Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble

Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble

Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble is a world class troupe of dancers and musicians who have been acclaimed by critics as they enthralled audiences in the U.S., Canada, U.K., France, Finland and Japan. The company's 2025 festival performance is presented in tribute to founding director, dancer and choreographer Eileen Carson Schatz (1953-2019.

Footworks will celebrate the roots and branches of Americana music and dance from the driving fiddle tunes of Appalachian clogging to the syncopated beats of tap dance, the soul-stirring sounds of gospel and the lyrical traditions of Irish step dance.

Among the highlights is  "Hambone,"  a piece in which the troupe pays homage to the Georgia Sea Island Singers who taught them to hambone. This African American tradition of body percussive blends intricate rhythms, songs of heritage, and expresses the joy of community. Gospel music is a strong source of inspiration in the American tradition. In “Wake Up In Glory” it is juxtaposed with English clogging to illustrate one of the roots of tap: African-American dancers meeting with the stars of English clogging in the days of vaudeville. In these and other pieces, you'll experience top shelf dancers and musicians:

The company is directed by Marsha Searle who is also a choreographer, dancer and vocalist. She has been with Footworks for 15 years and has also been a member of the Celtic Band “IONA” since 2018 performing Celtic dance and music.  The music director and bassist Mark Schatz has performed and toured with such greats as Nickel Creek,  Bella Fleck, Tim O'Brien, Tony Rice Unit, Emmy Lou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. Other dancers include Co-director Emily Crews, dancer and vocalist Kim Jones, and dancer Adam Wheeler. Fiddler Jon Glik, banjo player Sam Guthridge and Bryan McDowell (guitar, fiddle and mandolin) complete the band.

Intriguing rhythms will be introduced and broken down. At some point, audience members may feel encouraged to cross over from being spectators to being music makers!

It is hoped that Marylanders feel proud and visitors impressed as they are reminded of the accomplishments of the late founder Eileen Carson Schatz and music director Mark Schatz, who transformed folk traditions into performance art of extremely high caliber and took their music, movement and related stories on the road. 

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