{"id":3859,"date":"2013-02-25T13:32:34","date_gmt":"2013-02-25T13:32:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dancemogul.com\/news\/?p=3859"},"modified":"2023-07-21T08:07:10","modified_gmt":"2023-07-21T12:07:10","slug":"justin-boccitto-a-leader-in-tap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/justin-boccitto-a-leader-in-tap\/","title":{"rendered":"Justin Boccitto | A Leader in Tap<\/strong><\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"justin3\"<\/a>Justin Boccitto<\/a> is a graduate of Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre School and trained under Michael Blevins for 15 years. As an instructor of tap and theater dance, \u00a0Justin serves on the faculty at Broadway Dance Center and guest faculty at Steps and the Juilliard School. Justin is the director of The Choreographer’s Canvas, an annual event for choreographers around the world. He also serves as Executive Producer of The Group Theatre Too. Dance Mogul Magazine is honored to present the Discipline, Dedication, and Determination of \u00a0Justin Boccitto. Throughout the interview, we were able to see Justin was more than just someone doing and teaching the craft, but someone that is a leader in the craft as well. We hope his words inspire and empower you to be great.<\/p>\n

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Dance Mogul Magazine Exclusive…\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/h1>\n
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Dance Mogul:<\/strong> When did you discover the passion for Tap?
\nJustin Boccitto:<\/strong> When I was ten years old my parents enrolled me in a program called the Centenary Young Performer’s Workshop in Hackettstown, NJ (my hometown).\u00a0 The director of the program, Michael Blevins, had worked on Broadway and trained several tap dancers including Savion Glover and Jimmy Tate.\u00a0 He had also worked with other artists such as Bob Fosse, Joe Layton, and Danny Daniels.\u00a0 He introduced me to tap dancing.\u00a0 One of the first production we worked on was SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN.\u00a0 I played Don Lockwood, the Gene Kelly role, and Blevins insisted on recreating the original film choreography.\u00a0 That’s really when my tap dancing career began.<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Were your parents supportive of you?
\nJustin Boccitto:<\/strong> Yes.\u00a0 My father is a musician and had a small recording room in our basement, right next to my bedroom.\u00a0 He understood the passion I had for dance and compared it to his love for music.\u00a0 My mother was also supportive and did everything in her power to help me fulfill my dreams.\u00a0 I had tried playing sports early on but after scoring a goal for the opposing team my parents realized I wouldn’t have much of a soccer career.<\/p>\n

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Dance Mogul:<\/strong> How many hours of practice would you put in?
\nJustin Boccitto:<\/strong> The Centenary Young Performer’s Workshop met every Saturday from 9 am to 10 pm.\u00a0 We rehearsed 3-5 full-scale musicals and performed them in repertory.\u00a0 When it came to my tap dancing I would rehearse anywhere from 10-12 hours a week.\u00a0 I remember having a hard time with pullbacks.\u00a0 I worked on them every day for an hour for 3 weeks in my basement until I finally mastered them.<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:<\/strong>\u00a0Who were some of your early tap inspirations?
\nJustin Boccitto:<\/strong> Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire were my first.\u00a0 George M. Cohan and Donald O’Connor as well.\u00a0 Then Michael Blevins introduced me to tap teacher, Bettye Morrow.\u00a0 I began studying the styles of the Copasetic.\u00a0 Especially Bubba Gaines and Honi Coles.\u00a0 I also really liked Paul Draper.\u00a0 I enjoyed learning both the traditional “Broadway” style as well as hoofing and merging them together to create my own technique and aesthetic.<\/p>\n

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Dance Mogul:<\/strong> How did you go from a dancer to Choreographer\/Instructor\/ Director?Justin Boccitto:<\/strong> When I was 17 years old I realized I needed to make more money if I planned to move to NYC.\u00a0 With a push from Blevins, I started teaching my own private lessons around my hometown.\u00a0 I would drive to students’ homes and teach in basements, garages, porches, and anywhere I could.\u00a0 Through these lessons, I raised money to move to Manhattan.\u00a0 I attended Circle in the Square Theatre School and went on to have a successful performing career while also teaching at dance studios and programs throughout the area.\u00a0 After a while a realized I also had a passion and interest in directing, choreographing, and producing.\u00a0 In 2003 Blevins and I formed the theatre company, The Group Theatre Too (GTT).\u00a0 Through this group, I was able to fulfill my need for working on the other side of the table.\u00a0 I also started directing at Circle in the Square Theatre School which gave me exposure to other job opportunities.<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:<\/strong> Can you tell us what it’s like to arrange the different performances you have been a part of and directed?
\nJustin Boccitto:<\/strong> It’s stressful but very rewarding.\u00a0 The shows The Group Theatre Too produces are completely organized by myself and Michael Blevins. GTT produces several different kinds of productions, everything from dance concerts, musical revivals, new plays, cabarets, one-act festivals, and educational programs.\u00a0 One of our most popular projects is the Choreographer’s Canvas (www.choreographerscanvas.com<\/a>) which performs this year on May 18th at The Manhattan Movement and Arts Center.\u00a0 The Canvas showcases 15-20 choreographers who have been selected by a panel of industry professionals.\u00a0 We choose all styles of dance including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Aerial, Swing, Ballroom, etc.\u00a0 The Canvas requires a lot of coordination with the choreographers as we provide them with the venue, publicity and also lighting designer to help enhance their work.<\/p>\n

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Dance Mogul:<\/strong> What was it like to work with Lady Gaga?
\nJustin Boccitto:<\/strong> I worked with Stephanie Germanotta, aka Lady Gaga, while she was attending Circle in the Square’s Summer Intensive.\u00a0 I was her tap instructor for the 2-month program.\u00a0 She was a talented, passionate student and did very well in class.\u00a0 She, obviously, also excelled in her vocal technique and interpretation classes.\u00a0 I’m so impressed and proud of her career thus far and continue to wish her the best.<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:<\/strong> Do you feel Tap needs more big-screen exposure?
\nJustin Boccitto:<\/strong> It would be nice to see tap more exposed to film and television but I believe it’s become such a specialized art form that only certain people can perform it extremely well.\u00a0 This is why they don’t have tap as a discipline on So You Think You Can Dance.\u00a0 It is hard to teach it quickly, even to proficient dancers trained in other styles.\u00a0 But, everyone loves tap dancing.\u00a0 Thankfully recent artists like Savion Glover and Gregory Hines helped the resurgence of Tap on Broadway and in the film but we haven’t seen much of it in the past five years.\u00a0 Perhaps one day there will be a reality show where ordinary people have to learn how to tap dance.<\/p>\n