Max Pollak
"... the most knowledgeable jazz tap artist out there today, a very literate musician as well as dancer." - The Boston Herald, 2006
Max Pollak, named one of the "25 to Watch in 2007" by Dance Magazine, was inspired by the virtuosic footwork displayed by many of the greats in American film, and most importantly, jazz music. A native of Austria who has lived in New York since 1991, he has been tapping since the age of eleven, and playing drums and percussion since the age of fourteen. From the beginning, he has focused on studying each discipline in depth in order to improve his understanding of the other.
Today Pollak is recognized worldwide as the creator of "RumbaTap." So respected is Pollak for this concept that his performances, teaching schedule, university lectures, and residencies take him throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, Central and South America. Pollak has published articles on tap dance in several international publications including Dance Magazine; has recorded CDs with his long time musical collaborator Paul Carlon, Grupo Los Santos, TrioNada, and members of the Tito Puente Orchestra; has appeared in films and documentaries including the critically claimed Como Se Forma Una Rumba with some of Cuba's most prestigious salsa musicians; and was the tap coach for lead actor Pablo Veron on the Sally Potter film The Tango Lesson.
