Will Gaines Jazz Hoofer
Head down to the Southbank Centre for a tribute to Will Gaines and a free tap dancing lesson!
The Southbank Centre will be paying tribute to Will Gaines Jazz Hoofer this April.
On Saturday April 5th The Clore Ballroom will be transformed for an afternoon of dance and music with sessions led by Warren Heyes and Tariq Winston culminating with a social tap dance jam for everyone.
From 12pm to 1pm: Warren Heyes of the Jivin' Lindy Hoppers leads a beginners class.
From 1pm to 2pm: Tariq Winston star of Tap Dance Kid, Black & Blue and Riverdance works with more advanced tap dancers.
Then at 2pm in the Level 5 Function Room at Royal Festival Hall Will Gaines Jazz Hoofer will be 'In Conversation' offering a rare insight into the world of rhythm tap dancing, as described by Will Gaines with video illustrations, talking about his career and the many artists he has worked with.
All the above events are free but so have a limited capacity so get there early or book in advance.
That evening Will Gaine's 80th Birthday will be celebrated with the Will Gaines Birthday Band as old and new school jazzers celebrate with an evening of music and dance in The Clore Ballroom at Royal Festival Hall from 7.30pm.
Find out more about free events at the Southbank Centre.
How to get there
Rail - Waterloo, Waterloo East or walk over the Hungerford Bridge from Charing Cross.
Underground - The closest tube stations are Waterloo (on the Northern, Bakerloo & Jubilee lines), Southwark (on the Jubilee line) or walk over the Hungerford Bridge from Embankment (on the Northern, Bakerloo, District and Circle lines).
Buses - All the following buses stop on Waterloo Bridge and you can take the steps down to Southbank on either side of the bridge or use the pavements that slope down away from the river and then double back to take you to Upper Ground, which runs behind the Southbank Centre: 1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 76, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341, 521, X68, Riverside Bus (RV1 - which also stops on Upper Ground which runs by the back of the Southbank Centre). 77 (Upper Ground near the Festival Hall), 211 & 507 (Waterloo Road near the main station), 381 (Stamford Street). 45, 63 & 100 all stop at the southern end of Blackfriars Bridge, and there is a 10 minute walk along the riverside to the Southbank Centre.
