Interview with
Lisa Swenton-Eppard
Of Percussion Discussion
1. What is the name of your company?
Percussion Discussion is my parent organization housing Capitol Tap, District Tap, and Percussion Discussion Productions.
2. How many years has your company existed?
Capitol Tap is currently celebrating our tenth anniversary season! District Tap is in our fourth season.
3. Where is your company based?
Both companies are in residence at Knock On Wood Tap Studio in Washington, DC.
4. What are the age range of the dancers in your company?
Capitol Tap welcomes tap dancers ages 9 to 25 with at least two years experience. District Tap is for advanced level tap dancers ages 18 and up. Admission is via audition only.
5. How often do your dancers meet to rehearse? Perform?
Capitol Tap rehearses four hours a week over two days and enjoyed 18 performances last season. District Tap rehearses once a week for two hours a week with 10 performances last season.
6. When you began, what was your primary motivation/goal/mission for starting a Tap dance company?
Our home studio’s original youth tap ensemble, Tappers With Attitude, closed in 2010 after their 19th season. I was an assistant director during their last eight seasons, and when the closure was announced, the dancers and families approached me about starting my own ensemble. That’s when I reached out to our now assistant artistic director, Baakari Wilder, and our now technical director, Susan Kilbourne, and invited them on this journey, both of whom are still with me. It was never a goal of mine to own my own business, but here I am ten years later with two tap ensembles and a production company! Fun fact: Baakari was the first dance captain for Tappers With Attitude before leaving to become the dance captain of Broadway’s “Bring In ‘Da Noise, Bring In ‘Da Funk”, later assuming the lead role from Savion Glover, earning a Bessie Award.
7. As time has moved on, how has that mission evolved?
Our focus has remained the same since the beginning: to shape and support the next generation of tap dancers, musicians, historians, technicians, improvisors, educators, and performers.
8. What has been the biggest challenge of starting a dance company?
Because I am the founder/director/owner, I am wholly invested in the success of this business that exists in support of this art form, and I have had to maneuver my way over the past decade through finding a balance of administrative time vs. studio time for the companies, while also juggling being an adjunct professor and faculty at various studios, with my main focus remaining my own family of my husband and two children. I was quoted in Dance Magazine on this very subject, and the tough realities of starting/running a dance company aren’t as openly discussed as much as they need to be. Our art form’s future is dependent on tackling the issues of finances, creativity, growth, and so much more as we continue to progress into new territory.
9. What has been your proudest moment in directing this dance company?
Ms. Yvonne Edwards, the co-founder of our home studio (celebrating their 25th anniversary season this year as an exclusively tap dance studio) and their original youth tap ensemble, is now 85 years young, and she is always reminding me that she is proud of what I’m doing for the art form and for continuing what she started. I trust her judgement about the trajectory I’m navigating because she’s the first one to tell me otherwise!
10. What words of advice would you offer to someone who is starting their own tap dance company?
I’ve been very fortunate to be surrounded from the beginning by those who honor this art form, value the history, and revere all those who came before us. This continues to center my guiding principles and determine the decisions that get made. I’d encourage anyone wanting to start their own tap dance company to ask tough and necessary questions of those already doing the work, and determine the goal of taking on this responsibility. Define your purpose at the outset, and refine it with trusted mentors.
Baakari and I each bring our own set of strengths. Some overlap, and many do not, and that’s our secret sauce. Don’t try to be all things to all people, hire those who help fulfill the specific needs of what you’re working towards.
11. Do you have any current projects the company is working on that you want to promote?
Capitol Tap is currently celebrating our tenth anniversary season and we have a big gala planned this spring, teaming up with our home studio who are celebrating their 25th anniversary!
12. Describe your company in one word!
Copasetic.