Avalon
Rathgeb
AVALON RATHGEB
Tap Dance Choreographer, Performer
Artistic Director of Old Kent Road
Avalon's Story
Avalon Rathgeb is a leading force in contemporary tap dance — Founder and Artistic Director of the UK’s acclaimed company OKR Dance, Founder of the London Tap Dance Festival, and creator of the new solo show UnBound, directed by Josh Hilberman and premiering in Liège, Belgium. Her bold artistic vision and commitment to elevating tap as a theatrical artform have made her one of the most influential voices in the UK’s tap landscape today.
A graduate of Bird College (2009), Avalon trained on a full three-year scholarship before earning two internships with the American Tap Dance Foundation (2009–11) and completing a residency with Grant Swift’s TeAyPe in Melbourne, Australia (2009–10). She received a scholarship to the Los Angeles Tap Festival (2012), won the cutting contest at the Stockholm Tap Festival (2013), and was one of just 25 dancers selected worldwide for the prestigious Tap Programme at The School at Jacob’s Pillow (2014, Massachusetts, USA).
Avalon’s performance highlights include dancing in the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Closing Ceremony of the 2015 European Games (Baku, Azerbaijan), and serving as a Principal Dancer for Tapestry Dance Company—North America’s only full-time salaried tap company—under the direction of Acia Gray (2017–19) where Avalon performed and toured shows including: ‘Just Tap’, ‘Mice and Music- A Jazz Tap Nutcracker’, ‘April Fools’, ‘Sound and Silence’, ‘Pass- ing it Forward- The American Dream?’ and ‘The Souls of our Feet’.
She has been endorsed by Ruben Sanchez DanceWear since 2014.
As Founder and Artistic Director of OKR Dance (formerly Old Kent Road), Avalon has led the company since 2014 with the support of Arts Council England. Their celebrated production OSCiLLATE, premiered at Sadler’s Wells (The Lilian Baylis Theatre) and toured internationally, including a China tour with over 40 performances. OKR also produces the London Tap Dance Festival, an annual celebration of the city’s finest educators and performers that champions creative collaboration with international artists. Under Avalon’s direction, OKR has launched two training initiatives — the OKR Youth Company and the OKR Development Company — nurturing the next generation of tap artists.
As an international solo artist, Avalon regularly teaches and performs at major festivals such as Taptastic (Germany), Australian Tap Festival, Singapore Tap Festival, Tanzhaus (Germany), and Riff Dallas (USA). She has also choreographed and directed internationally, including the creation of K-Tap in Kuwait with LAPA LOYAC, and served as Movement Director for Plaza at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (UK). Avalon continues to collaborate closely with U.S.-based choreographer Sarah Savelli.
In the UK, she is a respected faculty member at Arts Educational, Performers College, Pineapple Dance Studios, and South London Dance Studios. Driven by a passion for theatrical innovation, Avalon’s work explores identity, communication, and the human experience through rhythm and movement — continually expanding the boundaries of tap dance performance.
Her latest project, UnBound, directed by Josh Hilberman premiered at The Claquettes Club (Liège, Belgium) and will tour the UK in 2027.
Global Performer
Avalon travels globally, performing her choreography in festivals all over the world including Singapore, Italy, Germany, Mexico and beyond. She is a singular talent with an effortless style that exudes technicality, vibrancy and a palpable love for and connection to the music with which she collaborates and is inspired by. She is a student of ryhtm and craftsmanship, always offering new perspective while displaying a palpable admiration for the giants that came before her. In short, Avalon is evocative and mesmerizing. It's impossible not to join the ride when watching her perform.
Old Kent Road
Old Kent Road was founded by artistic director Avalon Rathgeb in 2014, aiming to
gather the very best tap dancers and musicians which have inspired her journey, to
create unique passionate tap choreography, bigger and better than the sum of its parts.
Old Kent Road are a passionate group of tap dancers who are together raising the game in the UK tap dance scene. We want to bring our expertise to the British public and share
the wonder of the form by working together to develop our distinctive choreography,
paying homage to our history and jazz culture along the way.
Avalon and her company, OKR Tap, founded The London Tap Dance Festival in 2024, based in Brixton, South London. The festival has brought renowned tap dancers from all over the world to gather for a weekend in London. Guest faculty have included Michelle Dorrance, Sarah Savelli, Ruben Sanchez, Magaly Azuara, Karissa Royster and more.
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