Movement Afoot is a professional tap dance company and non-profit organization based in Columbus, Ohio. Our performances showcase tap dance as both an improvised and choreographed art form, and prioritize live music and musical collaboration. We also provide educational programming in the form of workshops, jams, community events, and outreach. While incorporating a wide array of musical genres and styles, we emphasize tap dance as part of the tradition of jazz. This includes educating the public about the place of tap dance in American social history, as rooted in African American culture.
Director Lauren Squires and Assistant Director Janet Schroeder bring decades of performance, choreography, production, intensive study, and teaching experience to the organization. Those who perform with Movement Afoot are Columbus-based tap dancers, artists, improvisers, and musicians. Most importantly, we all share a commitment to honoring the legacy of tap dance and pushing it forward through persistence and innovation.
Since the company’s founding in 2014, we have produced four full-length concerts in Columbus and performed on dozens of other stages. Our work has been supported by grant funding from the Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education.
Across our performances, jams, and workshops, we have worked with many great musicians in Columbus–including pianists Paul Strawser, Nate Shaw, Tony Hagood, and Robert Mason; bassists Dean Hulett and Will Strickler; guitarists Tom Davis and Mark Gonzalez; saxophonists Chris Hoyte and Eddie Bayard; trombonist Elaine Mylius; vibraphonist Troy Kunkler; percussionists Brian Moore, Will Mayer, Maxwell Button, Eric Paton; cellist Eddie Singleton; vocalist Jen Miller; and more.
Please check out our Performances page for a list of upcoming performances, concert highlights, and a full past performance list!
For booking or collaboration inquiries, please email us at movementafoot@gmail.com or call Lauren Squires at 734-355-0909.
Movement Afoot rehearses at Tap Shop, a unique studio space and small-performance venue in Old North Columbus which is, like the company, dedicated to tap dance, music, jazz, and related craft.
