Episode 143: Allison Toffan - Making Your Own Work

What happens when a tap dancer refuses to stay in one lane? In this episode, Travis Knights sits down with the extraordinary Leo Manzari, tap dancer, recording artist, choreographer, and creative force, to talk about artistry without limits. From the influence of Maurice Hines to the release of his new single Out the Way, Leo shares how music, rhythm, and storytelling continue to reshape his creative path. This conversation is about legacy, innovation, and what the future of tap looks and sounds like. Whether you're a tap dancer, musician, or simply love hearing artists think deeply about their craft, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Check out Leo here: https://www.leomanzari.com Connect with Tap Love Tour here: https://www.taplovetour.com

What happens when success isn't the challenge, but getting out of your own way is? In this candid conversation, Brinae Ali joins Travis Knights to discuss artistry, leadership, healing, faith, and the lifelong practice of becoming the person you're called to be. From tap dance and community building to self-doubt and spiritual growth, this episode is a masterclass in navigating the journey within. Support Brinae's Work here: https://givebutter.com/bllp

What does it take to build a future for tap dance? In this conversation, Travis sits down with longtime friend, producer, choreographer, and community builder Allison Toffan to explore the work that happens beyond the stage. From founding the Toronto Rhythm Initiative to launching Toffan Rhythm Productions as a not-for-profit, Allison shares lessons learned about leadership, funding, advocacy, audience development, and creating opportunities for the next generation of artists. Connect with Allison here: https://www.toffanrhythmprojects.com Connect with Tap Love Tour here: https://www.taplovetour.com

In light of the recent passing of tap dance elder Skip Cunningham, we are re-releasing this special episode of the Tap Love Tour Podcast. In this episode Skip Cunningham shares hard-earned wisdom from a life deeply rooted in tap dance culture. This conversation moves through the history, etiquette, humour, musicianship, and community values that shaped generations of hoofers. Skip speaks candidly about the elders who influenced him, the evolution of the form, the importance of listening, and what it means to carry yourself with integrity inside the tap dance community. For younger dancers especially, this episode offers a rare window into a lineage that can’t be learned from steps alone. A powerful conversation with one of the culture bearers of the art form.

Chicago rhythm, Black cultural legacy, mentorship, infrastructure, and the future of tap dance. In this episode of the Tap Love Tour Podcast, Bril Barrett joins Travis for a deep conversation about building community, preserving culture, and creating real pathways for the next generation of artists. A powerful dialogue on tap dance not just as performance, but as responsibility, resistance, and love. Connect to Madd Rhythms here: https://www.maddrhythms.com/ Connect to Tap Love Tour here: https://www.taplovetour.com/

In this episode of the Tap Love Tour Podcast, Tap Dance artist, Roxane Butterfly shares insights from her new book, TANT QU’IL Y AURA DES PLANCHES, a raw and deeply personal reflection on a life devoted to rhythm, resistance, and individuality. This isn’t just about dance. It’s about identity, courage, and choosing your path, no matter the cost. Purchase the French language book here: https://roxanebutterfly.com/en/tant-quil-y-aura-des-planches-le-livre/ Support Tap Love Tour here: https://www.patreon.com/travisknights

Natasha Powell joins the Tap Love Tour Podcast to talk about The Room Upstairs, a work shaped by jazz, time, and deep listening in honour of John Coltrane. This conversation moves through process, improvisation, solitude, collaboration, and the challenge of making something honest. A beautiful episode on what it means to keep searching through art. Follow and support Holla Jazz here: https://www.hollajazz.com Support Tap Love Tour here: https://www.patreon.com/travisknights Edited by MacKenzie Greenwell

In this powerful and unapologetic conversation, Travis sits down with Jason Samuels Smith and Moncell Durden for a deep dive into rhythm, lineage, identity, and the contested origins of tap dance. What begins as a discussion about credit and cultural memory quickly expands into a passionate exchange about Black indigeneity, diaspora, spirituality, and the politics of historical narrative. Who owns rhythm? Where do Black Americans come from? How do we responsibly trace cultural lineage when memory has been fractured? At times fiery and at times reflective, the conversation challenges dominant frameworks around Africa, the Americas, and tap dance history. This is not a passive listen. It’s an invitation to think critically, question inherited narratives, and engage with the complexity of cultural identity. Connect with Jason: https://www.jsamsmith.com/ Connect with Moncell: https://www.moncelldurden.com/ Support Tap Love Tour on Patreon: patreon.com/travisknights

Iconic tap dancer Jason Samuels Smith joins us for a passion-filled, controversial conversation exploring hidden histories, identity, and the re-examination of Black cultural narratives. Follow Jason here: https://www.jsamsmith.com/ Support Tap Love Tour on Patreon: patreon.com/travisknights

In this episode, we gather to reflect on the life, music, and artistic integrity of D’Angelo. Recorded in the days following his passing, this conversation is raw, personal, and deeply felt. Joined by Michela Marino Lerman, Jumaane Taylor, Jason Samuels Smith, Victoria Miller, Michael Shand, and Joanna Majoko, we talk about process, patience, and what it means to create work that lasts. We reflect on D’Angelo as a beacon, a high-water mark for what a master work can be, and how his music forces an honest reckoning with time, ambition, and the danger of waiting. This episode is about legacy, devotion to craft, and the urgency of taking yourself seriously as an artist. Don’t wait. Do the work. Finish the job. Check out Michela Marino Lerman: https://www.michelataps.com/ Jumaane Taylor: https://www.jumaanetaylor.com/ Jason Samuels Smith: https://www.jsamsmith.com/ Victoria Miller: https://victoriamillerdance.com/home Joanna Majoko: https://joannamajoko.com/ Michael Shand: @michaelshandkeys on instagram Support Tap Love Tour on Patreon: patreon.com/travisknights