In a production that combines narrative, dance and song, the American Repertory Theater’s forthcoming “Diary of a Tap Dancer” tells the story of Ayodele Casel, a “trailblazing” tap dancer and choreographer.
This production will be the world premiere of “Diary of a Tap Dancer,” which was commissioned by the A.R.T. On at the Loeb Drama Center from Dec. 18 to Jan. 4, it traces Ayodele’s life from her roots in The Bronx and Puerto Rico, weaving in stories about the often-forgotten women tap dancers who paved the way.
“I would describe them as vignettes,” said Afra Hines, one of the show’s performers. “These women in tap dance throughout history whose stories have been buried. We’re bringing them to the forefront.”
Hines described the experience of combining Casel’s personal history with the history of women in tap dance “empowering.”
“I see a lot of myself in Ayo, and so it’s really inspiring to see her tell her story so bravely and openly and honestly,” Hines said. “It’s also been really interesting and exciting to learn about these women and dig into who they were, and I feel inspired by them as well.”
The show is written and choreographed by Casel, who was born in The Bronx and raised in Puerto Rico and creates narrative works based in expressions of culture, selfhood and legacy. She was a 2019-2020 fellow at Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, during which she worked on “Diary of a Tap Dancer.”
The cast includes seven women alongside Casel, all credited as “performers.” It’s directed by Torya Beard, whose background is in dance and theater and who has worked with Casel on various versions of “Diary of a Tap Dancer” and other projects.
Hines has worked with Casel; She was a tap choreographer on a production of “Funny Girl” with her.
“In other productions, they usually tell you what to do and they want you to do it exactly that way, but with Ayo and Torya, they’re really encouraging of us inserting ourselves into the piece,” Hines said.
The performers are writing some of their own stories into the show, something Hines described as “very unusual.”
“The space feels collaborative and challenging, in a good way,” she said.
The essential question A.R.T. poses with “Diary of a Tap Dancer” is: As we reflect on our past and look toward our future, whose shoulders do you stand on?
As the question suggests, Hines noted the show is not all about dance.
“It’s also about life, about finding your voice,” Hines said. “For people who know and love tap dance, yes, this will be a delicious meal for them, but even for those who don’t, I think it’s great. There’s obviously incredible dancing, but there’s also amazing music and the story itself is quite moving.”
“Diary of a Tap Dancer” at the Loeb Mainstage, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, from Dec. 18 to Jan. 4. $35 to $65.
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