Tapping Into Herstory: Syncopated Ladies Brought the Beat to Columbus, Georgia's RiverCenter
Words and Images by Sherricka Day
There are some performances you watch, some performances you enjoy and some performances you feel. Syncopated Ladies was a welcome combination of all three.
The evening began with a beautiful introduction to the next generation of dancers, as students from our local Elite Dance Academy opened the show. Watching these young dancers take the stage before the Syncopated Ladies was a real-life example that the arts aren’t simply about what we see today. They are about creating opportunities for the artists of tomorrow.
From the moment the tap shoes hit the stage, the room came alive. We clapped. We tapped. We cheered. And clapped some more. Somewhere between the rhythm, the storytelling, and the sheer athleticism of it all, I found myself thinking: this is magic!
Led by choreographer and founder Chloe Arnold, Syncopated Ladies brought much more than a night of impressive footwork to Columbus. They brought history, culture, family, and a whole lot of girl power to the stage. Chloe and her team danced their ways into the audience’s heart, sharing pieces of her journey through tap—from childhood to adulthood. Chloe’s story made it clear that her foundation wasn’t built by herself. It was built by family—both blood family and the family she chose along the way. That journey has taken her into rooms and onto stages with some of the greats in the industry, including Gregory Hines and Debbie Allen. Eventually, Chloe and her sister, Maud took their own love of tap and put it to work, creating Syncopated Ladies.
And then came the moment that helped introduce their talent to an even bigger audience: Beyoncé.
After Chloe created a tap video to Beyoncé’s hit song “Formation,” Beyoncé shared it with her audience. You know what happened next. Just like that, millions more people got a glimpse of what Chloe and the Syncopated Ladies were bringing to the world. That single “step” by Beyonce catapulted the Arnold Sisters into fame.
But what stood out to me most about the performance was that this wasn’t simply a celebration of tap dancing. It was a celebration of women in tap dancing and the women who helped shape the art form but haven’t always received the same recognition as their male counterparts. The show was a beautiful nod to those women and their contributions. And the Ladies certainly honored them with every step.
Their performance was powerful, precise and, honestly, a workout just to watch. There was an incredible combination of passion, enthusiasm, and athleticism in every movement. Their feet moved so quickly that at times it felt like the stage itself was keeping rhythm with them.
They tapped their way through songs including Prince’s “When Doves Cry,” Beyoncé’s “Formation” and Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.” Familiar songs became something completely different when paired with the percussion of tap shoes. The dancers weren’t simply moving to the music—they were creating music of their own.
Tap dancing sits at a unique intersection of dance and music. The shoes become instruments. The stage becomes a drum. Every shuffle, stomp, heel, and toe adds to the soundtrack. It is an art form rooted in cultural exchange and shaped by generations of performers. Watching Syncopated Ladies made me appreciate just how much history can live inside a single step. For me, that was one of the most inspiring parts of the evening: seeing an art form with such a rich history presented in a way that felt fresh, contemporary, and undeniably alive. Syncopated Ladies taught us that tap isn’t simply something from the past. It continues to evolve. It continues to influence the arts. And it continues to give artists another language through which they can tell their stories.
By the end of the night, the audience was fully invested. We weren’t just watching anymore—we were participating. The energy moved from the stage into the seats and back again.
Then came the finale.
The Ladies had us on our feet as they chanted the question from one of Beyonce’s hit songs we all know: “Who runs the world?”
If you were in that RiverCenter audience, you already know the answer.
That night, the Syncopated Ladies did more than tap. They told stories. They celebrated legacy. They honored women who came before them. They showed us the beauty of family, perseverance, and chosen community. And they reminded us that sometimes the most powerful way to make your mark is to find your rhythm—and never be afraid to make some noise.◼️
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