Welcome to our brief overview of the Tap program! You will find on this page basic information for all levels of dance experience. Please do not hesitate to contact our Tap department via our support center for any additional questions or concerns!

If this is your first visit, please read our project introduction first!

GENERAL
Our Tap department represents one of our two project's so-called Broadway programs and collaborates close with the Jazz/Theatre department in regard to own productions and field trips incl. musical visits and movie theater evenings in NYC or your city (contact the support team for int. listings). There are no restrictions regarding age or physical limitation. Members of this department dance depending on their level in one of the following 5 groups:

• Beginning [BEG]
• Advanced Beginning [ABE]
• Intermediate [INT]
• Advanced Intermediate [AIN]
• Professional [PRO]

Those 3 digits in brackets will later appear in your member ID and after a while may change to a higher level as you're taking your career to the next level. You can select in your application in which group you would like to dance. However, for the PRO-level you would need to provide additional information (resumee, etc.). After your first workshop and recommendations from your instructor, you may change your level. If you plan to apply to the Advanced Dance Team (ADT), you have to be in one of the latter two groups.

BASIC INTRO^(FYI)
You may say: "Tap dancers are living performing instruments." One of the fundamental techniques being used in tap is syncopation! It usually starts on the eighth or first beatcount when performing to a given beat. Improvisations however, can be accompnied with music or without (a capella dancing) and unfolds the dancer's endless creative freedom.

Rhythm tap, performed by so-called hoofers, requires more leg work and makes so a louder, grounded sound. Some of the pioneers still influencing today's choreographers are: Steve Condos, Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Marshall Davis Jr. and LaVaughn Robinson.

Broadway tap, influenced primarily by dancers such as Gene Kelly, requires fundamental ballet techniques, which are incorporated in the dance throughout. As seen in "42nd Street."

THE WORKSHOPS
The NY Dance Project invites from time to time guest instructors for workshops - internationally renowned directors/choreographers, who have worked on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regional and International Theater projects - which are announced via the Member Network. These workshops take place at selected dance studios in NYC as well as at dance institutions all over the US and usually take around 2 hours in the evening on weekdays and on a few weekends. BEG, ABE, INT and AIN members will from time to time share workshops in order to give students of the lower levels the opportunity to exchange experiences with those from higher levels. Sometimes professionals will be also invited to those shared meetings, but usually have their own training times. This can be very helpful for the learning process.

You have to bring your own tap shoes and proper clothing! This means for example wearing tight-fitting clothing. [Jeans are not recommended]
Quick note: There will be no catering service unlike at our ADT meetings.

THE PROGRAM
Based on the particular level, a strong focus on musicality, relaxation and listening can be expected by emphasizing technique through warm-ups, across the floor, tap turns and short combinations of steps, which then later turn into a challenging, musical and entertaining choreography.

Shuffle • shuffle ball change • flap • flap heel • cramp roll • buffalo • Maxi Ford • single and double pullbacks • wings • cincinnati • the shim sham shimmy (a.k.a. Lindy) • Irish • Waltz Clog • shuffle hop step • running flaps • running shuffles • sugar • the paddle and roll • slap • stomp • brushes • scuffs • single & double toe punches • hot steps • heel clicks • single, double and triple time steps • riffs • chugs.

Workshop performances will take place at several events within your particular US state.

THE ADVANCED DANCE TEAM
As soon as your admission to the ADT as been granted, you will be dancing with the world's best dancers and work on a spectacular choreography, which will be performed in 2009 on a Broadway stage. As a department crossover performance, all ADT Tap members will dance together with renown acrobats at the world's most famous arena, the Madison Square Garden, being live-broadcasted worldwide. Transportation and accomodation for all events will be covered by the NY Dance Project! -No matter if you're coming from the US or any other country.. Team meetings take place in your city once every week before an upcoming major event and are coordinated with every member. We insure that all meetings do not interfere with your weekly schedule!

Current ADT members include performers from well-known Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. We're constantly looking for new members. Apply Today!