International Tap Association Moves to Austin, Texas - Acia Gray Named President

Stacie Strong | Jul 01, 2008 | 1

Acia Gray

The International Tap Association - the world's only service organization for tap - has just moved its headquarters to Austin, Texas, and named Acia Gray, the co-founder and Artistic Director of Tapestry Dance Company, as president.  Read on to learn more about how ITA can benefit you and what this move means for the ITA's many members.

Acia Gray - long known as a talented and innovative tap dancer as well as the artistic and executive director of Tapestry Dance Company (see http://www.tapestry.org/) - has just been named president of the International Tap Association.  The ITA was founded in 1987 under the umbrella of the Colorado Dance Festival with Charles "Honi" Coles as Honorary Chairman and Gregory Hines as Honorary President. The brainchild of Sali Ann Kriegsman, past director of the NEA's Dance Program and Jacob's Pillow as well as dance consultant to the Smithsonian Institute and Marda Kirn, founder of the Colorado Dance Festival, the ITA has long been a massive leading force in the world of tap.  

Serving over 1000 members in 28 countries, the ITA provides a variety of benefits to its members, who range from first time tappers and fans to the most extraordinary artists of our time. Membership benefits include access to grant funding, discounts, a clearing house, and the 64-68 page magazine, On Tap, the only worldwide magazine dedicated to tap, and much more.

The ITA promotes the understanding, preservation and development of tap dance as an art form. Its aims are to:

EDUCATE people about tap as an art form.
ENCOURAGE the creation of new tap performance venues and touring circuits.
PRESERVE the history of tap through archival documentation and research.
ESTABLISH support mechanisms and communication networks for tap.
UNITE tap dancers and enthusiasts around the world.

Gray has long been involved with the ITA in a leadership capacity, and her taking the executive position promises to bring new life and energy to the organization while it transitions to a stronger website presence.  By improving its internet capacity, the ITA can expand its reach to members around the world, offering easier access to news, archival writings, history and the preservation and promotion of the art of tap dance.

Learn more about the ITA at its website, http://www.tapdance.org/tap/ita/.

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