Performances / Projects / Videos

ORCHESTRA - expansions & dimensions

orchestra 3

Premiere March 11th  2009 at Kampnagel, Hamburg


ORCHESTRA – expansions & dimensions

The term "orchestra" derives from the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage and means dancing floor.

Orchestra is usually a large instrumental ensemble.

Orchestra - expansions & dimensions is the new tap dance performance by Thomas Marek. It plays with the double meaning of the word "orchestra".

With a ten-strong tap ensemble, Thomas Marek stages a fast-paced but insightful connection between dancers and dancefloor, in which dance, movement, rhythm and the "orchestra" – that is, the dancefloor – combine in a body of sound to form a large tap dance orchestra. For tap dancers, the stage or dancefloor plays an important role. It is this danceform's amplification instrument, the resonating body that enhances or limits the acoustics and sound of the dancers shoes.

Orchestra - expansions & dimensions is a poetic concert by a virtuoso tap dance orchestra. A performance in which dance and music come together as one. The dancers become not only the musical elements but also the choreographic composition. In this highly charged environment, the ensemble experiments with the stylistic elements of tap, attempting to go beyond them so that they might be redefined. The principals of jazz are combined with tap, music and electronics in a playful way. Elaborate arrangements comprising sample collages, loops, live improvisation and choreography complement one another, creating an amusing, intelligent and poetic live 
As in his previous productions, this new work by Thomas Marek combines the popularity of tap with an ambitious artistic approach.

More Infos about "ORCHESTRA - expansions & dimensions"

Gefördert durch die Kulturbehörde der freien Hansestadt Hamburg und des Fonds Darstellende Künste e.v.

ORCHESTRA ist eine Koproduktion zwischen Thomas Marek und Kampnagel, Hamburg

Kampnagel     Logo_fondsdaku small

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about_tap vol no 2  ( Production year 2006 )

Josh Hilberman LeelaPetroniojpg Brenda Bufalino
Sarah Petronio Pia Neises ThomasMarek

In "about_tap volume 2“ , Thomas Marek stages six tap dance personalities with their individual artistic biographies and emotional connections to the dance form of tap.
In six sensitive portraits, the dancers talk about their work, their artistic background, motivation and evolution, which also provide a personal and subjective insight into the history of tap.

The dancers are Brenda Bufalino from New York, Sarah Petronio from Paris, Josh Hilberman from Boston, Leela Petronio from Paris, Pia Neises from Köln and Thomas Marek from Hamburg.

The show, which blends choreography, improvisation, interviews, photographs, video and music, becomes a live documentary that reveals itself through the dance and the artists. Through jazz, electronic music, funk, pop ballad and Tango this show composes a contemporary history of tap dance.

„about_tap volume 2“ presents tap dance in the year 2006 as a contemporary dance form that leaves old cliches of musicals and variety shows behind.






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tap & bass ( First production year 1995 )
(thomas marek & kurt holzkämper)

please visit http://www.tap-n-bass.de ( german site )

Reduced to the max...heißt das Motto des Stepptänzers Thomas Marek und des Bassisten Kurt Holzkämper. Verpackt in einer mitreißenden Live Show voller Überaschungen und Ideen, präsentiert sich ihr abendfüllendes Programm Tap & Bass. 
Tap & Bass ist eine Mischung aus Tanz-, Personality - und Comedyshow. Charismatisch und mit viel Witz agieren Marek und 
Holzkämper in ihrer furiosen Bühnenshow mit den wahrscheinlich “langweiligsten" Instrumenten der Welt: Stepptanz und Bass. 
In spannenden Arrangenments und Choreographien wechseln sich leise Töne mit fulminanten Funkgrooves ab, und zeigen Stepptanz abseits jeglicher Klischees oder Kategorien. 
Die musikalische Bandbreite des Duos reicht von Rhythm´n Blues über Jazz bis hin zu Funk und Drum´n Bass. Die absolute Stärke von Tap & Bass ist das Zusammenspiel auf der Bühne und die Kommunikation mit dem Publikum , welches sich bestimmt beim Wippen, Schnippen oder Tippen ertappt.



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Thomas Marek & Band ( Production year 1996 )




Thomas Marek´s Funked Up "The Power Of Tap" ( Production year 2002 )


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