Dein Perry's TAP DOGS Kicks Off Australian Tour Today, July 3, in Canberra

Australia's very own TAP DOGS first appeared at the Sydney Festival in 1995. The tapping feet of this internationally acclaimed dance sensation has now reverberated around the world in 330 cities; 37 countries, and been seen by more than 11 million people. Now they are coming home – stronger, faster, louder and more outrageous than ever to tour Australia from July to August 2012. The 2012 winter tour commences in Canberra today, 3 July to 8 July; then Newcastle 10 to 15 July; followed by Adelaide 17 to 22 July, Hobart 16 to 18 August, Albury 21 to 23 August and finally Wollongong 24 & 25 August.

Created by Olivier Award winning choreographer Dein Perry, this global dance phenomenon combines the strength and power of workmen with the precision and talent of tap dancing and is pArt Theatre, part dance, part rock concert and positively electrifying.

The adrenalin pumped touring cast includes the best tap dancers from around the world. Leading the pack is Sheldon Perry (brother of Dein) along with fellow Aussies Matthew Papa, Nathaniel Hancock, Jesse Rasmussen and from the US Anthony Russo and Richard Miller. In addition to the macho line-up, TAP DOGS now has two beautiful female percussionists, Cat Hunter and Lyndsay Evans joining the testosterone fuelled action on stage.

TAP DOGS is directed and designed by Nigel Triffitt, and has won 11 major international awards, including an Olivier for Best Choreography.

TAP DOGS has performed in 37 countries and over 330 cities on six continents with up to four companies touring at any one time.

But the show's origins can be traced back to the NSW steel city of Newcastle in the early 90's, where Dein Perry was working as an industrial machinist by day and continuing to tap dance with his mates in the evening.

A dream of a career in show business was at the forefront of a young Dein Perry's mind and he took his chance in the Australian production of 42nd Street. This was followed up with a an Olivier Award winning stint as Best Choreographer for West End Musical Hot Shoe Shuffle in 1995.

An offer from the Sydney Theatre Company led to the collaboration with designer and director Nigel Triffitt and composer Andrew Wilkie - the result was the creation of TAP DOGS – which premiered to critical acclaim at the Sydney Theatre Festival in January 1995.

A young Australian theatrical producer – Liz Koops, of Back Row Productions saw the potential of the show and began what would become one of the most successful producing partnerships in Australian musical theatre history.

TAP DOGS was catapulted to international acclaim at the 1995 Edinburgh Festival and a subsequent sell out season at London's Sadler's Wells.

Perry won his second Olivier Award in 1996 for Best Choreography for TAP DOGS, something he would replicate a year later when the show moved to New York for an off-Broadway season, earning him the prestigious Obie Award.

Back Row Productions produced the global phenomenon of TAP DOGS right around the world with critical and commercial success from Australia to America and Asia to Europe.