Jack Scarlett

Dancer

Choreographer

Teacher

Artist Statement

I am a tap dancer, percussionist, choreographer, and teacher. Although I enjoy many styles of music, I am a jazz music enthusiast. I find that jazz music is the best medium for me to express my emotions and to communicate with others. Many people profess to use dance as a means of communication, but for me, this is an authentic statement as tap dancing has made it possible for me to overcome being introverted and to become part of a group of artists who consider themselves family, “tap fam”.

Some of the pieces I choreograph are to tell a story, some to reinforce the history of tap dance, and some to share my innermost thoughts and feelings. “On a Clear Day” has become my theme song, it’s a reminder that no matter what may be happening, there will soon be a better, brighter day. There are a multitude of variations and covers of this song, my favorite is an arrangement I collaborated on with a seven-piece orchestra for a special performance in February of 2022.

My vision for my future is to continue to develop a body of work that will be a movement journal of my life experiences. I am becoming proficient with music and video editing so that I can record and share my work with others and hopefully affect them in a positive way.

About Me

Jack Scarlett recently moved to Tampa to join the cast of Summer Nights at Busch Gardens; he is also teaching Intensives and Master Classes in several dance studios in the Tampa Bay area. Previously, he was a Boston based dancer, teacher and choreographer. While in Boston, Jack was performer with DrumatiX, a Boston and San Diego based professional tap and percussion company. He has performed with FutureSTEP, a NJ based tap dance company, Jam Youth Project, a D.C. based tap dance company, and was a member of New Jersey Tap Ensemble’s NJTap2. He was a featured performer, as well as Dance Captain, at Legoland New York for the inaugural premiere of their stage shows. He was invited to guest perform with Tampa Bay’s Project: Rhythm’s annual show, Copasetic, with music provided by the NightBreakers and the The Solomon Keim Quartet.

One of his most memorable experiences is dancing in the Honorary Doctorate Concert for Usher and having his photo with Usher in the closing number in People magazine!

He started dancing at his mom’s studio in St. Augustine when he was 11 years old and was immediately drawn to tap dance. During his time competing, Jack earned numerous highest-level adjudications, as well as scholarships and regional and national titles for his fast-paced solos with show-stopping technique. He is always recognized for his stage presence and love of entertaining. He has trained with notable tap dance professionals such as Derick Grant, Sarah Reich, Dianne Walker, Jason Janas, Jason E. Bernard, Aaron Tolson, Anthony Morigerato, and Aaron Parkhurst. He has assisted at numerous dance conventions such as Adrenaline, Revive, NYCDA with Chloe Arnold, LA Dance Magic with Jason E. Bernard, Nuvo with Sarah Reich, and Radix with Jason Janas. He has also been an assistant for Sarah Reich’s Tap Music Project. Jack began his professional teaching career at Northeast Dance Project in New Jersey. He has taught and choreographed for Boston Conservatory’s tap ensemble; he also served as Vice President and co-Head Choreographer.

His choreographic work includes collaborating with a 7-piece band to create and arrange an Oscar Peterson piece for “Tapped In” at the Berklee Performance Center as well as short indie films that he choreographs, directs, and produces. Some of his more recent choreographic work includes pieces for Berklee College of Music’s “Night and Day, A Celebration of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga” and “Rhythm Unbound” for Boston Conservatory’s “Happy Feet”,a celebration of tap dance featuring all music genres.