“His dance is truly inspired by a higher force.”

Jason Samuels Smith, USA – Emmy Award winning dancer and choreographer

New Zealand-born Grant Swift’s first exposure to tap was a chance encounter with a tape of the great Nicholas Brothers. Immediately resonating with everything he felt, heard and saw, he dove headfirst into studying the Great Masters and began teaching himself.

The determination and dedication he had cultivated in his early years as a boxer gave him the grit to begin dancing on the street for money. But after two years, he knew he had to go to America if he wanted to learn the roots style of tap he identified so strongly with; there was zero representation of this in Australia.

Initially headed for New York, upon arriving at customs in L.A. and having to explain why he was there, the agent told him that if he really wanted to learn tap on the street that he’d better change plans and head to New Orleans instead.

And so he came to learn his craft on Bourbon St, earning the respect of both the young performers and the elders, who passed on their knowledge with blessings.

In 2001 Grant travelled to New York where he appeared at the inaugural New York City Tap Festival, earning praise from tap greats such as Gregory Hines, Mable Lee and Dr Jimmy Slyde.

The impact of this education on him was profound. On his return to Melbourne in 2002 he brought with him knowledge, experience and passion, which he’s been sharing generously ever since.

Alongside running his own studio in Melbourne, Grant has toured nationally and internationally as a teacher and performer. It was inevitable that he eventually turned to producing his own tap dance events, culminating in founding Australia’s first International Tap Festival in 2005.

Growing up in this environment, Grant’s two sons, Harry and Oscar, could literally dance before they walked. Performing as The Swift Brothers, they’re among some of the finest tap dance talent in the world, regularly performing alongside their dad.

Now a proud grandad, a third generation of Swifts is coming through! The love of this beautiful art form continues within the family.