TAPEPLAS
PROJECT HISTORY
TAP DANCE, MUSIC & RHYTHM

TAPEPLAS , a unique style of tap dance, music & rhythm, was founded in Barcelona in the winter of 2002-2003. Created between Israel & Spain , TAPEPLAS ' shows mix between east & west, ethnic & urban, old & new. Original Mediterranean influenced music scores blend with visual & innovative feet percussion choreography, as dancers & musicians from different cultures move, interact & share.

Prior to its materialization in Barcelona, the project's roots go back to Israel, where the group's choreographer, Sharon Lavi, grew up & developed a personal style of tap & dance inside of different choreographic ventures in which he was involved. After having met musician-drummer Yaron Engler at the creation of the children's performance, KexevKezev, the 2 raised a new project's mission statement in which their personal styles would eventually merge.

Sharon Lavi moved to live in Barcelona at 2002, soon putting together a young group of local musician-dancers that included Laia Molins, Rubén Sánchez, Anna Llombart & Jep Meléndez. Shortly after, Yaron Engler joined them & became the group's musical director. It was with that original cast & with a short piece they performed at the New York City Tap Festival (Tap City 2003) , that TAPEPLAS was debuted. The strong energy with which the group was created & the relevance of each one of its original members in their artistic surroundings, were the grounds for which the project became from day 1 an important reference inside the local tap & percussion scene. Therefore, between 2004 & 2005, already established in its own studios, TAPEPLAS combined the development of its productions with the launching of various training programs in which new generations of tap dancers were brought-up. It was only at the end of 2005 that the group premiered its 1 st full length show: BoomBach .

BoomBach's premiere boosted TAPEPLAS towards new prospects. As of 2006, recommended by the Spanish National Theatre Network ( Red Española de Teatros, Auditorios y Circuitos de Titularidad Pública ) for the production of BoomBach , the group travelled through Spain carrying out a national tour, 2 seasons in Barcelona ( Villarroel Teatre – 2006, Teatre Borràs – 2007), different festival presentations & various international appearances that included: Chicago, Venice, Berlin & New York.

As a result of the group's inner and outer growth, and with the intention of creating a new outreach program, the project initiated a new company section at the end of 2007 – “TAPEPLAS 2” . Old KexevKezev was translated from Hebrew to Spanish & Catalan & was adapted as the company's intimate work. At the same time, Sharon Lavi & Yaron Engler produced MONKEYS , a collage of diverse unedited TAPEPLAS materials, in which a special collaboration with Hofesh Shechter, associate choreographer of “The Place” in London , was included as well.