Looking for a really special dance calendar for 2009? Look no more!

Chicago Tap Theatre has just published "Top Tap Calendar 2009," a rich and colorful twelve-month calendar featuring many never-before-seen photographs of the company in performance. Shot by award-winning Chicago photojournalist Josh Hawkins and designed by Jenna Deidel, "Top Tap Calendar 2009" is a rarity in the field of dance calendars, if not an outright one-of-a-kind offering. Each month conveys a surprising new image of tap in action, making "Top Tap Calendar 2009" a perfect holiday gift for tap fans - or indeed dance fans - of any age.

"Most dance calendars only feature ballet dancers or, occasionally, modern dancers," says Mark Yonally, Artistic Director of Chicago Tap Theatre. "Beautiful as those may be, we wanted to give tap dancers something they could call their own. We did some digging when we were putting our first calendar together in 2008, and we couldn't find any other tap dance calendars available anywhere. Although this calendar features images of CTT company members, we think that it will appeal to tap dancers everywhere." The project also lists the birthdays of many famous tappers, from Bill "Bojangles" Robinson to Gregory Hines.

Tap dance is not typically considered a visual art form, but Chicago Tap Theatre's unique approach is inherently photogenic. "CTT uses a conceptual and narrative approach to tap," says Yonally, "with lots of theatrical lighting and costumes. As a result, we've been able to capture lots of striking, dramatic images." CTT also adopts a full-body approach to tap, incorporating elements of ballet, jazz and modern dance into its works, which again expands the company's visual range.

Hawkins - who recently won several awards at the Illinois Press Photographer Association's annual photojournalism competition - has been working with CTT for three years. Hawkins admits that he was surprised at first by what the company had to offer in the way of visuals. "Before I saw CTT, I had a conception of what tap dance looked like. By watching CTT, I have been lucky enough to discover how beautiful and expressive tap dance can be. The dancers provide wonderfully emotional movement and expressions."

"Top Tap Calendar 2009" is the third CTT publication featuring images of the company. In addition to the 2008 calendar, the company has produced "Top Tap Tips," a book featuring photographs by Jenna Deidel, the designer of the 2009 calendar. In addition to its imagery, "Top Tap Tips" includes a number of inspirational quotes from the masters of tap dance, past and present. Both "Top Tap Tips" ($25) and "Top Tap Calendar 2009" ($20) are available from Chicago Tap Theatre (www.chicagotaptheatre.com) or online at www.lulu.com/chicagotap, searching for "tap dance" or "tap calendar" or "tap dance calendar" (actual order page: http://www.lulu.com/content/4583047).