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Founded in 1991 by Renee Kreithen and Yvonne Edwards, Tappers With Attitude Youth Ensemble (TWA) is a unique and multicultural group of young dancers on the cutting edge of the renaissance of tap dance. Now under the direction of Victoria Moss, TWA is made up of dancers ranging in age from ten to eighteen from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
TWAıs mission is to preserve and promote tap dance as a percussive art with an emphasis on the jazz tradition, and to foster a new generation to carry on the art. In addition to presenting works by nationally known tap artists, the company commissions new choreography by emerging tap choreographers, and encourages and assists TWA dancers to choreograph, thereby nurturing the creation of new expressions and voices in tap.
TWA has performed nationally and on stages throughout the Washington metropolitan area, and has appeared on local and national television. Performance highlights include: Wolf Trapıs Filene Center and Childrenıs Theatre-in-the-Woods, the Scholastic National Arts Awards, the Smithsonian Institution, Carter Barron Amphitheater, Franklin & Marshall College, the Kennedy Centerıs Millennium Stage, the New York City Tap Festival, the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, and the Chicago Human Rhythm Project. TWA was especially honored to be selected to perform in the Kennedy Center Honorsı tribute to Shirley Temple Black.
Tappers With Attitude Youth Ensemble is a program of Tappers With Attitude, Inc., a nonprofit performing arts organization based at Knock On Wood Tap Studio in Silver Spring, Maryland. Tappers With Attitude, Inc. is a recipient of a Cultural Alliance Business Volunteer for the Arts Organization award, and has been awarded grants from The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, The Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, The Philip L. Graham Fund, and the Montgomery County Arts and Humanities Council.
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Victoria Moss
Director, Tappers With Attitude Youth Ensemble
Executive Director, Tappers With Attitude, Inc.
More than forty years after tapping her first steps, Victoria Mossıs heart still beats to the rhythms of percussive dance. Her background in dance education and arts administration includes her role as a former Director of Childrenıs Programs at Chicagoıs renowned Old School of Folk Music. Other credentials include her work as an artist-in-residence with Urban Gateways, a preeminent arts-in-education organization, and artistic director for a regional touring dance company in Chicago. Ms. Vicki joined TWA six years ago, bringing with her an extensive knowledge of the traditional arts, and a passion for nurturing young artists who join her in believing that "Roots Give Wings."
Yvonne Edwards
Yvonne Edwards, Assistant Director,
Tappers With Attitude Youth Ensemble.
Studio Director, Knock On Wood Tap Studio
A native Washingtonian, Yvonne Edwards is Washingtonıs celebrated "Tap Lady." She has been dancing, teaching, and choreographing for over fifty years. Ms. Yvonne has taught master classes at the Black College Dance Exchange in Atlanta and at the New York City Tap Festival. Her choreography is featured by Step Aside Tap Company, Tappers With Attitude, and the Morgan State Dance Ensemble. She has long been sponsored by the Washington Performing Arts Societyıs Artists in Schools Program, and in 1993 was the recipient of the "Contribution to Dance in the District" award presented by the DC Ensemble, DC Arts and Humanities, and DC Art Works.
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