Omar Edwards: Tap Artist/Choreographer/Musician
2016 BEESSIE Award Nominee for FLY/ New Victory Theatre, NYC
Omar Edwards is a gifted dancer, entertainer, and musician who has been in love with Tap since he was 12 years old. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Omar draws his dancing from 23 years of experiences and formal training; experiences with masters like Henry Letang, Jimmy Slyde, and Marie Brooks.
Omar has also trained under the tutelage of the great musician/songwriter Olu Dara. In 1994, he earned national acclaim when he and then Tap partner Daniel B. Wooten Jr. won 13 times including the grand prize on the famed T.V. show Star Search. From that time on, he has embarked on a Tap Dance career that spans the world of music, dance, television, theatre, and film. In 1998, he took four musicians into the recording studio to record a Tap Dance album entitled Tap Dancin’ is Music, making Omar the first of his generation to release an album where the Tap Dancer is the leader of the band as well as the lead instrument.
Omar has taken his foot music, which he now calls Afro Feet: Music and Beyond, to over 20 countries, places like Australia, Japan, Germany, Portugal, and many more. His other accomplishments include an international tour of the hit show Black and Blue and featured dancer in the Broadway show Bring In Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk. He also starred as the "Sandman" on the legendary T.V. show, Showtime at the Apollo for seven years and was featured in the musical movie Camp. Some of his concert credits include performing with Alicia Keys live at the Hollywood Bowl and dancing on record with rappers Common and Mos Def on a song called The Questions. He has performed with Savion Glover live at the White House and was also a featured guest on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.
An actor /dancer / foot musician , Omar originated and choreographed the role of the Tap Griot, “a leader-guru to help tell the tale in rhythm” in the multiple award-winning play FLY , a story of the famed Tuskegee Airmen of WW II . In February of 2018 FLY won three NAACP Image Awards including Best Production . Omar himself was also nominated for a BESSIE Award at The New Victory Theatre/NYC and a Broadway world.com LA Award for Best Actor in a Local Production at the Pasadena Playhouse/CA for FLY.
In an expansion of his talent, Omar joined forces with three other musicians in the fall of 2018 to form The K360 Club, named after Omar’s beloved Tap shoes, the Capezio K360. Their first CD Groovy Gravy provides a unique experience for the listener in that it is Omar’s feet , not voice that expertly lead the band down a band river of music genres.