Fluid Fest - Phonetically Speaking

PHONETICALLY SPEAKING 

“Tap Dance is a Sound.  It is an expression.  It is a culture and way of life. With origins rooted in Africa which were further cultivated within African America, the grit, nuance and freedom translate to all those entrenched in its roots and practice.

This program consists of Tap Dance, Hip-Hop, and Spoken Word all unhinged and unequivocally unfiltered.  Directed by Lisa La Touche, featured artists will include L.A. 's Leo Manzari , Alberta’s Poet Laureate Wakefield Brewster and the local Tap Phonics dance crew.   Heart, Spirit, Soul and Truth hold no bounds therefore collectively as artists, Phonetically Speaking, they all got somethin’ to say.”

LISA LA TOUCHE:  BIO

As a proud Canadian and New Yorker, Lisa’s credits are world renowned. She was an original cast member in Broadway’s Shuffle Along, choreographed by Savion Glover and Directed by George C. Wolfe, where she received both the Fred Astaire Award and the Actor’s Equity Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus. She is also currently a multiple Dora Award nominee for 2022 for her performance, choreography and direction of the Tap Dance Legacy Concert c/o dance Immersion and Canadian Stage.  Her TV credits include the 70th Annual Tony Awards and Amazon’s Original “Z, The beginning of everything”. Previous highlights have also included touring with the Savion Glover production, Stepz, and also performing with both New York's Off-Broadway and the North American touring casts of STOMP. Since 2010 she has run her own performance company Tap Phonics and has been commissioned to present for organizations such as The Brooklyn Museum, 92Y, Gibney Dance and Fall For Dance North. As an educator and Professor she has taught for PACE University, NYU, The School of Jacob’s Pillow, University of Calgary, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Rosie’s Theater Kids and member of the creative council for the American Tap Dance Foundation. Her recent endeavor includes co-curating the Tap Dance Legacy Series along with Travis Knights in partnership with dance Immersion providing the local black community free access to their cultural history.  She also has written and directed her debut film TRAX encompassing her journey back to Alberta while discovering important local black history. Above all, her proudest achievement greatest inspiration, is the gift of being a mom. For further info please visit www.lisalatouche.com

Wakefield Brewster

Calgary Poet Laureate 2022 – 2024

Wakefield Brewster is a professional poet and spoken word artist who was raised in Toronto by parents from Barbados and has been based in Calgary since 2006.

Wakefield Brewster | Photo: Tamara Becker, Empire Images

In January 1999, Wakefield Brewster stepped onto his first stage as a poet and spoken word artist. Today, he is known as one of Canada’s most powerful professional performance poets.

Throughout his career, Brewster has been published in several Anthologies including T-Dot Griots (Trafford on Demand Publishing, 2004), The Great Black North (Frontenac House, 2013),The Calgary Project (Frontenac House, 2014), and The Black Prairie Archives: An Anthology (Wilfred Laurier University Press, 2019). Since moving in Calgary, he has produced two professional recordings to his credit: Wakefield Brewster, da lyrical pitbull (produced by Kill Whitey Records, 2007) and east2west (produced by Spanish Fly Music, 2008).

In addition to being a professional poet and spoken word artist, Brewster is also a professional Poetic Interpreter™, has been three-time Calgary Poetry Slam Champion & Team Captain (2006, 2008, 2009), the Inaugural Poet of Honour, People’s Poetry Festival (2011), Calgary Poet Laureate Shortlist/Finalist (2012 and 2020), the Inaugural Resident Poet & Spoken Word Artist of The Grand Theatre (2019-2021), Inaugural TD ARTIST INCUBATOR at Arts Commons and Poet-In-Residence (2021-2022), a member of the Canadian League of Poets, a board member of Elephant Artist’s Relief Society, and the Peter Gzowski Foundation For Literacy Calgary Poet Laureate (2021). Brewster is also a Registered Massage Therapist and owner of WakeFull Wellness Registered Massage Therapy & HealingSpace; a community-builder, volunteer, and leadership mentor for youth through the arts; and an Advocate for Literacy and The Humanities; Healing Arts & Alternative Medicine; Alcoholism & Addictions; Mental Wellness & Recovery.

Leo Manzari:

Originally from Washington D.C., Leo Manzari is a Lucille Lortel award-nominated tap dancer and recording artist. Manzari has headlined in the touring and Off-Broadway productions of Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life, featured Guest Artist on So You Think You Can Dance, The Mo’nique Show, The Kate TV, PBS News Hour, Jerry Lewis Telethon, and ABC’s The View. He has also featured as a solo tap dance feature in Hozier’s music video “Almost (Sweet Music)” and performed alongside Grammy Award® winning band “The Free Nationals” in various virtual events. He also headlines alongside Byron Stripling and Grammy®-nominated Jazz vocalist, Carmen Bradford in a show called Uptown Nights, which has collaborated with multiple POPS orchestras across the world including The Winnipeg Orchestra, The Florida Orchestra, The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, The San Diego Symphony, and The Philly POPS. He’s appeared in the Late Late Show with James Corden and Ariana Grande, and featured in The Harlem Globetrotters collaboration with the Philly POPS. Other credentials include a recurring role in Showtime’s television show Homeland, and lead writer and vocalist in his own original music.

TAP PHONICS: 

Artistically Directed by Lisa La Touche, Tap Phonics was founded in 2010.   The performance and production company launched as part of singer-songwriter Maya Azucena’s “Dance For Brooklyn” event where together they brought the culture and sound of jazz, hip-hop and neo soul and tap dance.   Since then, the Bessie Award nominated Tap Phonics company has been showcased throughout New York and across Canada on programing stages such as The 92Y, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Symphony Space, American Tap Dance Foundation’s “Rhythm In Motion”, Fall For Dance North and Toronto’s “Choreographer’s Ball”.  Performance company Members have included Michela Marino Lerman, Joseph Webb, Sean Jackson, Leo Manzari, Danny Nielsen, Demi Remick, Luke Hickey,  Jonathan Morin, and Laura Donaldson among others. Tap Phonics’ artistry always pay homage to the roots of Tap Dance, where it lives among Jazz Music, and its direct influence on today’s urban contemporary culture.

Fluid Fest Sponsors & Partners

CADA

AFA

Canadian Heritage

Canada Council for the Arts

Casino Fund (province of Alberta)

Marriott Hotel

Village Brewery

YYCScene

Chinook Blast

CanDance Network 

DMI

Fluid Fest Workshop Partners:

Pulse Studios

UofC

New Works Calgary

DJD 

Chinook Blast

Fluid Fest Venue Partners:

DJD

Theatre Encounter

The GRAND

Contemporary Calgary

cSpace