Ashlyn Bolton Brings Bold Tap Dance Vision to Straz
Ashlyn Bolton, a force in the national tap scene, is redefining rhythm and storytelling—one tap at a time. As a dancer, choreographer, producer, and educator, she is not only shaping the next generation of tappers but also creating platforms that elevate the art form itself. This June, Bolton’s tireless creative drive manifests in two major back-to-back events that will showcase the power, versatility, and imagination of tap dance: the Tampa Bay Taps Festival and her original stage production, What If?
Each year, Bolton produces the Tampa Bay Taps Festival, a high-energy weekend of workshops and performances that draws dancers from across the region. This year, she’s expanding the festival’s footprint with the introduction of a brand-new Professional Development Program (PDP), a game-changer for serious dancers who want to train like pros. The PDP kicks off days before the festival and includes an audition-only intensive mentored by two of tap’s international luminaries—Derick Grant and Aaron Tolson. Participants will not only learn choreography at an elite pace but also have the rare opportunity to perform it live at Disney Springs before returning to Tampa to prepare for a second, culminating showcase.
That showcase—The Copasetic Show—hits the stage June 7 at the Jaeb Theater at the Straz Center and promises to be a spec-TAP-ular celebration of tap culture and community. In this performance of Copasetic,audience members will have the treat of witnessing Grant, Tolson, Sarah Reich, and Leah Silva share their excellence. From Broadway to television, New York to Barcelona, these tap dance extraordinaires bring with them a lifetime’s worth of credentials and awards. Also featured are the students of the Tampa Bay Tap Festival, Rhythm and Sole Tap Ensemble, Rhythm Theory, Project: Rhythm, and more—each driven by a shared love for the great American art form of tap.
Bolton says, “The Tampa Bay Tap Festival is where my passion for tap truly began. Prior to my ownership of TBT, I attended this festival when I was 8 years old. It was my first outside experience to what I had grown up knowing as a dance studio kid. Although I was shy and quiet then, I met many new teachers and other passionate kids who also liked tap dance. From that moment on, I began seeking more training opportunities, which led me to some of the most amazing life experiences growing up. The sense of community that a festival brings is so important these days. I hope to continue to provide these chances for all ages to find a second home. Copasetic is the show that ties in the heart of tap dance history. The teaching faculty who are performing are leaders of the industry, who I am lucky enough to also call my teachers, mentors, and now friends. Growing up in a world of dance and finding where you belong is all I can hope to expand upon.”The Copasetic Show is more than a performance—it’s a full-stage pulse of passion, precision, and community, accompanied by live jazz that brings each step to life.
Hot on the heels of The Copasetic Show, Bolton returns to the Jaeb on June 15 for What If?, her original full-length tap production that infuses narrative, rhythm, and visual art. Starring dancers as young as eight, up through Bolton herself, the show follows “The Author” and the “Dancing Figments” of his imagination. It’s a fluid story told entirely through tap, enhanced by inventive use of props like sand, paint, and light, and underscored by the music of Tampa’s own Nightbreakers. This isn’t just a recital—it’s a theatrical exploration of creation, transformation, and what it means to dream.
“I have always found inspiration in the unknown. A little imagination and a desire to create is exactly what brought What If to fruition. I like my shows to have meaning and tell stories. This show is unlike others I’ve done. It follows one character, ‘The Author,’ played by lead singer Zakk Giordano in Nightbreakers, while all other performers play the “Figments” in his head. The Author taps in and out of his own reality and imagination as he writes his life story,” Bolton explains. “From aspirations to dance on Broadway, finding love, and battling one’s insecurities, my dancers will progress the plot by dancing and exploring everyday items in our world. The ‘Figments’ cause mayhem in ‘The Author’s’ mind using things like paint, coins, and lighting. I won’t spoil the story’s ending, but I can assure that the audience will walk away inspired and wowed by the talent on stage, both the dancing and musical talent of the band. Don’t we all play with the little voices in our heads?”
Bolton’s ability to wear many hats—teacher at Patel Conservatory and All-American Dance Factory, award-winning choreographer, national competition judge, and mentor—makes her an irreplaceable figure in the dance community. But above all, her vision shines: bold, inclusive, and bursting with rhythm.
With a few spots left in the PDP and tickets available for both The Copasetic Show and What If?, now is the time to step into Bolton’s multifaceted, creative world, where every tap is a story, and every story makes a positive impact on the world of dance.
Learn more about the Tampa Bay Taps Festival, the Copasetic Show, and What If? Register here for Tampa Bay Taps Festival on June 4-9: https://tampabaytapdance.com/tampa-bay-tap-festival/ Get tickets to The Copasetic Show on June 7. https://www.strazcenter.org/events/2425-season/rental/copasetic/ Get tickets to What If? on June 15. https://www.strazcenter.org/events/2425-season/rental/what-if/
