Innovative, the Urban Tap Company’s creations draw on diverse cultures and artistic forms: ancestral traditions and new technologies, animism and urban cultures, jazz music and captivating rhythms, tap and hip hop dances, multimedia scenography, veejaying… The result is life-giving and humane performances that reach a wide audience, far beyond distinctions of age and cultural affiliation.
«Imagine the fusion of Cirque du Soleil, voodoo rituals and hip-hop sensibilities, and discover the magic of the New York company Urban Tap» (Los Angeles Times)
Tamangoh claims to belong to three cultures: African, European and Amerindian. Born in Cayenne and raised in Guyana until the age of eight by a grandmother healer and voodoo priestess, Tamangoh was subsequently adopted by a Belgian baron in Paris. He began tap dancing at the age of 20 at the American Center in Paris, then moved to New York in 1987.
“Tamangoh is one of the greatest dancers of our time in every respect.” (San Francisco Chronicle)
Tamangoh danced with legendary tap dance greats such as Gregory Hines, Bunny Briggs, Jimmy Slyde, Chuck Green, Buster Brown, Lon Chaney, Sarah Petronio, Tina Pratt and Savion Glover. He has also performed with musicians Bobby Mcferrin, Omar Sosa, Zakir Hussein, Chucho Valdes, Giovanni Hidalgo, David Murray, Elvin Jones, Roy Haynes, Billy Higgins, Charlie Hunter, Christian Mcbride, Cheick Tidiane Seck, Mahmoud Guinea and Kodo percussionists. Tamangoh participated in the shows Riverdance, Les P’tits Loups du Jazz, The Majesty of Tap, the opening ceremony of the Albertville Olympic Games directed by Philippe Decouflé, and, at the Paris Opera, Peut-on Dancer un Paysage by Min Tanaka and Karel Appel.
“Like all great dancers, Tamangoh never ceases to surprise us.” (The New York Times)
Tamangoh is the founder and artistic director of the Urban Tap Company with whom he has performed on numerous international tours. In 1994, he directed, in collaboration with hip hop choreographer Rennie Harris, the show «Cool Heat, Urban Beat» which toured the world for six consecutive years. In 2000, he received the prestigious Bessie Award for best choreography for the show Caravane de la Cie Urban Tap. In 2002, Tamangoh was featured on TV Arte’s Metropolis and featured in Stomp’s Pulse, Imax. In 2005, he was the youngest artist to receive the Masters of African American Dance Award at the Kennedy Center in Washington. In 2009, 2010 and 2011, Tamangoh officiated as master of ceremonies for the Big Band evenings of the Jazz in Marciac festival.
