk (cards only) and the ParkMobile App.
For parking information, visit https://www.carpenterarts.org/directions-and-parking.
