Guest Curator Rumi jeraj

From Rumi:

"As Guest curator I'm interested in doing a deep dive into one of the most personal tools of my craft: My tap shoes. I'm planning on using this opportunity to do some research into the history of tap shoes and their innovation over the last 50 years in order to dream up and create some Tap shoes of tomorrow. With the help of designers, shoe makers and members of the Canadian tap dance community I will explore other artists' dream shoes or what they think the tap shoe of the future might look like.

The project will document the creation process of these shoes and showcase the artists who have dreamed them up. I'm hoping this process will be a chance to collectively dream and expand the ways we see our instrument."

SHOE DREAMS: THE EXHIBITION

SHOE DREAMS: The Exhibition

Gallery 1065 at 1065 Bloor St. W

June 21- June 29


Open from 11am - 4pm each day

Reception on June 26 (6pm-9pm)



Earlier this year, Dancemakers Guest Curator Rumi Jeraj put out a call for Tap Dance artists looking to dream up the shoe of the future.

Five tap artists were matched with artisans and experts from every discipline: from music technology, to metal workers, and of course shoemakers.

The result has been an extraordinary journey into the worlds of tap, craft and performance and how many hands are involved in the process of imagining the future through a shoe.



Experience the materials and sounds that shape the dreams of Toronto's tap dancers, and watch the process of innovating an instrument unfold before your eyes.



RSVP for the evening reception on June 26 with more gallery activations to be announced shortly!

THE EVOLUTION OF TAP: PERFORMANCE LECTURE AT THE BATA SHOE MUSEUM

The Evolution of Tap Dance
Hosted by the Bata Shoe Museum
Wednesday June 25 
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm (doors at 6:30)
Location: Bata Shoe Museum (327 Bloor St. W)


Tickets:
$15 General,
$10 Senior (65+), Students (with ID) and Arts Workers

Step into the world of tap dance with Rumi Jeraj and Travis Knights as they take you on an engaging journey through the history, artistry, and innovation of tap shoes. From their origins as humble wooden-soled footwear to the vibrant designs and styles seen today, tap shoes tell a story about the evolution of the dance and the dancers who wear them.

Discover the creative process behind modern advancements in tap footwear, including insights from the duo’s recent work through Shoe Dreams, curated by Rumi Jeraj. Through lively conversation, rhythmic demonstrations, and personal anecdotes, Rumi and Travis will bring the world of tap to life in this presentation.

Learn, laugh, and listen to the mesmerizing sounds of tap dance and the shoes that help define the art form.

THE ARTIST RESEARCHERS OF SHOE DREAMS

Research Pod 1: Elise, Jasmine, Jonah & Kristina

Elise McGrenera is a tap dancer from Vancouver, Canada currently living in Toronto, Ontario. Elise is an alumna of the School at Jacob's Pillow where she was accepted into the 2019 tap dance program and performed in the schools annual fundraiser held in the Ted Shawn Theatre. She was a featured dancer in the 2019 Vancouver premier of Danny Nielsen’s On Foot and joined the cast again in 2023 for their BC tour. Elise was featured in both the 2021 and 2022 productions of Jeffrey Dawson and Friends presented by the Vancouver Tap Dance Society. In 2022, Elise co-founded the tap dance collective Boys’ Club which has which has been selected for national and international residencies and performances at tanzhaus nrw (DE), TOES for Dance, Leña Arts Residency, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, the Claquettes Club (BE), and Golem’s Theatre (ES). Elise continues to immerse herself into the jazz music scene in Toronto and is thrilled to be a part of this new Dance Makers project.

Jasmine Martins is a footwear designer whose passion began in childhood and flourished through hands-on learning and global experiences. While studying Fashion Design at George Brown College, she took her first shoemaking class at Art and Sole Academy in 2015, sparking a lifelong love for the craft. This led her to a short summer course at the University of the Arts London, and later to Arsutoria in Milan, where she honed her skills in pattern-making. After completing a bespoke-focused internship with a local Cordwainer, Jasmine returned to Arsutoria for advanced training in 3D design and sneaker development.

In 2020, amid the global pandemic, she launched Jasmine Martins Footwear—a made-to-order independent brand rooted in individuality, colour, and precision fit. Her collections have since expanded to include bespoke services and freelance design. With a rising presence in Canada’s creative scene, Jasmine continues to explore meaningful collaborations and projects, always inspired to make each design as unique as the client wearing it.

Jonah Hamilton is a professional dancer, choreographer, teacher, and healthcare worker based in the GTA. For the past decade, Jonah has pursued every opportunity to expand his knowledge and experience in the arts, fitness, and health science.

Jonah is honoured to have been 1 of 15 Canadian tap dancers chosen for the Dianne Walker Residency program hosted by Toffan Rhythm Projects. He had the opportunity to learn from the Legendary Dianne Walker and perform the works of Leon Collins at the 2022 Toronto International Tap Dance Festival, as well as the Brenda Bufalino residency in 2024 where he learnt American Tap Dance Orchestra repertoire and performed on stage with Brenda Bufalino. Most recently, you may have seen him performing on stage with the Toronto Rhythm Initiative, The Rhythm Ensemble, and collaborating with a new community outreach program “Ripple Effect” in development with Toffan Rhythm projects.

Currently, Jonah is working as a student Athletic Therapist for the National Ballet of Canada and will graduate with a BSc of Kinesiology & Health Science and become a Certified Athletic Therapist by June 2025. With his post-secondary studies coming to an end, Jonah is diving head-first into his career as an artist, actively developing his voice and investing in training a variety of disciplines.

Kristina Guison is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Toronto. She received her BFA in Sculpture / Installation from OCAD (2016) and her BSc in Psychology with minors in Biology and Anthropology from University of Toronto (2023). Kristina’s practice draws from philosophy, psychology, biology and culture. Thematically, she is exploring patterns that shape our experience and perception of temporal realities through materiality and sound. Her practice involves metal fabrication, modifying found objects, burying and submerging materials/sculptures in natural environment to facilitate time-based and object-environment interaction. Guison has received awards from the Toronto Arts Council, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, University of Toronto and OCAD University. Through the years, she has worked on art projects and collaborated with musicians, dancers and sound artists in Toronto, The Philippines and Spain.

Research Pod 2: Johnny & Jasmine

Johnathan Morin is a 34 year old indigenous (Nehiyaw) tap dancerhailing from Treaty 6 Edmonton, Alberta. Now residing in Treaty 13 Toronto Ontario he is a force in the tap dance community and known across the country and around the world. A Dora Award Nominee, Johnathan co-produces and co directs Rhythm and Sound Dance Company alongside Cori Giannotta and also runs his own drop in classes in

Toronto. His passion for the dance has brought him across the country as well as internationally as a performer and educator. Some of his accolades include Tap Ahead Festival in Düsseldorf Germany, TD Toronto Jazz Festival, Sarah Reich's Tap Music Project, Vancouver International Tap Festival, and the Toronto International Tap Festival.

With his talent, dedication, and impressive list of accomplishments, Johnathan Morin is sure to continue making rhythmic waves in the world of Canadian tap dance for years to come.

Research Pod 3: Sophie & Brianna

Sophie Moynan is a multidisciplinary artist based in Tkaronto, working in prop making, leatherwork, shoemaking, and visual art. She has worked with the Canadian Opera Company, Canadian Stage, Soulpepper Theatre, and Factory Theatre.

In 2018, Sophie trained in shoemaking at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. She has since worked as a cobbler at Sole Survivor and learnt Western boot making from a cordwainer in Calgary.

Outside of theatre, Sophie has created props for Juno-nominated band GOODKID’s concert tours. She maintains an artist practice in her home studio and in spring 2025, her work was included in A Piece of Cloth, a quilted community fundraiser organised by The Public Studios in support of the Palestinian Youth Movement.

Sophie graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University’s Theatre Production programme in 2017. She is committed to supporting emerging artists and sharing the knowledge passed down to her by her mentors.

Brianna is a tap dance-based artist whose work explores textural soundscapes, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and fosters opportunities for youth in her hometown of Barrie. Rooted in the historical relationship between tap dance and jazz, her practice celebrates Canadian history, leading her to co-produce a Culture Days event and organize a community visit with tap dance elder Joey Hollingsworth. Her artistic approach is shaped by the vibrant music and dance communities around her, particularly through her role on the production team for the Toronto International Tap Dance Festival and her involvement in the Heather Cornell Legacy Project. These experiences led to her recent participation in the Leña residency, where she co-created original compositions with her newly formed collective, Haut Haus, a group composed equally of instrumentalists and tap dancers. Brianna’s current creative projects are guided by a curiosity about tap dance’s origins in drumming, a focus that inspired her creation for Shoe Dreams!

Research Pod 4: Travis, Connie & Zubin

Born in Montreal, Canada, Travis was introduced to the rich oral tradition of Tap by his teacher Ethel Bruneau at age 10. He went on to travel the world spreading his love of rhythm across 4 continents, touring with Tap Dogs, Tapestry Dance Company, Anandam Dance Theatre and the self-produced Tap Love Tour.  He was the 2020 recipient of the Jaqueline Lemieux Prize for outstanding contribution to dance in Canada.   In December 2021, in partnership with Dance Immersion, Travis, along with renowned Tap Dancer Lisa LaTouche, created and directed Legacy Series: Tap Dance Symposium which aimed to re-introduce Tap Dance to the local Black community in Toronto.  In 2022, Travis won a Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in Dance Immersion’s Tap Legacy Concert, and became a Slaight Family Music Associate at Soulpepper.  In 2024, Travis’ Tap Love Tour production company released  two major works, a feature length documentary called Restorative Culture: Johnathan Morin, and a full length original dance work called The Mars Project that premiered at Fall For Dance North.  He currently lives in Brampton, Ontario and hosts The Tap Love Tour Podcast, available on spotify, soundcloud and apple podcasts, (make sure to subscribe) featuring interviews of a myriad of inspiring tap dance artists. 

Connie Puetz is a shoemaker who has been a Craftsperson in the Boots and Shoes Department at The Stratford Festival for over 30 years. In that time she has provided footwear for hundreds of shows, including dance musicals and every period from Medieval to Modern. 

Connie has also built shoes for various film and TV shows as well as projects for The National Ballet of Canada, The Canadian Opera Company, Mirvish Productions and other theatres across Canada. 

Connie is excited to be working on the Shoe Dreams project for Dancemakers and can’t wait to see what the other guest artists create for this groundbreaking project!

Zubin Isaac is a composer and sound designer currently based in Toronto, Canada. At one time Isaac divides focus among many areas, including solo projects: ‘Four Quarters’ & ‘Cache & Release’, composing, cutting FX and mixing for commercial projects as well as post-sound work for various films and games.

CALL TO ARTISTS (NOW CLOSED)

Rumi is seeking proposals from professional Canadian Tap Dance artists to pitch their designs for the "tap shoe of the future." Selected dancers will be paired with a local shoe maker, as well as another crafts person, designer or technician (depending on the proposed shoes) to collaboratively bring proposals to life! We currently have the capacity to select 3-4 Tap Dancers for this project.

The creation process will culminate with a small performance to show off what you have created and the shoes will be yours to keep. Dancers involved will be compensated for approximately 25 hours combined rehearsal and consultation time and for at least one performance all at CADA East standards. 

[applications are now closed, thanks to those who applied!]

About rumi

Rumi Jeraj is an Ismailli muslim hailing from Sherwood Park Alberta (the world's largest hamlet). A Graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University Rumi has worked for dance artists including Hannah Kiel, Daryl Tracy, Heidi Strauss, Maxine Hepner and Eilish Shin-Culhane. His creative projects include Space and Spectra; a collaboration with Aidan McConnell which aims to create collaboration between contemporary dancers and musicians, Nature Boy; a collaboration with Bharatanatyam Dancer Purawai Vyas which explores how tap dance and bharatanatyam can intersect, You Can Transform Me an immersive dance VR experience and more. His work has been featured at Dusk Dances, Fall For Dance North's IPP Independent showcase, Citadel Compagnie’s Night Shift, and various fringe festivals across Canada. As a dancer Rumi recently had the pleasure of performing In Human Body Expressions work Body which toured to South Korea. He is currently in creation for a body percussion work which brings together percussive dancers and musicians from various forms. He aspires to create and be a part of work which mixes forms in order to better tell stories. He believes there is a perfect balance between words, music, and movement which can communicate intellectually, emotionally and viscerally all at once. He aspires to find this state on stage.

Watch Rumi perform Rhythm Playground  from Dusk Dances 2023:

Banner image: Rumi Jeraj performing at Dusk Dances in 2023, accompanied by Adrian Russouw on Bass and David Hodgson on saxophone. Photo by Dahlia Katz. [Banner Image Description: Rumi balances on one foot with the other leg and arm outstretched. He wears a grey suit jacket and bkue slacks with a multicolour pastel hat and his tie swings with the motion of his body. Behind him stand musicians playing the upright bass and the saxophone. The trio are set in a park in front of a paved path with grass on either side of it. Rumi wears beige tap shoes and is moving from one wooden platform to another.]