On Sunday afternoon, Conrad Tao and Caleb Teicher delivered a dynamic performance of Counterpoint at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center’s Gildenhorn Recital Hall. The intimate setting allowed the audience to experience the full intensity of their intricate tap dance and piano collaboration.
Tao and Teicher, who have been working together for over a decade, first gained attention with their 2019 composition More Forever. Their Counterpoint also made waves in 2023, when they performed a shortened version for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert.
The duo opened the performance by explaining the meaning behind the title Counterpoint. It refers both to a musical technique that involves blending two melody lines and to the contrasting talents of Teicher and Tao. Their attire highlighted these differences—Tao wore a dark, textured suit, while Teicher stood out in a white jumpsuit and pink tap shoes.
The show spanned multiple musical genres, from a Viennese waltz to a soulful improvised duet, and even included a Bach aria. Teicher’s tap work was versatile, at times mimicking a drum set, reflecting the piano’s rhythm, and even taking on the role of a scatting vocalist in the jazz standard “Cherokee.” “Anytime Teicher did the really fast feet, I was mind blown,” said Nico Drummond, a junior architecture major. “It was so artful.”
Tao also showcased his remarkable skills, especially in solo piano pieces like Maurice Ravel’s Sonatine and Johannes Brahms’ Fantasias: Intermezzo in E major. His physicality at the piano, rocking back and forth while softly vocalizing along with the melodies, added a unique touch to the performance.
A highlight of the show was Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin, a piece that blends jazz and classical elements. Originally written for full orchestra, Tao performed the piano arrangement, carrying the weight of the entire ensemble with his playing.
Teicher’s dance brought even more energy to the performance. His vaudeville-style moves, including dramatic splits and expressive gestures, enhanced the piece. At one point, Teicher added rhythm by drumming on his chest and thighs, layering even more sound into the performance. The audience erupted into cheers after Teicher’s slow, breathtaking descent into a center split at a pivotal moment in the piece.
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