Tap Dogs will make a return to The Buell Theatre in September. Currently Colorado native, Donovan Helma, is performing with Tap Dogs in London. We caught up with Donovan for a quick interview.

Donovan began dancing at three under the direction of his mother’s dance studio, Miller’s Dance Studio, in Denver which was established by his grandfather Ernest L. Miller established in 1957.  He currently continues his education in New York City. Aside from TAP DOGS, Donovan recently did corporate performances for General Motors, Charles Schwab and a Monday Night Football halftime performance with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Donovan performed for Montreal’s Danse Encore International Festival in a production with the group Tap’d Out. In 2009 and 2010, he toured with the new Gregory Hines tribute show, Thank You Gregory, starring Jason Samuels Smith and Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards. Since 2004, he has performed on numerous tours and industrials with the international cast of TAP DOGS, including North America, Europe and South Africa. When he isn’t performing he is teaching at studios and national conventions across the USA.

Denver Center: What would you say about training in Colorado and how you become a Tap Dog?

Donovan: The training I received at Miller’s is some the best in Colorado.  Some of the most successful working dancers have trained at Miller’s.  I studied more years of ballet then I have tap but that gave me the foundation to take any path I wanted in dance.  Luckily Miller’s has one of the strongest and most comprehensive tap programs in the state which certainly gave me the opportunity to be in Tap Dogs.   

DC: What makes Tap Dogs so exciting and why should audiences see it?

D: Tap Dogs is basically a rock and roll tap dance show that keeps you on the edge of your seat. People love this show for its pure entertaining aspect.  Tap Dogs has a continuously changing ingenious set and every scene if deferent from the last.  I first saw the show when I was 12 years old in Denver and it completely blew me away and inspired me to be where I am now.    

DC: What’s a typical day in the life of a Tap Dog?

D: A touring schedule is much different from a “sit down” schedule.  I’m currently a part of the West End cast in London and everyday brings new ups and downs.  It’s a hard life to get used to being that there isn’t a consistent schedule.  Some days we have press on TV at 5 am and then have to do two shows later that night. But the next day could be completely free until the call time for the show.

DC: What do London audiences think of Tap Dogs?

D: The West End show is a big hit!  I’m so grateful to be a part of the London revival of the show.  Not very many people knew about it before we came but word of mouth has had us sold out for quite some time.  London is a hard town to entertain but we are certainly doing that.

DC: When you close in London, what’s next?

D: London closes Sept 5th and then I’m headed to Denver to see the family.  I’ll be back and forth from Denver and New York teaching and enjoying time off.  After Christmas I’m headed to Sydney to perform with Tap Dogs for a 6 week sit down…can’t wait!  

Thanks Donovan!

The international sensation – Tap Dogs - is back and ready to leave dents on stages all across North America. Created by Olivier Award-winning choreographer Dein Perry, with a construction site set by designer/director Nigel Triffitt, and a driving score by composer Andrew Wilkie, Tap Dogs is a rough, tough, rocking theatrical entertainment. Winner of 11 International Awards, Tap Dogs premiered at the Sydney Theatre Festival, moved on to London and New York, and has been a howling success all across North America, Europe, Asia, America, and Australia.

Tap Dogs plays the Buell Theatre Sep 22-Sep 26. Tickets start at $20.

This video is from the West End production.  Donavan is in the white t-shirt second from the right.

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