Tap Dancer Justin M. Lewis Kicks Off Solo Career at the 3rd Annual Urban Inspirational Showcase

Ambassador's tap dancing grandson performs at Grammy-award winner's showcase.

Chicago, IL, April 25, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Justin breaks into a wide smile and raises his face toward the sky. An unexpected phone call delivers the good news: he is selected to tap dance at Grammy-award winner Donald Lawrence’s Urban Inspirational Showcase. Justin M. Lewis, the grandson of former Ambassador to South Africa, Delano E. Lewis, is the only tap dancing performer at the Showcase. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tue, Apr 29 at the Harold Washington Cultural Center at 4701 S. Martin Luther King Drive.

Justin is a freshman at Columbia College in Chicago’s South Loop by way of Germantown, Maryland. He has been tap dancing at venues such as the Kennedy Center, Smithsonian Institute and the Dance Place in Washington, D.C. since he was four years old. Justin has been taught by tap legend Savion Glover and his style is reminiscent of Glover’s and the late Gregory Hines. Past performances include Maryland’s Governor’s Ball and the Juvenile Diabetes Benefit Dinner where he has performed as part of an ensemble.

“I couldn’t feel my feet,” says Justin M. Lewis, as he accounts his moment of surprise, “I’ve always admired Donald Lawrence, his performance style and the way he delivers his message. Now I have the opportunity to perform at his signature show, I feel like I’m still dreaming.”

“At the audition, Justin gave me and the other judges an eye-opening experience to his talent. After auditioning close to 60 acts, I believe Justin will bring a refreshing approach to the 3rd Annual Urban Inspirational Showcase,” says multi-Stellar Award and 2008 Grammy Award winner, Donald Lawrence. “The showcase is recognized as one of the largest showcases of talent at Columbia College attended by nearly 1,000 students, faculty and music industry executives.”

The Urban Inspirational Showcase is a free event expected to feature 22 live acts. It is the result of a special event production class that is taught by hit gospel singer Donald Lawrence and Columbia College’s Coordinator of Music Business, Kimo Williams. Justin is working with students of the class who are charged with coordinating dance, advertising, music selection, facility operations and the overall production.

Justin M. Lewis is 18-years-old and majors in performing arts management at Columbia College. After graduation, he plans to open his own dance studio and teach tap classes. He would eventually like to work for a major dance studio corporation. Justin has toured and performed for audiences as large as 2,500 people. He has also had the opportunity to dance with Jason Samuels Smith (“So You Think You Can Dance”) and Baakari Wilder (“Noise/Funk”).

For more information or to interview Justin M. Lewis, please contact Kyle A.C. Rosenbaum at Kyle Arnett, (404) 825-0068 or email kyle@kylearnett.com.

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