Tap Dancer Omar Edwards Inspires with Music and Movement

This week, Rutgers Prep had the privilege of welcoming award-winning tap dancer and musician Omar Edwards and his band to campus for high-energy performances for our Lower, Middle, and Upper School students.

Mr. Edwards—who has performed on Broadway, at the White House, and in more than 22 countries around the world—taught our students that dance is more than just movement. It’s rhythm. It’s sound. And it’s history. With every tap of his shoes, he brought to life the deep connection between jazz and tap dance.

Beyond the performance, his message was clear: you can always follow your dreams. He encouraged students to find their passion—whether in writing, science, or math—and led them in declaring, “I will do my dreams!”

The talented band accompanying Omar added so much to the performance, with Rutgers Prep alumnus Vaughn Stavropoulos ’16 on saxophone and keyboard, Cory Chysostom on bass, Carlos Noel on drums, and Wahkiba Julian on percussion. Adding another special Rutgers Prep connection, the group’s manager, Susan Bevel, was a former Middle School English teacher at RPS.

We would like to thank Omar Edwards and his band for sharing their talents and life lessons with our community.