grinning lovelies has been banished forever with the arrival of the American Tap Dance Orchestra.

No-one is really quite sure just how tap dancing evolved; it has roots in the clog dances of Lancashire and Ireland, the flamenco of Spain and was, at some point, transported across the Atlantic where the influence of Afro-jazz turned it into an all-American dance form.

In a stroke of near genius, veteran tap dancer Brenda Bufalino has taken a group of eight dancers, placed them onstage with a jazz ensemble (in which she plays, now and then) along with a couple of vocalists, and has transformed a hallowed form of entertainment into the most exciting dance innovation in many a year.

Since she formed her group in 1986, Bufalino has taken the dance world by storm, with her revolutionary concept that the dancers' feet, in effect, become the orchestra as they create an ever-changing spectrum of rhythms. At times, their tonal patterns dominate, at others they become the echo of the melody, as the dancers perform in ensembles that melt into solos, duets, trios and quartets.

The way the musicians and dancers intermingle, with one or another stepping forward to take centre stage is certainly reminiscent of the flamenco tradition. Apart from that, tradition is mostly out of the window. True, there is precision -- and tight it is -- and the evening opens with a jazz standard, Strike Up... The A Train. But this gives way to a suite of dances where the constant change of mood and rhythm is frankly breathtaking.

The male and female dancers in this group dress in black tuxedos and tails with Brenda Bufalino wearing tap-captain red as she guides the syncopating rhythms, sometimes with her hands, but also on the drums and concertina.

Her dancing, which ripples with staccato footwork, is rooted in the ground, rather like a female zapateado, often humorous and always elegant.

There are even moments of lyricism, as in Barbara Duffy and Tony Waag's duet, I've Never Been in Love Before, and plenty of virtuosity as one or two of the dancers suddenly rise tipsily on the tips of their shoes and blatantly show off, as one and then another soloist steps forward to stamp and glissade harder and faster than the last.

Then it was into the blues in It's Miles to Mingus, one of the company's most famous numbers, and probably its most ambitious, with the ever-smiling Brenda Bufalino leading her team into complicated counterpoint and 3/4 rhythms.

Haitian Fight Song brought another change of tempo and the urgent beat of an African drum as the company erupted into an energy-packed, first act finale.

Watercolour slides of the animals of the American south-west set the scene for the second half of the programme, which was devoted to the suite, American Landscape and concentrating mainly on the music of Hoagy Carmichael. Dressed now in white and wearing stylised buffalo masks, the ensemble pranced back on stage with the exhilarating Buffalo Suite, followed by the talented Tony Waag dispensing stardust in a nostalgic vaudeville interlude.

Soloists got a chance to choreograph their own numbers in this piece, giving Robin Tribble, Margaret Morrison and Barbara Duffy yet another opportunity to dazzle us with their quite remarkable technical virtuosity, as did Neil Appelbaum in the delightful (and heart-stoppingly difficult) jump rope sequence in Billy Dick.

Riverboat Shuffle brought this magnificent suite to a frenzied crescendo, with all the dancers tap-tapping away in a dazzling kaleidoscope of tonal rhythms and floor patterns.

`Orchestra' is indeed an apt name for this group -- they are as fascinating to listen to as they are to watch. And they are backed by some fine musicians: Calvin Jones on bass and Frank Kimbrough on the piano, who with vocalists Olivia Rosenkrantz and Pat Tortorici all add to the sheer classiness of this company.

The American Tap Dance Orchestra is the surprise success of this Festival season. They are different, refreshing and highly entertaining. They are also brilliant dancers. If you're remotely fond of dance (and jazz), don't miss this show.

PATRICIA CALNAN TAPPING INTO THE FESTIVAL -- The American Tap Dance Orchestra opened a four-night appearance at the City Hall last night.