Tap Ole @ C plaza

There is not a great deal of tap to be found in this year’s Fringe programme, which may come as a surprise because of the current resurgence and interest in the style (evident in the recent revival of 42nd Street at the Chichester Festival Theatre and the successful run of Tap Dogs in the West End). On offer in Edinburgh, however, is Tap Olé which mixes music, dance and Spanish flavour to form an entertaining celebration of rhythm. The company of four provide an energetic show of technical precision for the auditory sense.

The performance opens with two musicians plucking acoustic guitars. Their nimble fingers run up and down the strings with apparent ease as the distinctly Spanish tone of the evening is set. They are joined by two tap dancers who add to the music with their neat footwork and skilfully choreographed sequences. Throughout the show the performers play with rhythm and pace as they exhibit their remarkable stamina and abilities. Occasionally, the dancers’ upper body style is restricted by a rigidity that curtails their individual characters and seems akin to the strict placement that syllabus work dictates. This is forgivable with such impressive tapping.

Tap Olé Company’s trademark sand dance is the highpoint of the evening. From the outset, one understands that this is something special as Guillem Alonso ceremoniously pours the sand in preparation for his solo. The sound of sand and tap shoe scraping together provides a contrast to the metallic noise that the shoes normally make and it is uniquely satisfying. Filled with sand, guitars and tap shoes, Tap Olé caters for all your aural needs.