Award-winning tap dance sensation heading to Northampton's Royal & Derngate this autumn
An award-winning tap dance production that has entertained more than 300,000 people is heading to Northampton this autumn as part of a nationwide tour.
STORIES – The Tap Dance Sensation, presented by RB Dance Company, will visit Royal & Derngate on Tuesday, November 3, following a sold-out UK premiere in 2024.
The production offers a modern take on traditional tap dance, combining energetic choreography, urban jazz and storytelling to create a theatrical experience.
At its heart is the story of Icarus, a successful young actor trapped under the control of a powerful film director.
Following a fierce confrontation, Icarus struggles to escape the director's influence, with his emotional journey explored through dance and music.
Created by artistic director and choreographer Romain Rachline Borgeaud, the production features 10 dancers performing to an original score composed by Romain himself.
A transforming stage set, designed by Federica Mugnai, transports audiences through a cinematic world of film sets, hotels and gambling clubs.
Atmospheric lighting and elaborate costumes help bring the story to life.
RB Dance Company was founded in 2018 with the ambition of revitalising tap dance and introducing the art form to contemporary audiences through large-scale productions.
The company gained national recognition in France after reaching the finals of France's Got Talent in both 2018 and 2024.
STORIES has also received critical acclaim, winning three awards at Les Trophées De La Comédie Musicale, France's equivalent of the Olivier Awards.
Romain began tap dancing at an early age before training in jazz and studying at The Ailey School in New York.
His career has included Broadway musicals and choreography for productions including Les Misérables in Paris.
Speaking about the tour, Romain said: “After a remarkable response to the UK Premiere of STORIES, I’m delighted to be bringing this production back to the West End and on tour nationwide.
“The work explores themes of duality, using a contemporary dance language to express Icarus’s intense inner journey.
“I hope audiences enjoy being immersed in this cinematic world and sharing in the energy, emotion, and joy of tap dance.”
The Northampton performance forms part of a UK tour that also visits London, Stockton, Bournemouth, Bradford, Edinburgh and Cornwall.
Further information and tickets for the Northampton performance are available through the Royal & Derngate website at royalandderngate.co.uk.