30 years of IDO World Tap dance Championships
Rachel Jackson-Weingärtner MA / born in Yorkshire, England - living in Freiensteinau, Germany Teacher | Choreographer | IDO-Judge I, Rachel Jackson-Weingärtner MA – was born in Yorkshire, England; an Expat residing in Germany who regularly lives out of a suitcase in some part of the world doing what she loves the most – teaching/examining/judging or mentoring.
I asked my dear friend Klaus Schollmeier (many of the IDO tappers know him as “Dr. Klaus” as this is how Michael calls him out over the microphone in Riesa ) to help me put a few lines together for this wonderful project of Michael’s and he said: “Rachel could dance before s he walked” .
Another dear friend of mine from the dance world, who is also an examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance, said several years ago in an opening statement whilst introducing me:
“Teaching, choreographing and mentoring in the performing arts sec tor was always meant to be Rachel’s vocation” .
So, who am I in the IDO world – long-time choreographer and trainer from the Penguin Tappers, Germany. Back in 2001 “Dr. Klaus” wouldn’t stop calling me until I agreed to give a workshop for the Penguins to s ee if I would be a suitable trainer and choreographer for them. I remember saying to my husband at the time: I don’t really have time to take on something new (back in 2001 I had my own full -time vocational college) but just to keep Klaus happy, I’ll give a class, see what it’s all about and decide then: 20 years later, I’m still a Penguin and always will be. The Penguin Tappers have become my tap dance center and my family in that respect. My main team were the adult formations from 2001 – 2019 and the junior formations from 2005 – 2015. The IDO world championships were always a highlight for me at the end of every year: Seeing the amazing sculpture in front of the entrance, walking through the red doors – not knowing which one would open , hearing the buzz of voices, music, tapping and the smell – the stadium in Riesa has that “smell”. The week of Riesa was always a possibility to show my work, to meet people alike and get new inspirations. I think I am a very modest person, nevertheless I am proud to say that I have been throughout the years very successful with my formations over the years.
In 2016, I was presented with the TAF Award from TAF Germany (member country of IDO). I was surprised and overwhelmed with the award. I was moved to tears reading it and would like to share this with you:
“Rachel's TAF career began many years ago as a trainer for the Penguin Tappers in Hemsbach. Little by little she built up their formations and developed fantastic choreographies with the dancers. Even then, it bro ught a special shot of “show” to the TAF tap dance area, which has been in existence for several years. Originally coming from the world of ballet, she was able to incorporate these influences into many of her works. The fantastic pictures she developed were particularly respected and often copied. She also ventured into music that was new to the genre. This led, among other things, to the fact that she succeeded several times in winning gold medals at the IDO World Championships with her formations. Always following the call of the times, she remained up-to-date and became increasingly involved in TAF, also in an advisory capacity. To this day she is a nationally and internationally recognized specialist and judge for tap dance and ballet and is always at our side actively and in an advisory capacity.” Choreography is not just putting something nice on stage – it’s not just a dance to a piece of music. For me, it must mean something. It’s a piece of art. Every piece tells its own story, whether this being i n a world
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