Tap dancer Ayodele Casel discusses dance and personal connection
Ayodele Casel doesn’t just tap. She swings. And although she’s worked hard to make her Latin-infused brand of percussive dance look cool and easy, this tap evangelist wants everyone to know that hoofing, for her, involves more than fast feet: There are many stories behind the virtuosity, and a deep connection to the African American experience. “I want folks — the world — to look at this art form and its practitioners and give them the same respect and consideration they give to ballet and modern dance,” she says. Growing up, Casel, 44, was a brawler. “They called me Muhammad Ali,” she says. “And I wanted to fight boys, in particular.” Perhaps not the most auspicious start, but that attitude would stick — and serve her well. Tap has always been a male-dominated art, but as an aspiring dancer, she never shied from the improvisational ring. “The guys were dancing at a high...