JERSEY TAP FEST

HONOREE DR. HAROLD "STUMPY" CROMER  

Born in New York City, Harold 'Stumpy' Cromer began his career as a tap dancer on roller skates at the Hudson Guild in the Chelsea district of Hell's Kitchen. His twin sister (Hattie) expressed little or no desire to join Harold in his theatrical endeavors. His family moved to Harlem where he continued his education in reading, writing, arithmetic and rhythm tap. He performed at night in Julie Podell's Kit Kat Club on East 55th Street, and attended Cooper Junior High School by day. Mr. Cromer tossed away his roller skates when Cole Porter and B. G. De Sylva signed him to appear on Broadway in 'Du Barry Was A Lady', with Bert Lahr, Ethel Merman and Betty Grable. Miss Merman sang 'Do I Love You', and Harold danced. Following the long run, Miss Merman was to star in 'Panama Hattie' and was later replaced by Gypsy Rose Lee as Madame 'Du Barry'. Once again, Gypsy sang and Harold Danced. Following a long road tour, Harold returned to Broadway in Richard Kollmar's production of 'Early To Bed', with music by Fats Waller, book and lyrics by George Marion Jr., starring Carl Brisson and Muriel Angelus at the Broadhurst Theater in 1943. Harold is certainly no stranger to Vaudeville, night clubs, movies and television, as a member of the well known song and dance comedy team of 'Stump and Stumpy' with James Cross. They appeared in the leading theaters and night clubs throughout the United States in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, as well as in Canada and Europe. To mention a few: The Cotton Club, Copacabana, The Riviera - with Duke Ellington, The Desert Inn - with Ted Lewis in Las Vegas and Hollywood, The Paramount - with Frank Sinatra, The Strand Theater - with Billie Holiday and Count Basie, toured with Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, The Ink Spots, Stan Kenton, Sophie Tucker and many other well known celebrities. Harold kept apace with the changing times when he became the Master of Ceremonies to Rock & Roll's 'The Biggest Show of Stars' in the late 1950's, introducing Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Paul Anka, Buddy Darin, Fats Domino, Chubby Checker, Frankie Avalon, Chuck Berry and Cliff Richards(England's challenge to Elvis Presley), Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. Mr. Cromer returned to Broadway in 1978 in Lee Theodore's 'The American Dance Machine' as a guest soloist and on tour to many cities in the U.S.A. and Japan. More recently, he concluded a successful engagement in London, England at the Adelphi Theater in 1982. Harold received his Living Treasure in American Dance Award in 1996. It was presented to him on behalf of the School of American Dance & Arts Management by Oklahoma City University graduate, and now Tony Award winner, Kristin Chenoweth. For the past fifty years Harold 'Stumpy' Cromer has performed as a song-and-dance man and impressionist in the United States, Canada, England, France, Germany, Holland, Austria, Italy, Japan, Cuba and Mexico and on special occasions as a roller skating tap dancer.

Straight from Newark, New Jersey, Maurice Chestnut introduces tap as an instrument. Maurice takes from his classical rhythm tap training and infuses hip-hop, funk and soul. Maurice Chestnut began dancing at the age of 5, under the direction of Mr. Alfred Gallman. At the age of 9 Maurice joined his first professional dance company and became an original member of the New Jersey Tap Ensemble under the direction of Ms. Deborah Mitchell where he is currently principle dancer and choreography with the ensemble. Maurice brings us the soul which can only be inspired from the Hoofing greats, watching him dance is like walking through Harlem in the 1940's. Maurice has performed at many prestigious events such as; The Apollo Theater, where he was crowned Top Dog performer, Carnegie Hall yearly Jazz Festival, as well as the Playboy Jazz Festival. He was also featured on Sally Jesse Raphael's "My Kid's a Star. At the age of fourteen Maurice was named one of New Jerseys artists to watch in the "New Millennium". He was also a gold medalist in the NAACP's Act-So competition and was featured on the TV special. His off- Broadway credits include Shades of Harlem, The Wiz, as well as Bubbling Brown Sugar, directed by illustrious George Faison at Atlanta's Fox Theater, where he played the role of Bumpy Johnson. His performances in productions with Savion Glover include the Tony award winning Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk, Improvography, Classical Savion, Tappin' Into Monk, Invitation to the Dancer and on "ABC-TV's Dancing With The Stars".

Pianist/composer/arranger Nicki Denner has been a part of the New York Latin and jazz music scene since 1999. Before that, she was an active member of the Minneapolis music community for ten years. She has performed with Sheila E., Savion Glover, Candido, Doc Severinsen, as well other jazz and salsa artists in the United States and Europe. She has been a pianist for Lincoln Center's "Meet the Artist" program, Chicago City Limits (a New York City based improv comedy group) and "Broadway Underground" (an Off-Broadway production featuring New York's finest tap and hip-hop dancers). She has also composed for award-winning film and was commissioned by the New Jersey Tap Ensemble in 2004 to compose music for a piece choreographed by Savion Glover. She is also the Musical Director of Cocomama, an eight piece all-female salsa band.

Since 2001, she has led her own trio which features Jennifer Vincent on bass, and Willie Martinez on drums. In 2006, the trio released their debut recording, "Moliendo Café", which was named one of the "Top Ten Picks of 2006" in Latin Beat Magazine.

Ms. Denner has released two other Latin jazz CD’s as a leader, “Don’t Just Stand There” and “El Médico de Coquí” featuring Julian Llanos, former singer with Latin music legend Arsenio Rodriguez. “El Médico de Coquí” spent six months in Latin Beat magazine's Top 20 Hit Parade. In 2007, it was re-released on Consilience Productions, a new record label promoting "progressive music for the socially curious".

Along with performing, Nicki is also a devoted educator. As well as having a private teaching studio, she has served on the piano faculty of the Stanford University Summer Jazz Workshop, the Montclair State University Jazz Prep Summer Program and the New York City Tap Festival.

DeWitt Fleming Jr. graduated at Marymount Manhattan College with a BA in Acting. He is an acclaimed tap dancer, and has performed and taught throughout the United States and abroad. DeWitt has danced with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra,  The George Gee Swing Orchestra, and with artist such as Wynton Marsalis, Oliver Lake, Wycliffe Gordon, and Eric Reed. Some of his Off- Bwy stage credits include: Sleigh Bells Swing(soloist), Dance Bojangles Dance(Bojangles), Highlights in Jazz, Tribute to Tap Legends, and Finnegan’s Farewell(Tyrone). Regional: Alliance Theater’s Sophisticated Ladies(Lead). He is the co- host, and also co-creator of the Off-Bwy hit Broadway Underground. In NYC he has taught at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, Harlem School of the Arts, Queens College, and various festivals/workshops including the NYC Tap Festival. DeWitt is also a Percussionist and has played in such venues as the legendary Blue Note, Sounds of Brazil (SOBs), and The Village Underground. He is dance captain for The New Jersey Tap Ensemble and Co-Chair/Director for the New York Tap Extravaganza. Catch him at the Beacon Theatre as a cast member of Cirque Du Soleil's new show Banana Spheel!

 Jeffry Foote is an actor and singer who started tap dancing late in his life. In 1998, at the age of 20, Jeffry saw "Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk", which inspired to him to become a rhythm tap dancer.  Jeffry joined the New Jersey Tap Dance Ensemble and became a Principal Dancer in 2001.  He has trained with Deborah Mitchell, Karen Callaway Williams, Omar Edwards, Ted Levy, and Savion Glover. He has performed at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Morristown Community Theater, Bergen Performing Arts Center, and the Strand Theater. Some of his community and regional credits are Shades of Harlem, Dance Bojangles Dance, Lady Be Good, Sammy Davis Jr in "Tribute to the Rat Pack", A Raisin in the Sun, and played a Vaudeville hoofer in the student film "Grey" which was nominated at the First Run Film Festival, and many others.  Jeffry also teaches tap in Morris and Passaic County.

Professional Hip-Hop/Funk Choreographer, Dancer, Instructor

There is no substitute for Tom. He has been entertaining audiences of all kinds since the early 1990’s. His work has been seen in an array of venues from Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, to New York’s Apollo Theatre. Tom has also choreographed for productions for Sesame Street Live, “Dance Jam” at New Jersey’s Performing Arts Center, Towson University’s Dance Team in Maryland, and the annual Ladies of Hip-Hop Festival in Philadelphia, just to name a few.

While Tom chooses not to perform frequently, he has a strong history of training young dancers who have grown to go on to great jobs in the dance industry. Tom’s teachings master classes, and workshops throughout the East Coast, as well as internationally (Europe and Canada). He teaches children and adults of all ages from dance studios, to public schools, to colleges and universities.

Tom wishes to keep traveling the world, spreading knowledge of the Hip-Hop culture to anyone willing to learn it. His will to continue learning and growing has pushed Tom forward into becoming more than just a messenger of the dance and culture, but a manifestation of the true essence of the culture itself.

Click here for Hillary-Marie's Biography

Logan Miller, protégé of Prof. Robert L. Reed, is a young upcoming tap dancer. In 2003 Logan was selected as one of three St. Louis Hoofers to appear on the live CBS talent competition Star Search, reaching the Semi-Finals.  He was a featured dancer in the award winning movie “Solo” with Prof. Reed and Robert Reed III. In May/June 2005 he was featured in the Dance Spirit Magazine article 20/20 as one of the top 20 tap dancers under the age of 20.  He has taught and performed at the St. Louis Tap Festival, Germany's Duisburg Steptanz Festival, Canada's Tap Into A Cure, and Bril Barrett's Chicago Tap Summit.  Logan has been privileged to assist Dr. Prince Spencer and Professor Robert L. Reed in teaching classes at the Tradition in Tap workshops at Nola Studios and the world famous Broadway Dance Center. As he pursues an academic career at Hofstra University in New York, he has served as Tap Choreographer of Hofstra's “Dance Works” club and founded Hofstra’s new tap club “RhythMix”. He has also been honored to substitute teach for Doremeshia Sumbry-Edwards. In 2009 he appeared in three episodes of Sesame Street, taught and performed at Tradition in Tap and performed in TAP EXTRAVAGANZA.  Most recently he performed alongside Jason Samuels Smith in his A.C.G.I. Company. Look for Logan teaching and performing around New York.

Deborah Mitchell proudly celebrates 16 years as Founder and Artistic Director of New Jersey Tap Dance Ensemble.  This St. Louis, MO native is known throughout the New York area as a distinguished tap professional. She is the protégé of Leslie “Bubba” Gaines of the Copasetics and student of many tap masters including Broadway Choreographer Henry LeTang.   Her many credits include The Cotton Club Motion Picture, Broadway and Paris Productions of Black and Blue, PBS Great Performances, 5 international tours with the legendary Cab Calloway, and a partnership with Philadelphia native Germaine Goodson as The Rhythm Queens.  

Under the direction of Ms. Mitchell, New Jersey Tap Ensemble is one of the most prominent touring tap dance companies in the state of New Jersey.  Ensemble tours have included in New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Lincoln Center, Town Hall, and The Duke on 42nd Street, Tilles Center and the Joyce. She is producer of the NJTAP Touring Tap Boot Camp and participates annually in festivals such as the New York City Tap Festival, St. Louis Tap Festival and Traditions In Tap.   She was a guest panelist on the subject of tap as an American art form at the Dance in the Millennium Conference, Washington, D.C. and participates in national and international programs such as the International Tap Association that focus on the promotion and perpetuation of tap dancing. 

Having attained a Masters Degree in Social Work from Indiana University, Ms. Mitchell is a strong advocate for arts education. As a Principal Affiliate of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center for 6 years, she participated in the Center’s Dance Academy both as a tap an instructor and as a workshop facilitator.  Ms. Mitchell was instrumental in establishing tap dance as a technique to be offered to children participating in the Dance Academy. A master teacher and motivational speaker about the art form in many educational venues especially in New Jersey and throughout the tri-state, she also provides In-Service Training to teachers and dance educators throughout the tri-state area.   Ms. Mitchell is author, director and choreographer of the Doll Shop Arts in Education presentation musical specifically developed for school age children grades K-5th. An extension of her work with the NJ Tap Touring Ensemble is the Youth Company, the pre-professional division of the company serving young artists ages 12-17.  Ms. Mitchell is Chairman of the Tap Department of Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts, Montclair, NJ on the advisory Board of Tony Waag’s Tap City in NY and Assistant Director/Choreographer for Theater Workshop/Peppermint Players, Marie Foster, Director and a Board Member for Alliance for Arts Education/New Jersey.

In recognition of National Tap Dance Day 2006, Savion Glover presented Ms. Mitchell with an award for giving tirelessly to the spirit and legacy of tap dancing.  In March 2007, Dean John Bedford and Jo Rowan, Dance Department Chairman of Oklahoma City University, Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts management presented her with the Living Treasure Award “for preserving our American culture in her feet, in her mind and in her spirit.”  In May 2007, Ms. Mitchell was chosen by The New York Committee to Celebrate National Tap Dance Day as one of the Flo-Bert Honorees and in July 2007, she received The Hoofer Award from the American Tap Dance Foundation.

Sarah Reich is exploding onto the scene as a young professional, having spent the past five years assisting tap legend Harold Cromer at numerous festivals, including Tap City, St. Louis Tap Festival, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Los Angeles Tap Festival, and Tap Into A Cure. Sarah is now becoming a tap festival teacher on her own; her first teaching job was in Limoges, France. She has studied with, among others, Alfred Desio, Cyd Glover and Paul & Arlene Kennedy, has been a member of the Jazz Tap Ensemble’s Caravan Project, is a current member of Jason Samuel Smith’s “Anybody Can Get It” company, Chloe Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies, and serves as the Dance Captain for the LA Ironworks Youth Company as well as contributing choreography for the group.

Sarah has performed at many venues around Los Angeles including the Getty Museum, the Ford Amphitheatre, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Kodak Theatre, the Madrid Theatre, the Temple Bar, the Hollywood Bowl, and was asked to dance for promotional events for the movie Happy Feet. She is featured on two instructional tap DVD’s with Mike Wittmers.

Sarah was featured in an article titled “20 Hot Tappers Under 20” in Dance Spirit Magazine, and selected as one of the top 25 dancers to look out for in 2009 in Dance Magazine. Sarah received an award for Performing Artist of The Year at the 2005 OMNI Awards. She has also been featured in numerous television shows including So You Think You Can Dance, the Jerry Lewis Telethon, Secret Talents of the Stars, and Sabado Gigante.

Sarah is currently teaching around Los Angeles at Everybody Dance, the Colburn School, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, the Tap Academy and the EDGE Performing Arts Center.

"Watching tapper Sarah Reich dance is a lesson in exuberance… she has an uncanny ability to balance the hard- hitting syncopation of today’s rhythm tappers with a touch of a confidence of the tap legends…” -Dance Magazine

"Sarah Reich has a deep passion for tap and tap had a great future in store for her." -Dancer Magazine

"Sarah Reich is one of the most talented and busiest tap dancers in LA."  -On Tap Magazine

Kyle Wilder is an emerging young talent known for his quick feet and heavy hitting, rhythmic style. He started tap dancing at age 8. In 2002, he auditioned for the New Jersey Tap Ensemble’s Young Talented Tappers (YTTs) and proudly became a member of the company that same year.  Kyle has since become a Principal Dancer for the New Jersey Tap Dance Ensemble under the direction of Ms. Deborah Mitchell.  He currently teaches tap and hip hop classes at Dance Perfect in Rockaway, NJ and has studied with many accomplished artists such as Deborah Mitchell, Maurice Chestnut, Karen Callaway Williams, Marshall Davis Jr., Jason Samuels Smith, Jimmy Slyde, and Savion Glover. Kyle has performed in many venues around New Jersey such as The New Jersey State Theatre, Westminster Arts Center, The Morristown Community Theatre, 12 Miles West, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, South Orange Performing Arts Center, Skipper’s, The Martini Lounge, Café Arabica, and Cecil’s Jazz Club as well as The Fashion Institute of Technology, The Joyce Theatre, and Dodger Stages. In 2008, Kyle performed a recreation of the piece “Black Out” from the Tony Award winning Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk with Savion Glover in the Savion Glover and The New Jersey Tap Ensemble Celebrate National Tap Dance Day at Newark Symphony Hall. In addition, he was the co-choreographer of Brundage Park Playhouse’s 2008 Kid’s Cabaret and Dance Captain of Jeffry Foote’s tap dancing piece in The Butterfly Project at NJPAC.  Kyle also received a Broadway Artist’s Alliance scholarship for a solo performance during the 2005 NYC Tap Festival’s Tap Youth, Tap Future showcase. He has worked with renowned composers Marvin Hamlisch, Bill Conti, J. Leonard Oxley, and Nikki Denner.  Kyle has been inspired by the masters of tap that have come before him and due to them aspires to keep the dance alive, not only in his generation, but in the many generations to come. The late great Jimmy Slyde once said about Kyle, “That boy’s got A LOT goin’ on!”