Overview of Taps with Andy Richter
Conan O’Brien, Sona Movsesian, and Andy Richter talk with Kenji, a Las Vegas tap dancer and former Riverdance performer, about his career, the demands of touring, and the creative life he has found in Vegas. Kenji demonstrates his tap style, including a signature ankle movement, while Conan shares memories of taking tap lessons as a child.
Kenji’s Tap-Dancing Career
Kenji says his interest in tap began in childhood. His father was a comedian and song-and-dance performer who knew Gregory Hines, whom Kenji grew up admiring. His mother enrolled him in activities until tap lessons stuck. He describes tap as both expressive and meditative, especially on days when dancing helps lift his mood.
He later performed with Riverdance as an American tap dancer in the show’s face-off with the Irish dancers. The U.S. tour was demanding: roughly six months on the road, about 40 states, and eight shows a week. Kenji says the company worked hard to stay fit and connected with family while traveling.
Tap, Irish Dance, and Finding His Style
Although tap and Irish step dancing share percussive footwork, Kenji says they approach movement differently. Tap relies heavily on loose ankles, light footwork, and improvisation; Irish dance uses a different style and greater emphasis on the legs. He found that steps that seemed intuitive in theory could be awkward to perform.
Kenji demonstrates a signature step he calls “ankle breakers,” in which he suspends and accents movement through his ankles. Conan and Andy are impressed by how unusual and controlled the technique looks.
Performing in Las Vegas
Kenji performs in The Party at Superfrico, an eccentric supper-club show at the Cosmopolitan. The night combines Italian food with acts including a bubble performer, a contortionist, Kenji’s tap dancing, and a comic drag-cow character.
He says the Las Vegas job came unexpectedly about six years earlier, but he grew to love the city’s close-knit arts community. He has found steady places to perform and says reputations—good or bad—travel quickly in the local scene.
Conan’s Tap-Dance Memories
Conan recalls becoming interested in tap after watching classic movie musicals as a child. He persuaded his parents to arrange lessons with Stanley Brown, a teacher he describes as a protégé of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. Conan admits he remembers only a few steps, which he sometimes brings out around dancers. Kenji’s demonstration prompts him to say he would like to see Kenji perform in Vegas.
Other Moments
The conversation wanders into jokes about Conan’s childhood dancing mishap, Andy’s Green Lantern fandom, and a possible Las Vegas detective agency. Throughout, the hosts trade playful banter while celebrating Kenji’s skill and the artistry of tap dancing.