Header Graphic
Representing Talent Worldwide
Jason Samuels Smith

“an all-out sensation…the entertainment is intoxicating…” – Chicago Tribune

“...rhythmic brilliance…” – Chicago Sun Times

 

Jason Samuels Smith (performer, choreographer, instructor, speaker, actor) is a multi-talented leader and lifelong advocate for the Art form of Tap. Over the course of his extensive travels, he has influenced, and at times, introduced the culture of tap dance to audiences of all ages and social economic backgrounds. Accolades include a Dance Magazine Award, an Emmy and an American Choreography Award for “Outstanding Choreography”. Mr. Samuels-Smith has also received Bessie recognition (NY Dance and Performance Awards); the Gregory Hines Humanitarian Award; Hoofers Award; Certificate of Appreciation by the City of Los Angeles for creating the First Annual Los Angeles Tap Festival (2003); 

Proclamation declaring April 23rd “Jason Samuels Day” from the City of Shreveport, Louisiana; the “Ivy of Education” from Brainerd Institute; the “President Kenny Award” from Stony Brook; an Andrew Mellon Grant/ Joyce Foundation Residency; an Alpert/ McDowell Residency Award; an Arts International Grant; National Performance Network and Map funding among others in support of his work. 

Choreography and special guest performances include feature films Outkast’s feature film “Idlewild”; Black Nativity; TV hit series Psych with Dule Hill as well as a live performance for Comic Con; Grammy Artist Mya on CBS's Secret Talents of The Stars; Fox's hit series So You Think You Can Dance (solo & company special guest performances); ABC’s Dancing With The Stars; and special guest appearances with world renowned singers including Jennifer Halliday and Lalah Hathaway. Other television and film credits include the TV One Christmas Special (2013), Dean Hargrove’s award-winning short film “Tap Heat” (co-star) and full length documentary “Tap World” (Executive Consultant); co-star of dance documentary UPAJ which aired on PBS (2014); Nostalgia:A Tap Film; AlleyOop Films music videos “Kaleidoscope” and “Nautilus”; and Debbie Allen’s AMC series “Cool Women” to name a few. Performances include Sammy (tribute to Sammy Davis jr.); Soul Possessed (leading role); Tony Award winning Broadway cast of Bring in Da’Noise, Bring in Da’Funk  (principal and lead roles); Savion Glover’s NYOTs (Not Your Ordinary Tappers and Imagine Tap!(leading role). He appeared in Michael Jackson’s music video “Rock My World”. Other stage credits include Cross Currents: Turned on Tap at the Queen Elizabeth Hall - South Bank in London, Harlem Jazz Dance Festivals, TAAP: The Art and Appreciation of Percussion , the NY Tap Committee/Town Hall’s 21Below! with Jennifer Holliday, The Cotton Club Returns: A Tribute to Great Jazz Legends, the American Institute of Vernacular Jazz Dance’s Darktown Strutters Ball Gala, the Career Transition For Dancers 20th Anniversary Jubilee among others.  

Jason Samuels Smith is a 2021 NDP Finalist Grant Award recipient. Support was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts with funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to address continued sustainability needs during COVID-19 and in support of Diggin In The Crates.” 

 

 

Mr. Samuels Smith continues to tour the world with his own tap company formerly known as A.C.G.I (Anybody Can Get It); JaJa Productions Band; Chasing The Bird - A Charlie Parker inspired work; “Transformation: Rhythm’s Roots , a collaboration with critically acclaimed musician Owen “Fiidla” Brown (commissioned by the Charles & Joan Gross Family Foundation).  He was commissioned by Harlem Stage to create Going The Miles in celebration of Miles Davis’ anniversary, and collaborated on NY Times Best of Dance touring work with Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Derick K. Grant and Camille A. Brown known as And Still You Must Swing. After 10 years of touring worldwide to sold-out audiences and critical acclaim, India Jazz Suites also billed as Fastest Feet In Rhythm has come to an end due to the untimely passing of great friend and co-star Kathak Master Pandit Chitresh Das (2015). The historic collaboration was memorialized in the critically acclaimed documentary Upaj:Improvise. 

Solo and company Performances have included some of the world’s most prestigious venues including an exclusive 2-week sold-out engagement at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, The Joyce, Danse Encore, Royal Carre Theater in Amsterdam, Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, The Apollo, Carnagie Hall, Lincoln Center, the New York City Center Fall for Dance Festival, The Kennedy Center, and at Sadlers Wells, Teatro Municipal in Brazil, Beizhan Theater in China.

Jason’s extensive work as an instructor/mentor has had an immense impact on opening the doors to many careers of successful working tap dancers in the industry today. In addition to ongoing classes on faculty at Broadway Dance Center (NYC) and special guest workshops at Steps On Broadway (NYC), he founded and developed the Tap program and Monday Night Tap Jam at Debbie Allen Dance Academy (LA) and has consulted on several founding Tap festivals, projects and events in order to help garner success in supporting venues that highlight rhythmic arts. Jason has also privately trained numerous artists in the industry as well as coached dancers to prepare for Broadway and beyond. 

As a humanitarian, Jason has supported organizations such as Dancers Responding to Aids, Tied to Greatness, Career Transitions for Dancers, Groove With Me and Tap Into A Cure, and Witness, to name a few. As the first official Tap representative for BLOCH, he successfully designed, tested and developed his own professional tap shoe. Jason aims to promote lasting respect for the art form and to create opportunities for tap dancers, as he continues to provide leadership and open doors for Tap dancers around the world. 

 

MUSIC FROM JAJA PRODUCTIONS:

JAJA Productions on MYSPACE

JASON SAMUELS SMITH on YOUTUBE

JASON SAMUELS SMITH on INSTAGRAM

JASON SAMUELS SMITH on FACEBOOK

TAP Warm-up volume 1 is currently available for purchase through www.divinerhythmproductions.com

 TAP HEAT: The Complete DVD www.tapheat.com - is also available for purchase! 

 

===================================================

ANNUAL LA TAP FESTIVAL: www.theLATapFest.com 

BLOCH VIDEO LAUNCHED:

 

Check out The Kaleidoscope Blog: http://alleyoopfilms.wordpress.com/