July 8, 2021
New York City’s Times Square will come alive with dancing in the street when the U.S. Postal Service officially unveils its Tap Dance Forever Stamps.
The famous Father Duffy Square in the heart of Manhattan’s Theatre District will set the stage for the first-day-of-issue stamp ceremony celebrating this rhythmic stamp series. The ceremony is in conjunction with the Tap It Out, Tap City, New York City Tap Festival. It is free and open to the public.
The stamps showcase five photographs of a different tap dancer performing his or her craft against a brightly colored background that highlights the dancer’s shaping and movement. The photographs were taken by Matthew Murphy and the stamps were designed by art director Ethel Kessler.Â
n Colonial America, dance moves with African origins became intertwined with the rapid footwork of the Irish jig and the percussion of English clog dancing. Whether cultures intermingled in the rural South or in crowded city neighborhoods, the result was a budding new set of hybrid dance forms based on a skilled and ever-changing combination of movement and sound.
From its roots in popular entertainment, tap has grown into a significant art form praised as a major American contribution to world dance. As it continues to evolve through influences from jazz and hip hop, this dynamic form of dance will be equally at home in the most prestigious performance halls and on the streets, building on tradition while staying fresh with the infusion of new cultural influences.
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide.
