Bril Barrett started tap dancing at a young age. His whole family pitched in to pay for lessons and drive him to classes. Now, he’s a 2024 National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellow.

But Barrett isn’t just a dancer. He’s also an educator, historian and self-proclaimed “tap-tivist.” He uses his work to educate students and audiences on the origins of tap.

“I tell people ‘When you don’t know a lot about history, start with your own,’” Barrett said. “That just creates a continuous stream of ownership and connection to the art form.”

In this episode, host Erin Allen talks to Barrett about tap, improvising and the importance of understanding our roots.