Young African American Tappers Pace Venerable Los Angeles Troupe

Lynn Dally and her Jazz Tap Ensemble closed their 25th anniversary celebration with Interplay, a microcosm of both the concert and the company's history. Based on phrases contributed by master Jimmy Slyde, Interplay seamlessly arranges group work, solos, and duets into a collective effort of give-and-take. Siblings Joseph and Josette Wiggan performed a jaunty boogie choreographed by Sam Weber. Weber and Channing Cook Holmes traded improvised rhythms in a series that escalated into sheer wizardry. On Cook Holmes and powerhouse Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Weber's technical influence was obvious. What may not have been so noticeable was Dally herself. A generous collaborator and director, she delights in seeing others in the spotlight; that's part of her own voice and presence. From segment to segment, piece to piece, year to year, ensemble members may come and go, but the essence and interplay of Jazz Tap Ensemble remains.