TRAVIS KNIGHTS IN CONCERT

Jazz You Can See. Rhythm You Can Feel.

Travis Knights In Concert is a dynamic evening of tap dance, live music, storytelling, and improvisation that reconnects audiences to one of North America's most influential yet often overlooked art forms.

Backed by a world-class jazz ensemble, award-winning tap dancer Travis Knights transforms the stage into a living conversation between movement and music. Every performance is unique, shaped by improvisation, audience energy, and the spontaneous interplay between artists.

Part concert, part cultural experience, Travis Knights In Concert celebrates the African American roots of tap dance while exploring its continued relevance in contemporary culture.

Running Time: 70 minutes
Audience: General audiences, performing arts presenters, jazz audiences, dance audiences, schools, festivals, and community organizations

About The Performance

Tap dance is often described as "jazz for the body."

In this concert experience, the dancer becomes a musician. Feet become drums. Movement becomes composition.

Drawing from traditions that stretch from the Harlem Renaissance to today's global jazz community, Travis Knights leads audiences through a rhythmic journey filled with:

Live jazz music
Improvisation
Original arrangements
Storytelling
Audience interaction
Cultural and historical context

No two performances are exactly alike.

Each evening unfolds in real time as dancers and musicians create together before the audience's eyes.

Why It Matters

Born from African diasporic rhythm traditions and shaped through centuries of resilience and cultural innovation, tap dance remains one of North America's most important improvisational art forms.

Yet many audiences have never experienced tap dance in its original context: in dialogue with live music.

Travis Knights In Concert restores that relationship.

The performance offers audiences:

A deeper understanding of tap dance as a living Black cultural practice
An accessible entry point into jazz improvisation
A celebration of creativity, collaboration, and community
An unforgettable sensory experience where rhythm can be seen, heard, and felt

Community Engagement Opportunities

Travis Knights In Concert can be presented alongside a variety of educational and community programs:

Artist Talkbacks

Post-show conversations exploring:

The history of tap dance
Jazz improvisation
Black cultural traditions
The creative process

Workshops

Available for:

Dance students
Musicians
Educators
Community participants

Topics may include:

Rhythm and improvisation
Tap dance fundamentals
Jazz culture and history
Creativity and collaboration

School Performances

Adapted versions can be presented for youth audiences and educational institutions.

Christina-De-Melo-20190219-TravisKnights-0094-08429.jpg

Technical Information

Approximate running time: 70 minutes
Flexible technical requirements
Same-day load-in available in many circumstances
Suitable for theatres, festivals, concert halls, community venues, and educational settings

Detailed technical package available upon request.

Booking Information

Artistic Inquiries
Travis Knights
t.knights@gmail.com

Booking Inquiries
Natasha Eck
hello@amapm.ca

About Travis Knights

Travis Knights is an award-winning tap dancer, choreographer, filmmaker, educator, and cultural producer.

A student of Harlem tap dancer Ethel Bruneau, Travis carries forward a lineage that includes Dr. Henry LeTang, and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. His work combines virtuosic rhythm, storytelling, and historical inquiry to create performances that are both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Career highlights include:

2020 Jacqueline Lemieux Prize recipient for Outstanding Contribution to Dance in Canada
2022 Dora Award winner for Outstanding Performance
2023 Slaight Family Music Associate at Soulpepper Theatre
Performances and teaching engagements throughout Canada, the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia