Tap Dance | Legacy in Rhythm Guest Speaker
August 14
Kurt Albert is among the highest ranking tap dance leaders in Europe, having over 30 years of experience in international show business. Kurt was fortunate to learn the art of American Rhythm Tap from influential mentors such as Carnell Lyons, Brenda Bufalino, Josh Hilberman, and Buster Brown, while further advancing his training by attending workshops led by Honi Coles, Cholly Atkins, Dianne Walker, Jimmy Slyde, Sarah Petronio, Steve Condos, Eddie Brown, Fred Kelly, Prince Spencer, Cookie Cook, Fay Ray, and Leonard Reed. He was a member of Brenda Bufalino’s International Tap Dance Orchestra, and since 1990, has shared the stage frequently with Carnell Lyons, Brenda Bufalino, and Josh Hilberman. For over 30 years, Kurt has danced alongside his partner Klaus Bleis, the two of them forming Germany’s best known tap duo, Tap and Tray. Currently, as protégés and friends of Carnell Lyons, the partners are researching the tap and jazz worlds to write a biography of Carnell. In addition to his continued work with Tap and Tray, Kurt has worked with the jazz band, Melody and Rhythm, for 15 years alongside drummer, Allen Blairman, and saxophone player, Olaf Schönborn. And since 2019, Kurt has worked with Thomas Marek in their Vienna Jazz Tap Project.
Kurt’s credits as a teacher and performer include New York City’s Tap City Festival (2001, 2003, 2006, and 2014), Rhapsody in Taps Festival (Los Angeles, CA), Rhythm Tap Dance Festival (NC), Kansas City Tap Dance Day, Rhythm at the Regent (Boston, MA), Helsinki City Beat Tap Festival, International Tap Festival Limoges (France), Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Portsmouth Percussive Dance Festival (NH), Moscow Tap Parade Festival, Festival D’Estiu Reus (Spain), Tap Breizh Festival Rennes (France), Tap Ahead Festival, Tap Festival Berlin, Heidelberg Human Rhythm Projekt, Montpellier Tap Festival, and Stockholm Tap Festival, among others.
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