Tapping into talent at UBC

For students in the Department of Theatre and Film, Zanna Downes is a friendly face, ready to help with enrolment and any other questions they may have. As a department secretary on UBC’s Vancouver campus, she is often on hand to provide a supportive voice to students as they navigate the university. But little do Zanna’s students know, she has ‘another life’ in which she herself is in the spotlight – as a member of an internationally-renowned tap company called Razzmatap.

Razzmatap is a company of dancers from all over the Lower Mainland. Their ages range from 44 to 86 and their backgrounds are just as diverse. The one thing they all have in common is a love for tap.

“Razzmatap focuses on performance style as well as technique,” explains Zanna. “Our teacher, Jan Kainer, often uses historical or personal events in our routines as a means of storytelling, for example one routine tells the story of the women’s suffragette movement.”

Photo of Zanna Downes dancing in the spotlight In Zanna Downes’ life outside of UBC, she’s part of the internationally-renowned tap company, Razzmatap. Photo by Martin Dee

Originally from the south of England, and with a background in dance, Zanna decided to join the award-winning tap troupe 18 years ago.

She continues: “I came to UBC in 2004, after having worked at the Arts Club Theatre. One of my colleagues at that Arts Club was a choreographer and we ended up having a ‘tap off’ with the Vancouver Playhouse. I then found out about Razzmatap.”

During her years at UBC, Zanna has watched with satisfaction as many of her film and theatre students went on to achieve great success. Meanwhile, she was collecting her own awards, performing with Razzmatap at festivals all over the world.

Razzmatap has won medals at the World Tap Championships in Germany and showcased their talent at the New York City, Chicago and San Francisco Tap Festivals. They also won a Silver Medal at the Dance World Cup.

Zanna’s accolades don’t stop at the stage….she is also a past recipient of the Deans Award for Staff Excellence within the Faculty of Arts.

“I was so honoured to be nominated,” she says. “I also get a lot of support for my dancing from Faculty colleagues. I hope to continue dancing for many years to come.”

Zanna is also an accomplished Argentine Tango dancer and has performed at many events, including UBC’s Got Talent.