About us

Ever since his first visits in the late ninties to New York's many jam sessions, Junior Laniyan had always felt that London needed its own forum for tap dancers to play with live musicians. But it wasn't until early 2006 while at a basement club in Leicester Square that Junior saw a potential venue for an event. And as a result of pulling in the talents of Melody Lander and Dan Sheridan, in June 2006 at Leicester Square's Oxygen Bar the first London Tap Jam began. Due to the support of the London tap community and original Bebop Hoofer Will Gaines, the event was a bigger success than the team expected. They realised that the jam had the potential to be a regular event, but they also knew they would need a bigger venue for it to work.

A few months later deep in the heart of Soho, the team discovered Digress Soho, which was to become London Tap Jam's home on a bi-monthly basis for the next two and a half years. Over that time, they were visited by high-profile international tap dancers including Roxane Butterfly and Heather Cornell who've pledged their support to the event. As the jam became more successful, they were able to support the tap dance community, by providing subsidised workshops and by supporting the tap jam at Will Gaines' 80th birthday celebrations at London's Southbank Centre.

In 2009 London Tap Jam was approached by Ronnie Scott's, and asked to consider moving the jam to the recently refurbished Ronnie's Bar. Their support enabled the jam to become a regular monthly event, and since moving, they've been able to welcome back Roxane Butterfly and Heather Cornell, and also welcome Lee Howard, Andrew Nemr, Max Pollak and Lisa La Touche. The organisers feel that the jam has now found its natural home at the UK's premiere jazz club.