Online Selection Event for Bursary Awards: Tap

Due to the announcement of another national lockdown in England, the competition has been extended again to give teachers more time to enter.

Ticket sales will remain open until Monday 22 February 2021.

The deadline for video submissions has been extended again until Monday 1 March 2021.

The competition is divided into two sections:

• Junior competitors, aged 11 - 14 (on 1 September 2020)
• Senior competitors, aged 15 - 18 (on 1 September 2020)

Juniors are required to perform a solo Tap dance, up to two minutes duration. Seniors will perform a Tap solo and one additional solo of another genre, also up to two minutes long. Teachers are permitted to use the same solos for up to three competitors in the same section.

Videos of these solos will be adjudicated by our panel, after which a Junior and Senior Competitor and Reserve will be selected to represent the Tap Faculty at the Theatre Bursary Awards.

We are excited to announce that our three adjudicators are... Pauline Ash, Alex Larder and Bonnie Langford! Read more about them below.

You will receive Dropbox links in your purchase confirmation email where you can upload your entry videos. Video submissions must be uploaded by 11pm on Monday 18 January 2021.

Winners will be announced 29 March 2021.

Junior Participants:

Junior participants must be aged 11 - 14 years old on 1 September 2020. They need to enter one Tap dance solo, up to 2 minutes duration.

Senior Participants:

Senior participants must be aged 15 - 18 years old on 1 September 2020. They need to enter one Tap dance solo and one contrasting solo of another genre, up to 2 minutes duration.

Both Junior and Senior participants must be studying our Tap Dance Syllabus.

What to Wear:

‘Costumes’ are now optional for this event. Participants can wear smart class wear, Tap shoes without jingle taps and should feel comfortable.

Senior participants may make a change of clothing for their second genre solo. This should not be a full costume.

Video Entries:

Video entries must be submitted by an up to date Society member. Society members can enter a maximum of 3 students per category.

Video submissions must be uploaded by 11pm on Monday 1 March 2021. No late entries will be accept.

Upon submission of the entry fee, there will be a Dropbox link at the bottom of the Eventbrite PDF ticket, where teachers can upload their competitor’s videos securely.

It is of paramount importance that the video is of good visual quality and that the music can be heard. 

Competitors body and feet must be clearly visible on the recording throughout.

Videos of poor quality may affect the result of entries.

Films recorded by a family member are acceptable, but these must be given to a teacher for them to submit the entry. Videos must be submitted by up to date Society members ONLY.

Video submissions must be clearly labelled as below:

Junior-CandidateName-TeacherMembershipNumber

Senior-CandidateName-TeacherMembershipNumber

Safe dance practice / Floor craft are paramount.

Teachers should ensure their competitors are fully warmed up beforehand and perform the dances in a safe manner, which will not cause injury, ensuring the area chosen to dance is suitable and clear from any obstructions.

For safeguarding and security reasons it is preferable that teachers use a recording device with (preferably password protected) a memory card.

If teachers choose to use a mobile device, the footage should be uploaded immediately to the secure Dropbox link provided by the Society. Once the footage is transferred, this should be deleted from your device and not stored.

Anyone competing in this online event does so at their own risk. The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing will not accept any responsibility for any injury.

Principals & Teachers – Please ensure all teachers involved in preparing pupils for the competition, are fully aware and understand the competition rules.

The Adjudicators’ decision is final and no correspondence regarding their decision will be permitted.

The data received on the entry form will be kept securely and used for the purposes of administrating this online event and the future Theatre bursary Awards. After a reasonable time, this will be destroyed. No data will be shared with any person or group outside the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.

Clips from participants solos may be used on public media platforms and publications (incl. the website and Faculty Facebook groups) by the Society or other dance related, interested parties. 

By entering your pupils into this competition you and your pupils understand and agree that their image may be used in the aforementioned ways.

Pauline Ash

Pauline is more than familiar with the highs and lows of competing as she has been dancing since the tender age of 4! Her training began locally in Hastings, continuing on to the Royal Ballet School and the Benesh Institute of Choreology.

Pauline's professional dancing career followed, and in 1974 she opened her own studio, Laton Ash Dance Centre.

Pauline has been an Examiner for the Tap & Modern faculties for thirty years and is a Tap Faculty Committee member.

She is very much looking forward to seeing the talent of young performers today.

Alex Larder

At only 21 years old, Alex has already had an amazing start in his career as a Tap dancer.

After graduating from Wilkes Academy in Swindon, Alex has had the opportunity to compete at the IDO Tap Dance World Championships as a member of Tap Attack, becoming a current 7 time World Tap Champion.

Alex has performed at multiple corporate events, been invited to teach internationally at Tap Dance festivals and to perform in World Galas. His professional credits include Lionel Bart’s Oliver! and Singin’ in The Rain in the West End, Noise Boys and Britain’s Got Talent (S12).

Bonnie Langford

Now a household name, Bonnie made her theatre debut in the West End at the tender age of seven in Gone with the Wind at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Followed by ‘Baby June’ in Gypsy opposite Angela Lansbury at the Piccadilly Theatre, a highly successful run on Broadway and a Drama Desk Award nomination.

Bonnie Langford most recently played Roz Keith in Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5,The Musical at the Savoy Theatre, London. Prior to that, she played Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane which was filmed for cinema release this November.