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A Summer of Tap in New York
During an examination tour of western Canada I came across these young tap candidates who have an interesting way of spending their summer holidays; I thought that the readers of DANCE would enjoy their experiences of Tap Kids in New York.
Tap Kids was developed in 2002 by choreographer Lisa Hopkins and composer Philip Stern.
Pam Eddlestone
For the past few years I have been fortunate enough to attend the Tap Kids Summer Intensive in New York. I had heard about Tap Kids through one of my tap teachers who was with the Tap Kids touring group. To get accepted for the summer program I had to submit an audition DVD that consisted of a Tap solo, some of my favourite steps and few words about my history in Tap and future goals. Auditions are accepted from kids aged 9 – 21 from around the world. Out of all the auditions submitted only 60 applicants are accepted.
Your week spent at the summer intensive is a very busy one, starting at nine in the morning untill about nine at night. The day is split up into various tap classes with different teachers and styles. On the first day of classes everyone auditions to be in a group piece with one of the tap specialists for the final show. The final show is performed at the end of the week and consists of auditioned solos, group pieces and a few of the touring numbers. Most days are spent doing technique classes and the evenings we all rehearse for the show. Two evenings of the week are set aside for improvisational workshops with a live jazz band.
Tap Kids has been a great experience for me, I have worked with some amazing Tap teachers and met lots of fellow tappers from around the world. It is a long week but definitely worth every minute of it!
Christine Barrett
18 years
Tap Kids has been such an incredible experience for me! With them I have been given the opportunity to study with some of the most amazing and creative Tap teachers out there. I have learned so much and grown so much as a dancer; and through the program, I have met so many phenomenal tappers who have the same love and passion for Tap as I do! I have also been fortunate enough to tour internationally with Tap Kids, performing in Holland and various states within the US, (including New York City), and will be able to add Scotland to the list in the summer of 2009. The experience has been priceless. I am continually learning more about Tap and growing into a better dancer; not just because of the program, but also because of the unbelievable people I have met along the way. It is a great atmosphere for anybody who wants to learn more about Tap.
Melissa Kwan
18 years
Each year, 60 to 70 dancers from across North America get together in Tarrytown, New York and take part in a week long intensive workshop doing what they all love to do, Tap Dance! These kids take part in The Tap Kids Rhythm Summer Intensive, which is put on by New York Stage Originals. Participants get to learn from the nation’s finest Tap masters, while being challenged and inspired. They included Lisa Hopkins, Mark Goodman, Ayodele Casel, Barbara Duffy, Max Pollak, Olivia Rosenkrantz, and Jimmy Tate.
Last summer (2008), I had the privilege of attending this workshop. I was being challenged, but at the same time, I was thoroughly enjoying myself. Working with such great Tap masters, allowed me to expand my knowledge of Tap. This experience was not only about learning Tap, but it also taught me a lot about myself. Going into an unknown city, and meeting people that I have never met before, was challenging for me. I learned that I needed to open up to people a little more. At the end of the “best week of my life,” all 65 dancers took part in a show. Solos were showcased, dances learned during the week were performed, and original pieces from the touring company of Tap Kids were also presented. The theatre was full, and it was such a great opportunity for all of us to showcase what we had learned that week, and what talent we had. Overall, the experiences and the friendships I made at Tap Kids are something that I will never forget!
Kristen Low
17 years |
