SHELLEY OLIVER: CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Shelley Oliver, Canadian born tap dancer, choreographer, and educator has over twenty years experience as a professional in which time she has appeared internationally with some of the legends of the tap world. She leads her own group The Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers and is the featured tap soloist with the David Leonhardt Jazz Group touring jazz festivals and concerts worldwide. She is a founding member of the international touring ensemble, Manhattan Tap. Ms. Oliver has performed throughout Europe, China, the Caribbean, Canada and the United States.
Ms. Oliver has worked with the legendary Gregory Hines, Jimmy Slide, Buster Brown, Charles "Cookie" Cook, Steve Condos, Chuck Green and Savion Glover. She has performed with many great jazz musicians including Slide Hampton, David "Fathead" Newman, Robin Eubanks, and Kenny Washington. Her television appearances include Tap Dance in America with Gregory Hines and as a winning tap dancer in the original Star Search as a young performer.
A well-known dance educator, she is the 2009 recipient of the Lehigh Valley Dance Consortium Award for Outstanding Educator and Choreographer. She is on faculty at Muhlenberg College where she directs the Muhlenberg Jazz Tap Ensemble providing community outreach programs for inner city schools in Allentown. Ms. Oliver has conducted workshops and residencies for Lincoln Center, New York City Public Schools and universities throughout the United States. She has pioneered a tap and math program for elementary schools that accommodate special needs children and developed a tap dance workshop for learning disabled children in reading and math.
Ms. Oliver has produced a popular series of Tap Dance CDs “Tap Music For Tap Dancers” designed as an educational aide for tap students that have become a standard pedagogical tool worldwide.
Shelley Oliver is committed to inspiring and educating young audiences, and enjoys providing entertaining and informative programs for senior citizens, special needs groups, minorities and family audiences. Master classes include tap technique for all levels as well as rhythm and improvisation workshops, and historical dances for both dance and non-dance populations. Her noted rapport with students ensures fun and inspiration for any age and ability. In the studio she employs her self-produced series of educational tap CDs, providing authentic jazz feels which give participants the opportunity for exploration of the art form. Residency activities also include creating works for student ensembles, teaching original and historic repertoire, composition and improvisation as well as working with live music and teachers' workshops.
For booking Ms. Oliver contact David Leonhardt notes@davidleonhardt.com
Videos
Shelley Oliver Solo
Starlight Interlude
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGpE6eESQBw
The Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers Concert Highlights video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc-XVQExQbc
The Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers
Reverberations
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65NoT-J7UM4
Tap Master class
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hAIgMmoixY
Shelley Oliver
http://youtube.com/watch?v=X2MPTXtesJk