Jazz licks

Workshop with Daniel Luka

In this workshop, participants will discover a selection of classic jazz licks*. Through targeted, guided exercises, they develop their rhythmic character and then transform the musical impulses into tap sounds.
*A jazz lick is a short, memorable, melodic phrase used in improvisation. These phrases often embody signature styles associated with jazz legends.

Workshop participants receive a 10% discount for a total workshop fee of more than 200 euros as part of the Tap Ahead Festival.

Portrait photo: Daniel Luka

Daniel Luka

Daniel Luka is a globally sought after tap dance artist. Whether as a dancer and producer of his own stage pieces, guest dancer and member of various companies, at numerous television appearances and events, as instructor as well as guest performer at festivals and concerts with a large number of international dancers and musicians: Daniel is always looking for new paths. He appreciates the border crossing, experiments with cross-genre music, absorbs impulses from the most diverse cultures or seeks the interconnection with video and digital art.
He developed his dance style as an inspired student of various international tap dance artists, above all his most important influence and master, Sarah Petronio, with whom he was allowed to dance in many different shows (including „Thelonious" on Broadway in NYC, "Monk In Motion" and “Jazz In Motion” in Paris). 

He is a proud member of the Paris based "Hip Tap Project" (including "À l'unisson" and "Boom Tchak"), created and directed by Leela Petronio who is another major influence for Daniel. Since 2011 he is a member of the percussion show "Beats And Noises", created by Knuth Jerxsen and Ute Wilbertz and furthermore constantly travels the world as a versatile soloist (including Duke Ellington’s „Sacred Concert“ or „We Got Rhythm“ with the WDR Bigband).
When Daniel is not on tour, he devotes himself passionately to his job as a teacher, the artistic direction as curator of the “Tap Dance Days” at tanzhaus nrw, as well as to the “Tap Jam Düsseldorf”, which he founded.

Grafik des Festivals TAP AHEAD 2026, mehrere rosafarbene Tap-Schuhe vor neongrünem Hintergrund.

Festival · 14. – 17.05.2026

TAP AHEAD