PITTSBURGH, Pa. [PTTP] — Zac Starr, a sophomore in high school in the Pittsburgh area, is an ambitious tap dancer and has created quite the resume for himself.
Starr tap dances with various bands throughout Pittsburgh. Starr mentions his prestigious mentors, Jason Samuels Smith, Sarah Reich, and Jared Grimes, and appreciates the time they take with him. He not only performs tap dance but teaches other students at the studio as an instructor. He detailed how he is studying not only the dance but its rich history, describing its importance to him and anyone in the tap community.
Starr describes what sets him apart from the rest of the dancers is his openness to any ideas regarding tap. He works with local musicians, theatre work, and is flexible with any opportunities that arise where he can dance. He hopes to find new ways to continue to elevate the art form.
Starr describes his lessons in both “old-form” and “new-form” schools of tap dance. Old-form tap focuses more on the dance’s history and why performers do it, rather than performing for the sake of a score or to be judged.
“A Modern-Day Gene Kelly” is what I thought of when I first saw Starr perform. Starr performed a solo for our reporter on the scene and even taught a few basic tap dance steps.
Great kid and great performer.