Jan. 25, 2008 — “Tap! Starring Baakari Wilder” will showcase the choreography and improvisation of Wilder: tap percussionist, teacher, choreographer and actor. The performance will be held at Prior-Jollek Hall on the Antilles School campus at 7:30PM on Friday, Feb. 1. Tickets are $5 for all ages.
Baakari Wilder’s career began at age 12, when he opened a show at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. for legendary tappers Harold Nicholas, Sandmann Simms, Brenda Buffalino and Savion Glover. Wilder studied under Savion Glover, Gregory Hines, Brenda Buffalino, Yvonne Edwards and Renee Kreithen. He has performed at the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian, Carnegie Hall, and Jazz@Lincoln Center. He is best known for his role in the Broadway hit, “Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk,” in which he understudied Glover from 1996- 1999. He replaced Glover in the final year of the production. Baakari was also a student of Phillip Levy, Middle School theater teacher at Antilles School high school.
From Jan. 30 through Feb. 1, Wilder will host workshops for tap students and other dance students. The workshops will be held in the Lower School Auditorium at Antilles School. To allow as many students as possible to attend, workshops will be held after school hours and divided into the following groups:
Wednesday, January 30, 2:45-3:30 pm: Tap students, pre-K through grade 1
Wednesday, January 30, 3:30-4:30 pm: Tap students, grades 2 through 5
Thursday, January 31, 2:45-3:30 pm: Non-tap students, pre-K through grade 1
Thursday, January 31, 3:30-4:30 pm: Non-tap students, grades 2 through 5
Thursday, January 31, 4:30-5:30 pm: Non-tap students, Middle and Upper School
Friday, February 1, 4:00-5:00 pm: Tap students, Middle and Upper School
Non-tap students would include modern dance, ballet and jazz students as well as cheerleaders, models and queen contestants. If you have questions about which workshop you belong in, please check with Jackie Nelthropp, director of the Antilles School after-school program who is helping to organize the event: [email protected] or 776-1600, x 270.
The free workshops and $5 performance were made possible by the generosity of Antilles School and the Forum through a grant from Golden Eagle Financial, an EDC beneficiary that supports education in the Virgin Islands. Special thanks also go to Bolongo Bay Beach Resort for Baakari;s accommodations. .
To reserve performance tickets or workshop spaces leave a message with your name and number at 776-1600, x232 or 690-4350. Or email Joan Amerling, event organizer at: [email protected].