Lights dim, curtains rise. Out of the darkness, we are suddenly dazzled by a glamorous, exuberant tap dancing troupe. Synchronized, happy, high energy, their silver-tinged locks and sparkling smiles highlight their magical, action-packed performance. They are award-winning tap dancing group Razzmatap.
DESTINED TO DANCE TOGETHER
Creator and choreographer Jan Kainer began teaching tap classes in the late ’80s. Starting with a class for children at Kerrisdale Community Centre, Jan soon discovered that the centre could accommodate an adult class in the daytime. As destiny would have it, Jan’s class was the right thing at the right time for many of her dancers, and Razzmatap was born.
Kathi Ward, one of the original tappers says, “I had been part of a contemporary jazz group in my twenties and had always wanted to get back to dance… Then my kids started dancing with Jan. When I found out she was starting an adult tap group, I knew this was fate.”
Before long, the group grew to 12 enthusiastic tappers. And though, at first, the women were reluctant to perform, once they tasted the thrill of dancing before a live audience, they were hooked.
THE MAGIC OF COMPETITION
For Jan, attending dance festivals as a youth and playing college basketball for several years, taught her the magical motivation of competition. So, to keep her dancers challenged, she entered Razzmatap into dance contests and events. “Competition encourages the dancers to work harder,” says Jan, “and they can learn from what others are doing and what the adjudicators tell them.”
Dancer Dell Catherall heartily agrees, “Competition is a great motivator. Jan is a perfectionist and abhors sloppy sounding taps, droopy arms and crooked lines. We, in turn, are dancing her creations and feel a responsibility to dance the very best we can and bring home the gold!”
And so they do. These talented and intrepid women have travelled throughout the province and to the USA and Germany, winning prestigious awards and placing at various competitions among the best amateur dancers on the continent. They are also popular guest performers and sell out local shows.
DEDICATED DANCERS
Razzmatap’s achievements are remarkable as the 16 tap dancers range in age from 48 to 79 and come from a variety of vocations: from accountant to merchandiser, artist, retired educators and business women. Though some have danced since childhood, others had limited experience until they joined the group. But they all share their dedication to dance and each other. Tapper Zanna Downes says, “I organize my life around Razzmatap… I try to make sure nothing interferes with the tap practices or rehearsals.”
Tap classes are a physically demanding one-hour practice twice a week. Jan observes that most of the dancers come to class early to practice the dance steps and help each other. Dell shares, “My biggest challenge is learning the individual steps and remembering the sequencing. Luckily, Lynette, our most senior member, also has one of the best brains and patiently holds practices between our two weekly classes.”
To stay fit for dancing, the tappers include other physical activities into their routines. Zanna enjoys swimming, golf and tennis. She adds, “I have started hip-hop classes and will get back to the ballet/barre exercises to tone up my core.” Dell takes total body conditioning and stretch classes and works out at the gym on the elliptical trainer and recumbent bike. “Basically, I exercise to dance!” she declares.
INSPIRED STORIES
The Razzmatappers have good reason to be passionate about their craft as Jan creates and choreographs compelling dance stories inspired by personal experiences.
In 2015, Jan and her family were shocked and saddened when her husband suddenly suffered a heart attack, requiring triple bypass surgery. During his recovery, Jan says, “I was supposed to start teaching tap again in September, but I needed to be home to take care of my husband and I didn’t have any inspiration to choreograph. When I finally started back to Razzmatap, I was inspired by our experience to think about how our friends help us in times of trouble, and eventually things get better.”
Jan then created the award-winning two-part story: Time Heals Everything and Tap Your Troubles Away. In this uplifting dance number, the women support each other through loss of a loved one and then celebrate overcoming sadness and adversity together.
THE RAZZMATAP FAMILY
Reflective of their dance stories, there is magic in the group’s connectedness with each other. Zanna recalls that about three years ago, she suddenly could hardly walk or lift her arms. Shortly afterwards, she was diagnosed with Polymyalgia, an inflammatory disorder that causes muscle pain and stiffness, and was put on steroids to treat the condition. “The steroids affected my memory but at least I was able to move again. I feel inspired when I am with my tappers. The classes give me energy. I never gave up when I was sick. I am now healthy and happy because of the kindness shown to me by my Razzmatappers. They are my family. We support each other unconditionally.”
“There is so much more than the dancing,” says Dell. “The women in our group have grown very close over the years, sharing birthdays, academic and workplace accomplishments, family issues and the inevitable disappointments and losses. I have great admiration for my fellow tappers and our choreographer.”
EVERY YEAR A SURPRISE
After nearly three decades, Razzmatap continues to delight and surprise with their joyous vibe and dynamic dance numbers. Sprinkled in with musical theatre styles is popular music by The Spice Girls, Lady Gaga and LMFAO, showcasing that these dancers can tap to classics and get funky to upbeat modern tunes.
And, of course, Jan still masterfully keeps the women literally on their toes with new dance steps, and styles.
“This year I was inspired by watching a show put on by Flamenco Mosaico,” says Jan. “I loved the music, the costumes and the castanets. I was inspired and thought that a flamenco-style tap routine would be fun, especially if we could learn to play castanets.”
‘Tap, twirl, flourish… and the magic of Razzmatap continues.
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