Cait Jones has been dancing all her life.  She honed her teaching, dancing and choreographic skills as Rehearsal Director for Footprints Tap Ensemble and as Artistic/Rehearsal Director of Footprints II, in addition to the seven years she spent as a dancing member of the ensemble. As a tap dance dynamo, she has performed at most major mid-west venues, in the Nutcracker On Broadway, and most recently at The Venetian in Las Vegas. Her choreography has been seen in Footprints' Tap Jams since 2000, Columbia College's Young Artist Showcase, the 2001 International Dance Collaboration with Russia, Forum Jazz Dance Theatre's Jazz Forum 2003, Dance Chicago and the Chicago Human Rhythm Project's concerts. Cait danced as an apprentice member of Chicago Tap Theatre and performed in their 2002 premiere, The Blue Show.  Cait continues to give private tap and jazz dance lessons and accept commissions to create choreography, as she performs and teaches tap, jazz and hip hop all over the city of Chicago.  She was kind enough to spend a bit of time telling us about her newest project, TransRhythm Tap.

SS: What is TransRhythm Tap?

CJ: TransRhythm Tap is a non-profit youth tap ensemble dedicated to preserving the history of tap dance, promoting and presenting tap to the public eye, and furthering innovation of the art form to carry the tap community into a new generation through leadership and educational opportunities.  Our dancers range in age from 10 to 18.  We are in residence at Legere Dance Centre in River Forest, Illinois.  

SS: When did you start the company?

CJ:  January 2008.  We have just begun our second season.

SS:  Chicagoland has several tap or tap-related companies already - why did you feel the need to start another one?

CJ:  Well I grew up in a youth tap ensemble in which my mom eventually took the position of business manager.  I was a director of the company for a few years, and now my younger sister holds a director title, so just about every dinner conversation I have had since I was 12 years old revolved around a youth tap ensemble.  It was something I felt I could do well, and also something I was very passionate about.  I began teaching at Legere Dance Centre in 2007 and found that my students were craving a deeper knowledge of the art form than could be provided in a one hour tap class once a week.  At their request, we launched TransRhythm Tap, and TRT2 in January of 2008.  

Our tagline is:  "We strive to transcend the norm..." and that's exactly why I felt such a strong mission in this new youth ensemble.  I want to break the mold of the typical studio experience, through a rounded extensive education that includes tap history, music theory, improvisational techniques, student choreography, performance opportunities, acting workshops, and a strong focus on developing dancers as individuals able to function and succeed outside of the youth ensemble.  

Of course I can selfishly say that I also wanted a consistent creative outlet for my choreography.  = )

SS: What makes TransRhythm Tap different?  What's your focus, what are you trying to do?

CJ:  We are different in the fact that my dancers will never be seen doing time steps in tights and a leotard.  

Besides our diverse educational program, part of our mission is to promote and present tap to the public eye.  I think that in order to reach the public, tap not only has to function as a musical entity, but as true entertainment.  I strive to choreograph in a balance that is equally as visually appealing as it is musically.  TRT dancers are encouraged to study ballet and jazz and also participate in acting workshops.

My goal is to create some absolute monsters of tap.  

SS:  How many people are in your company?  What's their background?

CJ:  Our 2009 season includes 6 dancers in the main company with 1 apprentice, and 7 dancers in the second company.  We are also launching a third tier called TRTrainees as a development ground for younger students who show potential and hunger for a more focused environment.  Our current dancers primarily hail from River Forest, Oak Park, Elmwood Park, Melrose Park, and Chicago.  TRT dancers have studied under myself, Tre Dumas, Diana Brooks and Debbie Giunta among others.  Many TRT dancers also study ballet, jazz, modern and hip hop.  

SS:  Are you the sole choreographer for TRT?

CJ: While I hold artistic direction of the company, I believe a diverse background is essential to creating skilled dancers and a good company repertoire. Our 2008 guest choreographers included Chrissy Jones and Debbie Giunta.  In 2009 we will be looking to add a historical piece of choreography with the possibility of an additional guest choreographer.  

TRT also runs a student choreography program.  

SS:  Where do you perform?

CJ:  In our first season we did a lot of local performances, developing our community ties as well as test running our new pieces.  We were also very thankful to have the opportunity to perform at Windy City Rhythms National Tap Dance Day celebrations along with other Chicago Human Rhythm Project events.  TRT and TRT2 dancers also graced the stage as reindeer in Reggio Mclaughlin's "The Nut Tapper" and as part of the shim shamming crown in Chicago's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

SS: Where do you see TransRhythm Tap in five years?  Ten years?

CJ:  I hope to see a thriving educational program with firm ties to our local community as well as the working tap world.  

SS: What's the hardest thing about starting up a new company?

CJ:  Having patience for progress.  = )

SS: What's the best thing about starting up a new company?

CJ: The reward of seeing the machine you created functioning on its own as people around you begin to believe and share in the same goals and passion.  

SS:  What would you tell someone, tapper or not, who wanted to be in a professional company?

CJ:  Anything is possible as long as you take the measures necessary to develop your skill in all facets of the art form.  Don't set your sights on one single company; thatâ€^TMs a bit of a waste, like trying to trim a square peg until it fits a round hole.  Focus on your strengths and be realistic.  Don't try to become something that you are not; that goes for the artistic shade of the company as well as the personal relationships that come with it.  

Spend time in class with the company dancers or director.  It will give you a clearer image of what's in store, and will also let members and directors become familiar with you.  

SS: What would you tell someone, tapper or not, who wanted to start their own company?

CJ: Educate yourself!  Never ever depend on someone else to show you the way, because it is your life not theirs!  The only person you can truly count on is yourself.  Do your homework!

Many thanks to Cait for sharing her wisdom.  You can learn more about Cait on her website, http://www.caitjones.com/.   Hopefully her efforts will inspire others to follow in her footsteps!

Tap, Teacher, Enthusiast, Parent, Studio, Performance (all tags)

Full discussion: http://blog.danceruniverse.com/blog/story/2009/2/21/14935/4921