The U.S. Postal Service Honors Tap Dance on a New Series of Stamps

How do you capture the history and vitality of tap dance on a postage stamp?

That was the question Dr. Janet Schroeder wrestled with when, in late 2019, a company that contracts with the United States Postal Service on stamp design asked her to serve as a subject-matter consultant as it considered a new stamp depicting tap. A former dancer with the Dayton-based Rhythm in Shoes, Schroeder recently received a doctorate from Ohio State University for research examining the migration of rhythm tap and Appalachian step dance from vernacular to stage forms.

Two years ago tap dancer/actor Gregory Hines was honored on the Black Heritage stamp series. But this time, the art form itself takes center stage, in vivid color.