Park Avenue embraces tap dancing

Robin Hennessy's class danced to a James Brown classic at the recital on May 15.

Susan Greico/Herald

Joseph Webb, director of the American Embassy of Dance, performed for the Park Avenue students whom he taught for two weeks.

Susan Greico/Herald

Kathleen Panchyn’s class danced to a Maroon 5 song.

Susan Greico/Herald

May Ellen Kakalos’s class performed a dance to the hit Mark Ronson/Bruno Mars song “Uptown Funk.”

Susan Greico/Herald

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When Park Avenue Elementary School sixth-grader Anthony D’Amato learned last year that he would be taught how to tap dance by Joseph Webb, director of the American Embassy of Dance, he was skeptical.

The four-sport athlete didn’t think he would enjoy dancing, and he believed that memorizing a routine during Webb’s two-week residency at the school would be challenging. Soon, however, he was pleasantly surprised.

“Two years back, in fourth grade, I would have never thought this is something I would ever try,” he said. “But I ended up liking it. What Joseph taught us was so much easier than I could’ve imagined.”

D’Amato is among dozens of Park Avenue fifth- and sixth-graders to learn tap dance from Webb in the last three years. The PTA sponsors Webb’s residency as a part of a larger dance and movement program. Park Avenue is part of the North Bellmore School District but is in North Merrick.

Park Avenue Principal Eileen Speidel met Webb before she began working in North Bellmore. Lorraine Darcy, the PTA cultural arts vice president, said the organization sponsored a one-week residency three years ago. The children loved the program, which culminates with a recital for parents and residents. Webb now spends two weeks at the school annually.

“The kids were crying when he was leaving,” Darcy said of the first residency. “My child is in fourth grade, and he can’t wait to do it. They just love him.”

Webb is an award-winning dancer, choreographer, actor and poet who has showcased his talents in productions around the world, including the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of “Bring in ‘Da Noise Bring in ‘Da Funk.” After his Broadway success, Webb acted in the Martin Scorsese film “Bringing Out The Dead,” and appeared in numerous print and television ads. He has also performed on talk shows, including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “Live with Regis and Kathy Lee.”