Today I sent off my registration form for the D.C. Tap Festival scheduled for the last weekend of this month!

Here are the highlights I’m looking forward to and why:

1. Class with Jason Samuels-Smith on Friday, March 26th

This will actually be my first time taking a class with Jason Samuels-Smith though we have talked tap a lot, especially when I attended the New York City Tap Festival a few years back. Though always a very-talented dancer, I am blown away by what he has accomplished in terms of his technique and creativity over the last few years. Though I’ll be learning steps, I’m really looking to pick up on “woodshedding” techniques and concepts that could help me grow as a dancer.

2. Teacher’s Class with Baakari Wilder on Friday March 26th

When I finally saw Noise/Funk back in the year 2000 (or thereabouts) Savion Glover was no longer leading the show, instead I saw Jimmy Tate one night and Baakari Wilder the next and they both blew me away with their abilities. Baakari actually inherited a student of mine and has done amazing work with her so I am really looking forward to picking up on some of his teaching techniques and patterns for the benefit of my own students here in Atlanta!

3. Class with Chloe Arnold on Saturday, March 27th

I’ve been wanting to take from Chloe for quite some time and am excited to finally do so in D.C. She’s an incredible talent and I have a feeling that her class will probably be among the most challenging for me. I also hear that she’s a great “teacher” which is actually the most important determining factor for me. Trust me, not all great tap dancers are great tap teachers!

4. Improv Class with Jason Janas with Saturday, March 27th

I was actually on the fence about taking this class as I improvise ALL THE TIME and even have a Tap DVD focused on the topic. Not that I believe that I know everything about the subject, but I have taken tap improv classes before that bored me, even when they were billed as being advanced-level. I decided to sign up after reviewing Mr. Janas’ impressive bio. His has worked with instructors/performers like Acia Gray & Gene Medler, both of whom have blown me away with their teaching abilities. Also, I have heard through the “tap-vine” that he is a great instructor as well so I guess I’ll find out.

5. Friday Night Performance – Saturday Night Jam Session

In Atlanta I don’t get to see other tap dancers perform very often so both of these are a thrill for me. I also hope to get up there and say a little something of my own on the floor. Did I mention that I live for jam sessions!

6. My Portable Tap Floor

I’ll also be bringing a portable tap floor hoping that attendees at the festival can try out in between classes! If you’re interested in having one or just want to learn more about it, visit www.PortableTapFloor.com and submit your email address so you can receive coupon codes and discounts that will help you pay less for one!

Sunday, as the festival continues, I’ll be driving ten hours back to Atlanta…gotta get back to the fam! I hope to see you there. If you’re going, please connect with me ahead of time on Facebook or Twitter!

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I often say that tap dancing is a form of prayer, even meditation, for me. So imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon a song that precisely captures this experience.

If you love to express yourself through tap, listen to this (especially the first verse)! The song is called “In Time” and was released on Jazzy Jeff’s “The Magnificent” release.

I’m also writing out the lyrics for your enjoyment. I considered going line by line to explain the significance of each lyric but have instead decided to let you find & share your own impressions in the comments section!

Lyrics:

There is a place I often close my eyes and drift off to,
where time stands still and it feels as if I’m floating on cloud 9,

In that instant moment, the fast things of the rat race are left behind,
and right now, what could be sweeter, I’m just passing time!

I think “passing time” might be a nice way to think about the experience of self-expression through tap dance!

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photo credit: bgilliard

Happy New Year everyone!

Over the past couple of months I have been quietly developing a process that will instantly allow tap dancers to easily bring attention to tap dance articles, news, events, products, and auditions. One thing I have noticed is that despite valiant efforts by many in the tap community, news of many tap events still only reaches a very limited audience.

What if you could spread the word about local tap events to thousands of tap dancers effortlessly?

What if you could plug into a steady stream of tap dance events & news from all over the world that came to you instead of you having to go out looking for it? (And I’m not talking about you receiving emails.)

The Internet is an amazingly powerful way to nurture communities and that’s what tap dancers are…we are a community bound together by our love of rhythm, dance, music, & history.

I sincerely hope that you will be part of this new network of tap dance news. Take the first step now, connect with me on Twitter or Facebook if you haven’t already and you will be among the first to know when I announce everything.

Thanks!

Terrence Taps

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Hard at work as always, I have spent the last few weeks developing the website for my new portable tap dance floor. The site features full details about the tap boards and a quick and easy ordering process.

You can also see the floor in action on this video:

Please check out the video & leave a comment about it below.

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photo credit: Stegsie

As the Summer draws to a close I am finishing my last batch of Summer tap intensives and workshops. As always, my students are teaching me more than I’m teaching them. One of the comments that I have heard a lot from students is that my classes are “so much fun!”

While I would love to say this is due to my phenomenal teaching skills, I think it actually owes more to the freedom I have been giving my students to express themselves. Instead of drilling endless tap steps I have taken to giving students an “idea,” and then encouraging them to build upon it.

If you’re interested in learning these exercises just pick up my tap improvisation DVD. The exercises on it can be used in class to help students have more fun with tap!

Of course, you can always make up your own exercises; just design them so that students have to use their own creativity in the dance! Also, if you are interested in having me come out to your dance studio for a workshop or Master class, just use my contact page to email me. I am currently offering an incredibly low rate on tap workshops.

Email me to learn more!

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