Monday, October 9, 2017

MOTHER/DAUGHTER TAP DANCERS

Mother-Daughter Tap Team: Wendi Isaacson & Izzy Isaacson – Simply Amazing

OCTOBER 9, 2017 / CC

Izzy (left) & Wendi (right)

For one reason or another, this introduction has been particularly difficult to write, so I think it’s best if we hand it over to one of our new featured artists to get us underway.

(And nice work Zippy

)

Once you’ve seen a handful of Wendi Isaacson’s videos, you’ll know that this enthusiasm and skill is typically emblematic of her.

What is also typically emblematic is one of the comments posted to this video.

Izzy Isaacson, Wendi’s daughter, is often there to lend her support and love to her mother.

Likewise, Wendi Isaacson, Izzy’s mother, is often there to lend her support and love to her daughter.

That’s just the way things are, and the way they should be.

There is between them a true sense of sharing and a true sense of similarity.

It’s not hard to see Wendi in Izzy.

In the below video, the control and motion in Izzy’s ankles are that of her mother’s in the above video.

She has learnt and inherited from one of the best, and, from this, so too will Izzy join her mother as one of the best.

What I like most about Izzy’s number here is not her footwork nor her creation of rhythm (though, let’s be honest, they are both pretty amazing, and Megan McBride Moore’s choreography is terrific), but her brief, fleeting smiles, bright as the fresh rays of sunlight flashing through on a new morning, that come every few seconds and every few steps.

These are not an attempt to score more points nor receive more claps. These are honest reflections of a young woman in love with this form.

Consider the first minute of her routine. There are a number of spots in which the narrow and dedicated concentration on her face is broken up by a cheerful grin overflowing with happiness. She can’t help but be overcome with joy that she is doing what she loves.

It is as if all the splendour and cheer inherit in tap dancing channels within her as she graces the stage.

Is it any wonder, then, that Wendi Isaacson is her mother?

I mean, can anyone find a lady that is as cool as she is classy?

Take the below routine. Did she pre-plan to do a bit of tapping on the dock or did she just whack on the tap shoes and lay down some sounds?

And what of her as a teacher? Just look at how talented her students are.

Actions speak louder than words. The amount of knowledge she’s imparting to her students exceeds measures of quantity, and the amount of passion for the form and its history she is instilling in her students exceeds measures of quality.

A good number of the next generation of tappers might well have a footnote that acknowledges her input in fostering the form.

This comes as no surprise considering her nurturing nature. She is not just a mother of four, but a mother to many.

I could probably post about half a dozen of her tap clips here and comment on just how phenomenal she is. Her footwork is rapid-fire. Her creation and maintaining of rhythm is first-class.

My immediate thought upon being blown away by her numbers was that she deserved to have her name up in lights on Broadway. But then I had the realisation that the magnitude of success should not be confined to an excess of scale. Maybe her name up in lights in Provo, Utah, does more good and reaches more people than it would on Broadway, New York. At any rate, Utahans can take comfort in knowing that they have two Broadway-level tappers in their midst. And you never know. They might get there one day

Below was the first tap clip I ever saw of both Wendi and Izzy, and it struck me as something completely beautiful.

Here we have a mother and a daughter sharing in an activity so pure and happy that one cannot help but be awestruck and delighted from watching it.

How often do parents struggle to find that one something that they can share with their children, let alone their teenage children? With all the distractions in the world, be they parties, technology, or social media, it unfortunately can become increasingly difficult for parent and progeny to make that special connection, to find a shared interest that increases and betters the bond between them. To have that special something that is theirs.

Wendi and Izzy have that special something. In fact, the fact that they share tap––devoid of technology, seemingly “old-fashioned”––is quite remarkable.

Here is an art form that has existed for over one hundred years and has taken place across multiple continents, and it has found itself a home in a mother and her daughter in Utah. One only has to look at the comments sections on their Instagram posts to see how much Wendi and Izzy care about tap and how much the form means to them.

But, more importantly, seeing how much they care about each other, at least just in words, is enough to make your day better.

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Interview with Wendi & Izzy

When, where, and why did you start tap, and what do you like about it?

Wendi: I started tap dancing when I was 3 years old. I began in a combo class, and continued tapping that way for many years. My teacher was one of the few in the area who always was consistent in teaching tap, and it was always something I loved and looked forward to each week.

Izzy: I have been tapping since as long as I can remember. At first I did not like it—probably because my mom loved it and wanted me to like it—ha ha. I was a pill when I was little! I have learned to appreciate and love it so much!

What are your favourite steps?

Wendi: I’m obsessed with rhythms, more than steps. When I choreograph, I don’t necessarily think about what tap steps I want to use, I have rhythms that are floating around in my mind, and they seem to just come out organically. I am really enjoying time steps recently. There are infinite varieties of time steps, and all of these years later, I still love learning them, as well as creating my own.

Izzy: My favorite steps are paddles and riff walks. I am doing them all the time—including at school and at dinner.

What do your friends and the rest of your family think of tap and you as a tapper? Do they share your passion for the form?

Wendi: My friends are so sweet and supportive of my tap dancing. I’m sure my Facebook feed is so annoying—because all I ever post about is tap dance. Well that and my kids.

But those 2 things really consume most of my time right now. And I’m happy about it. I love my life right now. I’m right where I want to be, I have been blessed with amazing opportunities, I’m surrounded by the most incredible people, I get to teach the best students, and my family is my greatest joy. I have 4 amazing children, and 3 of them tap dance. The other one is an expert at pretending that he enjoys watching it.

My husband has been a drummer his whole life, so we share a love for rhythms. We have so many interesting conversations about our arts, for example he will tell me what a paradiddle is in drumming, and I will tell him what a paradiddle is in tap dance, and it gives us so much to think about and discuss. We love to go to rhythmic/percussion shows together, like STOMP, Blue Man Group, etc. He’s my prince charming, he treats me like a queen, he supports my interests, my jobs, and my shoe addiction, and I couldn’t find a more perfect match for me anywhere in the world. I’m so lucky.

Izzy: My whole family taps or supports tap. We will do it as a family sometimes, and it’s super fun! I also tap a lot with my dance team at The Dance Club and we all get to enjoy it together.

How does tap make peoples’ lives better?

Wendi: One of my favorite jobs is teaching tap to undergrad students at Brigham Young University. It is a prestigious, religious school, and is comprised of some of the most brilliant, hard-working students in the country. I have a mix of everything in my classes: dance majors, music dance theater students taking it as a requirement for their major, to chemistry majors taking it just for fun and exercise. I love to see their stress melt away as they tap their cares away. It sounds cliche, but I see a change as the hour progresses. They smile, laugh, and enjoy each others company and the art they are creating together.

Izzy: Tap, like any other art form, is a way of expression. Tap can be therapy for you as you pour out your heart in rhythm. Tap also just makes me happy. The fact that you can make rhythms and music with your feet is incredible.

How have you found the transition from student to teacher?

Izzy: I started teaching full-time as a junior in high school. Growing up in a studio with amazing teachers helped me a lot. I jumped right in and got lots of practice and grew to love the kids and went through the growing process with time. My mom helps me a lot with ideas of how to teach to different levels.

What is the most rewarding aspect of teaching students dance?

Wendi: The most rewarding thing about teaching dance is the relationships I create with other individuals, and their families. They are lifelong. Once I have your as a student—I love you for life!!

What was it like tapping on TV? How did you find that experience?

Izzy: Tapping on TV was so fun! I got to share my passion with the world and got to meet some amazing and kind people.

What other hobbies/interests do you have?

Wendi: I love reading, and used to teach secondary English for 6 years. I inherited a love for gardening and being in my yard from my mother—she’s got an amazing green thumb, and her yard is always immaculate. In the summertime, which is always way to short for my taste, I love to swim and go boating with my family.

Izzy: Besides dance, I love all things adventurous and outdoors. If I am not at home or at the studio you will find me up the canyon for sure.

What are the three best things about Utah?

Izzy: The scenery, the mountains, and the people. The atmosphere/spirit of the whole state is amazing.

What five traits do you most admire about Izzy?

Wendi: Izzy is one of the funniest humans you will ever meet. People are drawn to her because she is so fun to be around, it’s always a party, and there is always a lot of laughing involved. From a young age, she has always had a very caring heart. She loves to help others. She has a crazy, adventurous side that frankly terrifies me a bit. She loves thrill and adventure. She never has a cell phone signal because she is always up in the mountains jeeping, hiking, or jumping in the lake. She lives life to the fullest.

What five traits do you most admire about your mum?

Izzy: She is driven. She finds what she wants and she does everything she needs to do to make it happen. She is loving, whether it is for her family, students, or even my friends. She is always there for any one with open arms. She is beautiful, inside and out. People always ask if we are sisters, and we laugh. But she also has the most beautiful heart and you can see it in her aura. She is an amazing teacher. Her patience with students is something I admire. She is also always furthering her education and learning new things to share with us. She is a friend. You will not meet anyone more loyal to you than this woman. She is amazing and I love her.

Mothers and daughters bond over a number of activities, be it shopping, travelling, playing games, and/or dining out. What is your favourite thing to do with each other?

Wendi: She is my only daughter, and as she’s getting older (I still can’t believe she will turn 18 this month) I feel so blessed to have her as my best friend for life. Whenever I experience something special, my first thought is “I wish Izzy was here with me, she would just love this.” We have been able to travel together a lot for dance, and after many exhausting hours of dance, we still seem to stay up into the late hours laughing and eating too much candy. And don’t even get me started about how much fun we have shopping! We can shop for hours, and my husband is scared when we hit the mall because he knows it is going to be expensive!

Izzy: My mom and I bond over so much. She is my best friend. My two favorite things to do with her are shopping and just when we are goofy and can’t stop laughing. Any time spent with her is fun.

What is Izzy’s best quality as a tapper, and which performance/number of hers is your favourite?

Wendi: Izzy has amazing timing and rhythm. She feels the beat inside of her body, and she is right on the music. Recently she has really started to come into her own as an improvisational dancer. It’s so fun to watch her grow and perform. And she lights up the stage. Just like any proud mother, I can’t stop grinning when I get to watch her perform.

What is your mum’s best quality as a tapper, and which performance/number of hers is your favourite?

Izzy: Her best quality as a tap dancer and teacher is her love and confidence in the art form. When you watch someone dance and you can tell they love and enjoy it, it’s magical. And my favorite routine is her duet with her TapFest partner, Debby Robertson. They performed it on chairs at the Utah TapFest show.

Whether you’re dancing alongside one another or watching the other perform or teach, what is it like to share tap with each other?

Wendi: Sharing tap dance with Izzy is an absolute blast. We spontaneous break out into tap everywhere. And about a month ago we were in Idaho for a boating vacation and she said, “Mom! I brought my tap shoes so we could make tap videos at the dock.” It was a proud moment for me! Of course I always have several pairs of my own tap shoes in the car, and we did got to the dock and tap together, and oh….I just love her so much. She’s so much fun.

Izzy: Sharing tap with my mom is just another thing that connects us and is unique. It has definitely brought the two of us closer and has created another bond between us. We love to make tap videos of ourselves all the time. It is a blast.

What makes Izzy the best daughter in the world?

Wendi: Izzy brings so much laughter into our home. She is the oldest child, and she takes such great care of her 3 younger brothers. They all worship her, and love when she is around.

How has she made your life better?

Wendi: I never want to imagine life without Izzy (or any of my children) in it. My husband I rarely travel without them, and when we do, we find ourselves missing them, and wishing they were with us. Our family unit is strong, and though we’ve been through some difficult challenges together, we’ve learned that family is everything. We can always rely on each other, and we stick together.

What makes Wendi the best mother in the world?

Izzy: What makes PinkWendi the best mom in the world? Geez. That a tough question. There are so many factors leading into that. She is so kind and loving, and is so fun and makes me laugh always! I love her so much. She is the best mom ever.

How has she made your life better?

Izzy: She has made my life better by being an example to me and giving me guidance. She is my friend when I need one. She listens to me. We go on spontaneous trips. And she has so much motherly wisdom. Even my friends come to PinkWendi for advice.

What role does faith play in your life, and how important is a relationship with Jesus Christ?

Wendi: I am so lucky that I have been raised with the knowledge that I have a Saviour, Jesus Christ, and a Heavenly Father Who loves me, and is always there for me. This life is not easy, but we never need to go through hard things alone. Prayer and church worship has gotten me through some dark and lonely times, and my relationship with Jesus Christ is always an unwavering anchor. I love Him and will praise His name forever. I dedicate my dancing to Him, and I thank Him for a healthy body that allows me to be able to dance.

Izzy: It’s very important. The Gospel of Jesus Christ makes me happy. With everything that is going on in this world, and being a high school student, I’m glad that I have my faith that brings me so much joy. And it can bring joy to everyone, no matter what they are going through.

What has God done for you, and why should people accept Him if they haven’t already?

Wendi: God’s love is unconditional—He loves us all so much, and values every single one of us. When I take the time to see others through His eyes, it is impossible not to love every one of my fellow man. We live in a turbulent time, there is much sadness, destruction, hatred, and war, and it would be easy to live a life of fear. But my knowledge and foundation in God and Jesus Christ is my strength. I want to share this knowledge with everyone, because it brings me so much peace and happiness. Life is meant to be full of joy, and God wants us to be happy. And because of Him, I am.

Izzy: I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints—also known as the Mormon Church. I know that I have been promised blessings. There are certain things that He has promised us—if we do what He asks, He WILL bless us. When I dance on stage, I always say a prayer. I pray for comfort, and so I can remember the things I have practiced. Every time I pray, whether at dance, before a performance, at school, or wherever, it always brings me peace.

Earlier I wrote that the fact that Wendi and Izzy share tap is beautiful. It is not only beautiful, but reassuring and hopeful.

It reassures us that such a loving and genuine bond between parent and child can still come to fruition in an age of endless outlets and devices, and it makes us hopeful that we too can replicate that in our own lives.

I take it that if they began a tap class for mothers and daughters, or even families, the amount of sheer love and happiness that radiated from their studio would be heard across states and felt throughout generations.

Wendi and Izzy are many things. They are committed believers in God. They are devoted and caring family-members. They are splendid tap dancers. They are Utah through and through. They are beautiful inside and out.

Wendi is a daughter, a wife, a mother, a friend, a teacher, and family. She not only possesses all the good traits of these roles, but embodies them. She is loving. She is supportive. She is understanding. She is personable. She is charismatic. She is devoted. She is who every family needs and has what every person can learn from.

Izzy is a ray of hope. Whether watching her light up the stage or light up the faces of those who she teaches, there is only brightness about her, and there is only brightness about those in her presence.

They are role models.

And it is a testament to the four men and other family-members in their lives that Wendi and Izzy are so kind, confident, friendly, and strong, for a family is a collaborative unit in whom its members are continually strengthened, and these two women are nothing short of extraordinary on multiple fronts. This family is a living embodiment of Proverbs 27:17.

Simply by being in Wendi and Izzy’s presence do we become closer to all that which is good.

We become closer to a family who our own clans can aspire to be like.

We become closer to bravery, for a mark of courage is to stand up and perform by oneself as the world watches them tell the stories of their heart.

We become closer to happiness, for the rhythm of their feet sing a song in tune with jubilation.

We become closer to selflessness, for to give up one’s own time to teach another is the work of a soul grounded in and abounding with love.

We become closer to the future, for their work today instils in us hope for tomorrow, that the next generation of dancers will carry on their talent and passion.

And, most importantly, we become closer to God.

Our Lord has blessed the Earth with many angels. Wendi and Izzy are two of them.

God Bless,

Wendi’s bio

Wendi Isaacson holds her degree from Brigham Young University, where she graduated with University Honors in English and Dance Education.

Wendi currenty performs with and is a member of Foot Poetry Dance Ensemble. In addition she is the Founder/Choreographer/Director of Rhythm Nation Tap Company, a professional tap dance company based out of Utah, where she further expands her talents and skills by directing and creating tap choreography for film.

While Wendi lived in Louisville, KY, she was asked to take over the school’s struggling dance team. That year, they took 1st place at the Regional competition for the first time in 30 years. Wendi also placed in the top three in the teacher’s freestyle division every year.

She has trained under Savion Glover, Chloe Arnold, Jason Samuels Smith, Ayodele Casel, Mike Minery, Anthony Morigerato, Ivery Wheeler, Jared Grimes, Melinda Sullivan, Bril Barrett, to name a few.

Wendi was the Founder and Director of the Dance Makers Studio for 10 years. Her team and solo choreography has won many awards at the state as well as national level. Wendi is a highly sought-after teacher and is on tap faculty at Brigham Young University, The Dance Club, Center Stage, and Millennium Dance Complex SLC. She is faculty and assistant director for the Utah TapFest, and guest faculty at LV TapFest and Nashville Tap Experiment. Wendi is committed to teaching the highest level of technique, and inspiring her students to achieve personal bests every day.

Izzy’s bio

Izzy began her training at Dance Makers, owned and directed my her mother, Wendi Isaacson. After her mother sold her studio, she continued her formal ballet training at Jacqueline’s School of Ballet, and then eventually ended up at The Dance Club, where she was highly involved in the competitive dance world, competing all of the country with her team, as well as touring with the Vibe Company for 3 years with Hollywood Vibe Dance conventions, assisting faculty such as Liz Imperio, Alison Holker, Kevin Maher, Ryan Lohoff, and David Moore. Izzy currently teaches dance at Kaleidoscope Dance Studio, Vision Dance Center, and The Performers Place.

Her movie and TV experience includes dancing in Dear Dumb Diary, Diedre and Laney Rob a Train, Granite Flats, and a Lagoon commercial.

Performances of note include: Nutcracker (5 years), Hansel and Gretel, Legend of Timpanogos, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Thriller, Disneyland Performer, and evening performer in Cancun, Mexico.

She has received numerous awards and scholarships for her dancing, including full ride to Joffrey Ballet, NYCDA, Hollywood Vibe, NUVO, LA Dance Magic (Magic Performer of the Weekend), JUMP, National Grand Champion America Onstage Competition, ASH, full ride scholarship to Relativity School, and AMDA college summer program.