Jason Samuels Smith won a 2004 Emmy Award as well as a 2004 American Choreography Award for Outstanding Choreography for the Opening number of the 2003 Jerry Lewis/MDA Telethon. Jason received a Proclamation declaring April 23rd “Jason Samuels Day” from the City of Shreveport, Louisiana in 2004 and was also presented with both the Ivy of Education from Brainerd Institute and the President Kenny Award from Stony Brook University for his continuous efforts to preserve and promote the art form of Tap Dance.

As a solo performer and host, Jason has headlined several productions including the 2004 Tap Extravaganza, the 2002 and 2003 Harlem Jazz Dance Festivals, TAAP: The Art and Appreciation of Percussion off-Broadway revue, and the NY Tap Committee/Town Hall’s 21Below! where he performed with Jennifer Holliday. Other credits include the The Cotton Club Returns: A Tribute to Great Jazz Legends and the American Institute of Vernacular Jazz Dance Darktown Strutters Ball Gala Events. Jason co-starred with Tap Master Arthur Duncan in Tap Heat, a dynamic short film that has been featured in several International film festivals before its official premiere here in the United States. Jason has also completed the first volume in his own Tap Workout series now available on DVD/VHS.

Jason’s choreography has been commissioned by dance companies and soloists for a multitude of occasions on a global scale. The opening number for the 2003 Jerry Lewis Telethon featuring Dr. Fayard Nicholas (of the famous Nicholas Brothers duo) Arthur Duncan, Arlene Kennedy, and Skip Cunningham, as well as Jason, was one of the first televised tributes to the late great Gregory Hines. Debbie Allen has utilized his talents in a variety of her productions including two episodes of the (WE Network) series Cool Women and the grand production of Soul Possessed with an all-star cast including Patti LaBelle and Arturo Sandoval. He most recently choreographed and performed the role of Dr. Fayard Nicholas in Debbie Allen’s production of SAMMY - a musical on the life of Sammy Davis Jr. Jason founded his own Tap Dance Company known as A.C.G.I. (Anybody Can Get It). A.C.G.I.’s debut performance in 2004 was at The Getty Museum Family Day Festival in Los Angeles, California. They have also appeared on venues such as National Tap Dance Day in Thousand Oaks, CA and The Temple Bar in Santa Monica and are slated to perform in the Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Global Rhythms, an International Tap & Percussive Dance Festival in 2005. Jason‘s band known as JaJa Productions produces, performs and records all original jazz-influenced hip hop music and has performed for the NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles 2004, and several other events in California, Las Vegas, and New York City.

At an early age, Jason joined the Broadway cast of Bring in Da’Noise, Bring in Da’Funk, performing as a principal dancer and understudy to the leading role. As an original member of Savion Glover’s N.Y.O.Ts (Not Your Ordinary Tappers), Jason performed Internationally, including at the White House for the President of the United States, the Regis & Kathy Lee show, and in Savion Glover’s Downtown at The Variety Arts Theatre in New York City. He also was a featured dancer in the opening commercial for ABC’s Monday Night Football and in the televised special “Savion Glover‘s NuYork”. Jason continues to participate in dance and music festivals throughout the world and has even created his own in Los Angeles, California in 2003. As the director of the Annual LA Tap Festival, the City of Los Angeles awarded him a Certificate of Appreciation for creating this historic venue. Because of his overall accomplishments, he has been interviewed by several bilingual publications including those in Japanese and Portuguese. Jason was recently featured in multiple issues of Dance Magazine (including being listed as one of the Top 25 to look for in 2004), Dancer Magazine, and on the covers of both Dance Spirit Magazine and New York Dance Fax among others. Because of his love for tap dance and music, Jason has been sought after for both his physical and intellectual talents. In less than a decade, Jason has emerged as an outstanding dancer, choreographer, actor, instructor, musician and host. His work ishighly respected and inspiring on many levels.