The idea of presenting an evening of short tap routines honoring the idiosyncratic dance styles of the great Hollywood hoofers may have seemed to Artistic Director Lynn Dally like a promising premise upon which to create an entertaining performance by her Los Angeles-based Jazz Tap Ensemble. But as Tap Roots at the Joyce Theater showed, performing tributary imitations of celebrated artists is not the best way to showcase the personal talents of the deft tappers who make up Dally's chamber company. It's for the same reason that unless you're Judy Garland, it's probably wiser not to go in to an audition and sing "Over the Rainbow."
Perhaps it would have been better if the performers had been less thoroughly observant and skillful in their mimicry of such dancers as Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, the Nicholas Brothers, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Eleanor Powell, and Ann Miller. But these hoofers really did their homework, recreating many of the illustrious performers' signature moves, mannerisms, routines, and stylistic quirks. They succeeded magnificently in bringing to mind images of the historical figures, yet their own performances could only pale in comparison to what they were inviting us to remember.
The company shone, however, in the second half of its program, which featured three major works created specifically for Jazz Tap Ensemble: the easygoing "Groove," choreographed by Gregory Hines; Dally's "Bahia Dreams," the world premiere of a Joyce Theater commission that expertly exploits the troupe's sunny California style; and "Interplay," a suite of diverse solos, duets, and trios choreographed by Jimmy Slyde, whose famous slides serve as a unifying vocabulary.
Though his grittier approach feels out of place alongside the light-footed style of the others, the program's inclusion of star tapper Jason Samuels Smith augmented the proceedings considerably. For my money, he's the best tap dancer on the scene today. In a final challenge dance, trading fours with Sam Weber, he brought the evening to a spectacular finish.
Presented by and at the Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave., NYC. Sept. 16-21.