Join Max Pollak, world-renowned percussive dancer, choreographer, musician and ethnomusicologist, for an afternoon exploring the interconnectedness of African-Diasporic dance and music through the lens of Pollak’s artistic journey from Europe to the USA to Cuba, with specific applications to dance education.
Participants will explore the history of tap dance and jazz music, as well as Cuban dance and music, and discover where they intersect. Pollak and his Cuban mentors will teach AfroCuban Folkloric Rumba — dance, music and song — and explore ways to introduce students to the form. Participants will also learn Pollak’s signature percussive fusion technique, RumbaTap, and some of the choreography of his classic piece, “RumbaTap Standard." Collective improvisation and jamming will be explored.
Pollak will share video and audio recordings of his work and the work of the Cuban artists he creates with. He will also share his current creative endeavors, in which he brings the AfroCuban approach to European art forms of dance and music. Participants will leave equipped with embodied knowledge and accompanying asynchronous resources to bring this content back to their students in a range of learning environments.
All levels are welcome.
$180 until April 6 / $200 after
Must register by Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
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Max Pollak is pictured on the recent US Forever Postage Stamp honoring Tap Dance. Seamlessly combining body percussion, dance and singing, Max has performed on all five continents with some of the top artists in jazz, Latin, and classical music. Gregory Hines, Ray Brown, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Chucho Valdes, Lila Downs, Phish, Trey Anastasio, Phil Woods, Paquito D’Rivera, Pedrito Martinez, Danilo Perez to name a few. His quest is to spread the word about the true roots of his artistic and spiritual inspirations, and to bring this source energy into the future. Pollak is recognize ...
Max Pollak is pictured on the recent US Forever Postage Stamp honoring Tap Dance. Seamlessly combining body percussion, dance and singing, Max has performed on all five continents with some of the top artists in jazz, Latin, and classical music. Gregory Hines, Ray Brown, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Chucho Valdes, Lila Downs, Phish, Trey Anastasio, Phil Woods, Paquito D’Rivera, Pedrito Martinez, Danilo Perez to name a few. His quest is to spread the word about the true roots of his artistic and spiritual inspirations, and to bring this source energy into the future. Pollak is recognized for making classical music more accessible, playing in prestigious venues and festivals in Austria, Germany, France, Canada, the US and Cuba. He has performed as soloist with members of the Vienna, Berlin and New York Philharmonic, London and Montreal Symphony, St. Luke’s Chamber Orchestra, Composer’s Concordance and more. For such occasions, many internationally acclaimed composers have written orchestral works with tap/percussion parts expressly for Pollak. As an award-winning choreographer and composer, he is a co-creator of the Off-Broadway hit show Carmen — To Havana and Back, and a sought-after educator, writer, and recording artist. His first CD RumbaTap was released in 2015.
Body Percussion
DEL x Max Pollak: RumbaTap and Beyond
Barry Blumenfeld has been a dance educator for almost 20 years in a wide range of environments. He has worked as a teaching artist in NYC public schools in residencies ranging from “Math Dance” and “Reading Dance” to teaching children in a mental institution via videophone. He has also taught in private pre-schools and studios. Barry was an adjunct professor at American University, in Washington, DC, where he also taught at-risk youth in a housing project as part of a HUD grant and deaf college students at Galludet University …
Barry Blumenfeld has been a dance educator for almost 20 years in a wide range of environments. He has worked as a teaching artist in NYC public schools in residencies ranging from “Math Dance” and “Reading Dance” to teaching children in a mental institution via videophone. He has also taught in private pre-schools and studios. Barry was an adjunct professor at American University, in Washington, DC, where he also taught at-risk youth in a housing project as part of a HUD grant and deaf college students at Galludet University. Barry is currently on the faculty of Friends Seminary School in Manhattan where he has built their dance program over the past 10 years. He is also an adjunct professor at New York University. He holds a BA in Psychology and an MA in Dance from American University and is a graduate of the Dance Education Laboratory of 92nd Street Y; a certified Level 1 Teacher of Language of Dance®; a certified yoga instructor; and a Registered Dance Educator. Barry has served on the board of directors of NYSDEA for the past 3 years as Director of Communications and is the Artistic Director of TAPFUSION, a dance company combining modern dance and tap.
Cuba’s famous Ramos family are the bedrock of the legendary Rumba Group Los Muñequitos de Matanzas. Lead dancer and choreographer Barbaro Ramos, his son Yuniskleyvis, and nephew Jaime Ramos teach and perform the highest level of drumming, dancing, and singing from the Afro-Cuban Rumba traditions of Matanzas, Cuba …
Cuba’s famous Ramos family are the bedrock of the legendary Rumba Group Los Muñequitos de Matanzas. Lead dancer and choreographer Barbaro Ramos, his son Yuniskleyvis, and nephew Jaime Ramos teach and perform the highest level of drumming, dancing, and singing from the Afro-Cuban Rumba traditions of Matanzas, Cuba. They have done countless successful international tours as members of Los Muñequitos, won several Grammy Awards, and they also lead their own contemporary Rumba ensemble called Irawo Osa.
Dance Education Laboratory (DEL)
Dr. Diane Duggan, PhD, BC-DMT
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