Art Beat Tap Festival 2025 8:30pm Show

Sun, Feb 16

8:30pm Show The Art Beat Tap Festival is a vibrant celebration that draws dancers from across the nation to central Texas, showcasing the rich and dynamic American art form of tap dance. The culmination of this exciting weekend is a faculty show held at the prestigious Parker Jazz Club, featuring a stellar lineup of artists, including Terrance Bennett, Terry Brock, Jay Fagan, Nicole Hockenberry, Brenna Kuhn, and Sarah Savelli. Enhancing the evening's brilliance, this performance will feature the premiere of The Dig Tap Society’s The Oscar Set—a heartfelt tribute to the late, great Oscar Peterson in honor of his centennial birthday celebration this summer. Renowned as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Peterson’s unparalleled technique, creativity, and improvisational genius defined a generation of jazz. Known as “the Maharaja of the Keyboard,” his profound contributions to jazz included collaborations with legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, as well as his groundbreaking solo work that set new standards in the genre. Through vibrant choreography by Sarah Savelli, The Oscar Set brings Peterson’s enduring legacy to life, blending the rhythm of tap dance with the timeless brilliance of his music. Get ready for a night of unparalleled artistry and rhythmic storytelling that pays homage to a true jazz master and introduces exciting new dimensions to the world of tap dance.