Founded by D.C.-native, protégé of Debbie Allen, and Emmy® Award-nominated tap dancer and choreographer Chloé Arnold, Syncopated Ladies is reinvigorating the artform of tap, weaving inspiring stories with strong and sensual choreography. The Syncopated Ladies are not only tapping their way to the Center for the Arts on February 25, but they’ve been busy all over with new projects, including performing with Mariah Carey on her Christmas special and on CNN’s New Year’s Eve special with Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper.
Syncopated Ladies first skyrocketed to fame in 2016 when Beyoncé reposted a Syncopated Ladies routine to her hit song “Formation,” which lived on Beyonce.com’s home page for several weeks. Watch the electrifying routine below.
Earning her first Emmy nomination in 2018 for her choreography on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Chloé Arnold recently returned to the show last month with a thrilling routine to Common & John Legend's "Glory.” In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Arnold notes, “I’m a black woman that choreographed television. We are few. The fact that I’ve been able to diversify the presence of artists on television and bring beautiful dancers of all backgrounds to the light, is the greatest gift of all of this.” Watch Syncopated Ladies’ most recent performance on Corden’s show.
One of Arnold’s most recent projects with the Syncopated Ladies was teaching Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell to tap dance in the 2022 holiday film Spirited on Apple TV+. When director and co-writer Sean Anders was asked about choosing a choreographer for the movie, he mentioned seeing Arnold’s routines online. In a recent article by The New York Times, he notes that Arnold’s choreography features “some of the most intense, badass tap dancing [he'd] ever seen." He adds, “I knew she was the secret weapon I was looking for.”
Arnold reflects on being part of a trio of lead choreographers, all of which are Black women, stating, “In the art of dance and the art of tap in particular, Black women have almost never had a position of leadership, proper recognition or proper compensation. . . So for this creative group to bring us in, and not try to silence our voices, that trust was so beautiful.” For a behind-the-scenes look into the hilarious tap lessons between Arnold and Spirited actors, enjoy the video below.
The Center for the Arts is thrilled to have Chloé Arnold and the Syncopated Ladies tap their way into our audience’s hearts on February 25 at 8 p.m. with Chloé Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies LIVE! Tickets are available at cfa.gmu.edu.