Diary of a Tap Dancer

ROLE: Projection Designer

Venue: American Repertory Theater

Premier: January, 2025

CREDITS:

Written and choreographed by Ayodele Casel • Directed by Torya Beard • Compositions, Orchestrations, and Arrangements by Carlos Cippelletti & Ethan D. Pakchar • Music Direction, Keyboard Programmer, Additional Arrangements by Nick Wilders • Scenic Design Tatiana Kahvegian • Lighting Design Brandon Sterling Baker • Costume Design Camilla Dely • Projection Design Katherine Freer • Hair, Makeup, Wig Design by Earon Chew Nealy • Associate Director Yasmine Lee • Associate Choreographer Naomi Funaki • Associate Costume Designer Amanda Roberge • Associate Lighting Designer Jessica Creager • Associate Scenic Designer Matthew Buttrey • Assistant Projection Designer Arash • Projection Programmer & Engineer Jackson Cobb • Dramaturg Jessie Cameron Alick • Design Dramaturg & Artistic Advisor Susan Hilferty • Production Stage Manager Erin McCoy • Featuring: Ayodele Casel, Naomi Funaki, Afra Hines, Quynn L. Johnson, Funmi Sofola, Liberty Styles, Annaliese Wilbur, Ki’Leigh Williams

DESCRIPTION:

Trailblazing tap dancer and choreographer Ayodele Casel and longtime collaborator director Torya Beard (Chasing Magic, Funny Girl) return to A.R.T. this holiday season to share the joyful, resilient, and liberating spirit of tap. The electric new play weaves together dance, narrative, and song to reveal the power of reclaiming language, culture, and one’s own identity. This world-premiere production traces Ayodele’s life from her roots in The Bronx and Puerto Rico, while celebrating the extraordinary and often-overlooked women tap dancers who paved the way.

Production Recordings

Opening Number

Vocab (End of Act 1)

Role of Media

In Diary of a Tap Dancer, the multimedia world weaves together three element: space, time, and spirit. Through the use of color, texture, movement, and figures, the multimedia conjures the past, present and future

Space

The actual physical and ephemeral locations the story takes us as well as the media. Bronx, Puerto Rico, NYU, Africa, the rehearsal room, diary,

Time

Sets us in time. When are we and with who are we. The past of the United States. The past of the tradition of Tap. Ayodele’s past. Our shared present. Our collective future. Transitions between it all.

Spirit

Connects us to ancestors, family, collaborators, and future generations. Tap ancestors. Enslaved ancestors. Blood ancestors.

Research Imagery

Visual Vocabulary

Shadows and Silhouettes

People, Dancers, Family. Scale

Mediums of Recording

Handwritten journals, film, photos, documents.

Visual Art

Street art, collage, textiles, paint… referencing visual artists and mediums. Adding color. Building locations that are more collage, vibe, and artistic traditions of a place.