Dancers tap their way to funding a performing arts scholarship

Kids aspiring to study art ain’t never had friends like these.

A group of Bay City natives, who each have thriving careers on stages around the country, came together recently to form the Spark Artistic Mentorship Program. On Sept. 12, fundraising for the scholarship kicked off Downtown Shuffle Around, an all-day tap dancing event in Wenonah Park.

From noon to 6 p.m., Ryan VanDenBoom offered insight into the history of tap dancing while teaching his audience a few classic steps. He started each class by asking his students to feel the rhythm of their own hearts.

“People say I don’t have rhythm, I can’t dance. That’s just not true,” VanDenBoom told the students.

VanDenBoom, who grew up in Munger, started dancing at 4 years old. Today, he’s a New York University graduate who teaches at the Broadway Dance Center and has appeared on Broadway and in movies.

The goal of Downtown Shuffle Around was to raise money for a performing arts scholarship. Details of the scholarship are being finalized, but the basic premise is to award money for lessons to a high school student in an underserved population. Additionally, VanDenBoom hopes to connect scholarship recipients with working professionals who will serve as educators and mentors.

Korie Lee Blossey ­– who also grew up in the area and most recently appeared as Genie in the Tony Award-winning traveling musical Aladdin – was excited to join Spark and the fundraiser. Blossey encouraged dancers to follow their dreams before singing “Friend Like Me,” several times during the Downtown Shuffle Around. (Read more about Blossey in a November Route Bay City article.)

“This is an incredible opportunity to let the younger generation knows what’s out there,” Blossey says. “You don’t need a genie to inspire children. I am grateful to come back and do whatever I can.”

While only VanDenBoom and Blossey performed during the Wenonah Park event, both Katie Travis and her brother, Matt Travis, were part of the event. The siblings grew up in the area. Katie has performed as Christine, the Phantom’s love interest in a touring production of “The Phantom of the Opera.” Matt is the director of Choral and Orchestral Programs at the Midland Center for the Arts. Thad Van Tifflin, who serves as a Spark board member, also was at the park.

During the Sept. 12 event, more than 150 people danced, raising more than $2,000, Matt Travis says.

Fundraising was only one part of the project. VanDenBoom, who has been an advocate for arts education for years, said he’s been visiting family while Broadway is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While here, he called Matt Travis to talk about an idea for a one-time event. He envisioned inviting students from local dance studios to participate in an outdoor dance class. He was hoping to raise $1,000 for a one-time donation.

“I had very small ambitions for this event,” VanDenBoom says.

Matt loved the idea, but suggested moving it to a bigger outdoor venue and inviting the entire community to participate. He suggested creating an endowment to fund ongoing arts scholarships for under-served communities.

“That’s not something I had thought about, however that’s awesome and a great way to use these efforts to do something that’s going to live on beyond me and hopefully serve the community for a long time,” VanDenBoom says.

Shortly before beginning to plan the event, VanDenBoom read Brian Siebert’s “What the Eye Hears: A History of Tap Dancing.” Through the book, he learned that today’s tap dancing has its roots in dances performed by Irish manual laborers and moves featured in African American traditions. He wanted to share that knowledge.

“A large part of this event is going to be an interactive history lesson about tap dance and how it relates to music composition and also music theory,” VanDenBoom says. “It’s also just a medium for sharing joy and creating community. “

The world especially needs community and joy now, he says.

“The truth is you can tap your foot in your kitchen while you’re making dinner and you’re tap dancing,” VanDenBoom says. “I want people to understand that something as simple as tapping your feet on a piece of wood and making a pleasant sound is available to you in time where you maybe feel like you don’t have those outlets. I felt like that was a really beautiful sentiment for this time. We can still come together and share music.”

The Spark program is still accepting donations through the Bay Area Community Foundation.