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:
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Live jazz music
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Improvisation
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Original arrangements
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Storytelling
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Audience interaction
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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:
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A deeper understanding of tap dance as a living Black cultural practice
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An accessible entry point into jazz improvisation
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A celebration of creativity, collaboration, and community
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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:
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The history of tap dance
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Jazz improvisation
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Black cultural traditions
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The creative process
Workshops
Available for:
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Dance students
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Musicians
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Educators
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Community participants
Topics may include:
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Rhythm and improvisation
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Tap dance fundamentals
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Jazz culture and history
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Creativity and collaboration
School Performances
Adapted versions can be presented for youth audiences and educational institutions.
Technical Information
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Approximate running time: 70 minutes
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Flexible technical requirements
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Same-day load-in available in many circumstances
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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:
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2020 Jacqueline Lemieux Prize recipient for Outstanding Contribution to Dance in Canada
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2022 Dora Award winner for Outstanding Performance
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2023 Slaight Family Music Associate at Soulpepper Theatre
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Performances and teaching engagements throughout Canada, the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia