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A Trailblazer in the renaissance of Jazz and Tap Dance, Ms. Bufalino has appeared as guest soloist in such prestigious arenas as: Carnegie Hall with Gregory Hines, Avery Fisher Hall at the Newport Jazz Festival, The Apollo Theater, The Joyce Theater and The Kennedy Center. She has been one of the guiding forces in the creation of numerous Tap Festivals, Summits, Reunions and Workshops worldwide. From the first International Colorado Dance Festival in l986 to the 2005 Tap City festival and performances at the Joyce Theatre in New York City, she has been a consistent and innovative leader in the field of tap dance.

Ms. Bufalino directed and produced the award winning, two hour documentary “Great Feats of Feet…a portrait of the jazz tap dancer" featuring the Copasetics in l975, filmed at her studio The Dancing Theatre in, New Paltz New York. She performed the first full length all tap concert with her Dancing Theatre Company at the Pilgrim Theatre in NYC in l978, followed by concerts at the Riverside Dance Festival.

She toured Europe and America in performance with her former teacher, mentor, and partner Charles “Honi” Coles, and interviewed him for the WGBH Archives. They performed "The Morton Gould Tap Concerto" as a duet in l980 with The Brooklyn Philharmonia, conducted by Jesse Levine.

On Off-Broadway at St. Clemens Theatre in New York City, Ms. Bufalino appeared as the Tap Dancing Stenographer in Bill Irwin's "The Courtroom." She choreographed and performed in The Four Seasons/ A Jazz Version with original music by Benny Golson at the Hudson Guild Theatre.

As Choreographer/Director of both The American and International Tap Dance Orchestras from l986 to l996, Ms. Bufalino created unique choreography and compositions using counter-rhythms, fugues, and symphonic arrangements that presented an evolution in tap from entertainment to fine art. She performed with her company in such venues as The International Festival of the Arts at Central Park, The Joyce Theater, Dance Theater Workshop, the legendary Cotton Club, and The Lincoln Center Out-Of -Doors festival in New York City as well as in theaters across America. She appeared with the ATDO in l989, on PBS televisions' "Great Performances/Tap Dance in America with Gregory Hines." With her Chamber Orchestra in l992 she toured Turkey, Cyprus, Poland, Latvia, and Estonia for the US State Department. With the ATDO in l987, she created "Woodpeckers Tap Dance Center and Inter-Art Space," a home for tap dance performance, instruction, mixed-media performances and art installations.

A multi faceted artist, Ms. Bufalino's concerts include tap dance, vocals and monologues. She created the libretto and choreography for her Tap Opera….”Gertrudes Nose,” which her companies, The American and International Tap Dance Orchestras, performed at “The Dance Theatre Workshop” in New York City in l996, throughout America and Europe, with a final performance at “The Staat Theater” in Nuremberg-Furth, Germany. Her choreography as been commissioned by performers and touring ensembles across the country, including: The Manhattan Rhythm Kings, Rhapsody in Taps, The Legacy Dancers, Tappers With Attitude, and The North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble.

Her distinguished and varied career has included many residencies at Universities including Wesleyan University in Connecticut, SUNY New Paltz, New York, and Dennison University in Ohio. When she lectures on Tap Dance history, styles, and composition Ms. Bufalino includes anecdotes from her performances with the masters of America's only indigenous dance form; such as Charles "Honi" Coles, members of the Copasetic Club, The Nicolas Brothers, Tommy Tune, Chuck Green, Savion Glover, and Gregory Hines. As a master teacher she also gives workshops, and seminars at private studios and festivals throughout the U.S., Europe, Israel, and Australia.

Ms. Bufalino is also recognized as an author, actress, producer and director. She wrote the forward and afterward for the latest release of “Jazz Dance,” by Marshal and Jean Stearns, and has written many writes articles on dance for professional journals and magazines, such as The International Tap Association magazine "On Tap" in l998, 2000,2005, and "Dance Teacher," 2002. She has been interviewed for “Women In Performance,” “Attitude,” “the International Tap Association Journals,” and “Contact Quarterly.” She appeared on the cover of “Dance Teacher” magazine in 2001. Her first book, "Tapping the Source…tap dance stories, theory and practice" was published in 2004 by Cod Hill Press.

Ms Bufalino has written the texts and many original vocal compositions for her touring one person shows…”Cantata & The Blues,” “Unaccompanied, ” and "Singin' Swingin' and Wingin." In 2005 she presented new works and a retrospective solo performance "Tapping With the Wind…Against the Wind… With the Wind at Her Back" at the FIT amphitheater in New York City.

Ms. Bufalino performs regularly as the tap-percussionist in jazz ensembles and has recorded three CDs; "Coup De Foudre" with Renatto Sellani and Massimo Morriconi, and "From The Source," with Joe Fonda, Anthony Braxton, Herb Robinson, and Vickie Dodd.

Her latest CD "Dancing my Dance…in Another Persons Dream," includes many original music compositions and monologues. She performs regularly with jazz vocalist Jay Clayton in performances of “Tone Text and Taps,” and has collaborated with musicians, poets, and mixed-media artists worldwide.

The Tap Community awarded Ms. Bufalino the coveted Flobert "Lifetime Achievement Award” at Town Hall in New York City , "The Hoofer Award" from Tap City at the Doris Duke Theater in N.Y.C and “The Tapestry Award” for contributions to the field in Boston Mass.

She has been the recipient of numerous National Endowment Individual Fellowship Grants yearly from l988 to l996, including the prestigious three-year Fellowship. She is also a NYFA fellow, a founding member of The International Tap Association, and a board member of The American Tap Dance Foundation. She is listed in several editions of "Who's Who in American Women."

Interested in Brenda's book; ""Tapping the Source...tap dance stories, theory and practice."
Check it out here...





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