Arts Fifth Avenue is proud to welcome tap legend Sarah Petronio back to Fort Worth after an absence of more than 10 years. Petronio will be teaching Jazz Tap master classes on November 5, 7, and 9, and will cap the week with a benefit performance on November 10, 2006.

American Jazz Tap Artist Sarah Petronio was born and raised in India. She immigrated to New York at the age of 19 and later moved to Paris, France, where she became the dancing partner of Tap Legend Jimmy Slyde in the 1970’s. The duo performed their tap and jazz concert “It’s About Time” at concerts, and Jazz festivals throughout Europe.

A major force in introducing rhythm tap to French audiences, Petronio headed the Tap Dance Department of the American Center in Paris, founded the Gît-le-Coeur Cultural Center and the Paris Tap Dance Company. In 1994, she joined the faculty of the Dance Center of Columbia College in Chicago and created the “Chicago on Tap” festival.

She has broken ground as a woman in the jazz world, bringing her special style of rhythms and improvisation to jazz clubs, and Jazz and Dance Festivals including Umbria Jazz, Jazz Yatra India, Juan-les-Pins, Antibes, Avignon, Cannes, Ravinia Jazz Perth Jazz, Colorado Dance Festival, Portland, Boston’s “Dance Umbrella”, Texas “Sole to Soul”, Saint Louis, Kansas City, New York “Tap City”, “Chicago on Tap”, Israel, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Spain, Tokyo and many more.

Sarah has shared the stage with Gregory Hines, Honi Coles, Steve Condos, the Nicholas Brothers, LaVaughn Robinson, Dianne Walker, Brenda Bufalino, Savion Glover and many other great younger dancers.

Currently residing in Paris, she regularly performs her “Jazz in Motion” concerts – often as a soloist, sometimes with her daughter, Leela Petronio – accompanied by some of Europe’s finest musicians. She was the recipient of the Moscow TapParade award, the Lexington Tapestry award for excellence in teaching and performing and the 2005 Hoofer award from the American Tap Dance Foundation in New York City.

MASTER CLASSES with SARAH PETRONIO at Arts Fifth Avenue:

Sunday, November 5, 2006
$25.00 – 1 Class
$40.00 – 2 Classes
$ 5.00 – Observation fee (per class)

2:00 – 3:15 pm The Jazz Tap Experience – Listening and Learning (mixed levels)
3:30 – 5:00 pm It’s About Time – Sharing the Experience (intermediate-advanced)
5:15 – 6:00 pm Reception included in cost of class

Tuesday, November 7, 2006
$20.00 – Each class
$ 5.00 – Observation fee (per class)

1:30 – 2:30 pm Jazz Tap (intermediate-advanced)
7:00 – 8:00 pm Jazz Tap (mixed levels)

Thursday, November 9, 2006
$20.00 – Each class
$ 5.00 – Observation fee (per class)

1:30 – 2:30 pm Jazz Tap (intermediate-advanced)
6:00 – 7:00 pm Jazz Tap (mixed levels)

SPECIAL BENEFIT CABARET PERFORMANCE

Friday, November 10, 2006 at 8:00 pm
$25.00 – Admission (includes a light buffet)

Reservations: Call 817.923.9500