On a quiet Sunday night at PJPAC, the Korea Tap Orchestra’s electrifying All that RHYTHM turned a quiet theatre into a single, smiling pulse. Five dazzling dancers, one vibrant Malaysian band, and a packed hall – no one sat still. I left with hands sore from clapping and a newfound love for tap dancing.
Eve Thong made this possible. She’s the founder of Tribe Creative PLT and the dynamic driving force behind the event (she lived in Korea for a few years and her son Caleb took lessons with Yono Lee, Captain and Creative Director of the Korea Tap Orchestra).
Inspired by what she saw, she invited the troupe to bring their distinctive, high octane K-Tap energy show All That RHYTHM to Kuala Lumpur, giving Malaysian audiences a rare chance to feel the joy and precision of this vibrant art form – whose origins trace back to the rhythmic footwork of enslaved Africans in America, blending with Irish step dancing to create the infectious rhythm we celebrate today.
That art form took shape in 2016, when the five brilliant tappers I was lucky to watch formed the core of the Korea Tap Orchestra. Yono Lee, with his Korean-soap-opera good looks, actively strives to popularise tap through stage, film and television, and continues to share the energy of Korean tap worldwide, Yongkap Park (Gavy to fans), ruggedly handsome and the troupe’s Artistic Director, is driven by a deep love for tap; he preserves its roots whilst pushing every boundary.
Sweet-looking Kyuri Kim mixes ballet’s ethereal grace with taps sharp steps. Boyish Zion Yang, first runner-up at the 2023 Seoul Tap Dance Concours, is the rising star who rides every beat like a K-pop idol. And last – but never least – my favourite, Yoon Sohn, storms the stage with powerful magnetic energy and a commanding presence. Five different personalities, yet perfectly blended when they dance together.
All That RHYTHM – the programme
All That RHYTHM‘s programme unfolded in 3 parts and 11 scenes. It opened with a lovely guest performance of ‘Ala E Wau’ by the Dancesteps Studio, setting a warm Malaysian tone. Part one, Invitation to Tap Dance – introduced the dancers through classics like ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’ and a playful tap on classical music. Part two, A Journey Through Tap – was a time travel through tap dance history, mixing standards such as ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ with a K-pop medley that had us all dancing in our seats.
The final part, Into the Rhythm, delivered pure, unbridled fun; a Tap-chestra where selected audience members became conductors, and a hands on tap lesson that revealed some fun facts e.g. that in tap dancing, the front tap produces a higher pitched, bright sound, while the heel tap produces a lower pitched, deep sound. This differentiation in sound is the fundamental aspect of tap dance musicality. We also learned a few simple taps which was fun.
And for the finale we had the fabulous ‘It Don’t Mean A Thing’ with Yoon Sohn belting out the lyrics whilst the floor blazed. The tagline nails it – “blending jazz, classical and K-pop, a participatory show that will have you tapping along in your seat!”.
Fun? Too small a word. The entire evening was invigorating and joyful, leaving the audience buzzing with energy and smiles long after the lights came up.
They’re already planning on return visits. To everyone in KL, here’s their message: “Whether you’re already learning tap, enjoy watching it or you are discovering it for the first time, this is a show that everyone, regardless of age and background, can enjoy together. We hope you’ll come and feel the passion and energy of Korea Tap Orchestra on stage.”
My shoes are ready for their next visit. Yours should be too.
All photos are by James Quah Dance Photography.
We were invited by Tribe Creative PLT. As always, our opinions are honest and our own.
