Also this issue: Star Crossed David Stephens’ installation at Gallery Joe takes a new look at an old symbol. -Susan Hagen Phantoms, No Opera -David Shengold MacHomer -Steve Cohen The Fever -Debra Auspitz Heckler -Toby Zinman A View From The Bridge -David Anthony Fox Magic Flute -David Shengold

February 27-March 5, 2003

artpicks

Urban Tap

Urban Tap is a nice staid name for an outfit that's likely to raise The Kimmel Center's roof a few more feet. The leader, head dancer, idea guy and unbelievable mover is Tamango (that's the Guianese name of Herbin Van Cayseele), who was born in French Guiana, then went to Paris thinking he'd be a painter and ended up doing street dancing in the City of Light. Moving to New York, Tamango added in American tap, break dance and just about any other "sound" dance that comes to mind (including a stint with Riverdance). His troupe (the Crue) brings us an evening called "Full Cycle" which has the feet, the sound, the tapping and more, including multimedia theater, video and live music. Tamango's been quoted as saying, "It's not straight tap. I look at it holistically." You can't get much more holistic than a tap outfit that includes Brazilian capoeira (think judo as a dance), American break dancing, African dance and hip-hop. Everyone makes music with their feet and hands, on the stage, on their bodies, on whatever is handy. And how can you not want to see a dance troupe described as the merging of Cirque du Soleil, voodoo ritual and hip-hop?

Urban Tap, Fri.-Sun., Feb. 28-March 2, The Kimmel Center, 260 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999.

—Janet Anderson