Tap Track

Kelly Isaac (he/him)

Skip Cunningham (he/him)

Meet your inspirers

Kelly Isaac started tap dancing at the early age of 4 in the metropolitan area of Washington D.C. At just 13 he began to devote himself professionally. His credits include working as a dancer in the Riverdance Tour, a review of Stormy Weather and National Tap Dance Day with Gregory Hines. He has also worked with the cast of Swing with performances at the Waldorf Astoria and Carnegie Hall in New York and the Tribute to Dudley Moore. Its inclusion in the Broadway cast of Bring in ‘ Da Noise, Bring in’ Da Funk gave Kelly the opportunity to work closely with Ted Levy and Savion Glover. He has also had the experience of working with Henry LeTang , Harold Nicholas of the Nicholas Brothers and Diane Walker among many legends of Tap Dance, and has been teaching in 20 countries around the world.

In his classes, Jazz and R&B are the musical selections to help students recognize the importance of the musicality of tap dance. The rhythms of Kelly ignite the spark and creativity to the student’s education. Even if you do not get all the steps, you are guaranteed to leave with the knowledge of something new to work on.

We are SUPER excited to welcome the legendary entertainer, tap dancer & singer Skip Cunningham! Skip is regarded as one of America’s most talented entertainers and the last great “song and dance man”. 

He has been performing on Broadway and in nightclubs, appeared in shows for tv and in films, traveled the world and recorded multiple albums. Skip was born in 1936 in Chicago and has been tap dancing since the age of 5, performing from the age of 10. He has won tons of contests as a tap dancer, singer and Jitterbug, and has been awarded three times. Throughout his career, Skip worked with famous jazz artists such as Noble Sissle, Tony Bennett, Ray Brown, Arnett Cobb, Nat King Cole, Bill Cosby, Lionel Hampton, Milt Hinton, Illinois Jacquet and Frank Sinatra. 

Skip, now 87, is looking forward to visiting us at the Upside Down Festival to teach in the Tap track and Jazz addicts track. He will also inspire you in some Pick ‘n’ Mix workshops and will be featured in the daily Shake and topical talk. And of course… he’ll perform for us!