The Tap Dance Central
Ensemble
The Tap Dance Central Ensemble is the resident youth performing ensemble of TDC. These dynamic and talented dancers focus on learning classic and contemporary choreography with professional choreographers and work with master teachers in the field today. The ensemble performs in a range of NYC area venues including formal concerts, educational school & library shows and more. The ensembles are under the direction of Susan Hebach, and weekly faculty rehearsal leaders are Rachel Binney and Emma Butensky.
The ensemble is modeled after the Tap City Youth Ensemble (a project of the American Tap Dance Foundation, formerly directed by Susan) and carry forward some unique classic and contemporary repertory that was created within the ATDF. We look forward to developing new works and having new tap adventures that will contribute to a growing TDC original
repertory as we move forward.
Mission: Tap History
Our dancers learn and explore classic historical choreography and rhythms from our tap masters of the past including Buster Brown, Eddie Brown, Leon Collins, The Copasetics, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and more. We learn about these masters of tap dance and work to share their steps and stories with our audiences in honor of their contributions to the art of tap dance.
Vision: Tap Dance Today
Our goal is to educate our dancers with solid technique and training to be well rounded and prepared to participate in the greater tap dance community. Dancers delve into improvisation and jazz music and learn music concepts and structures that are integral and deeply connected to tap dance. We explore a variety of repertory created by tap artists from around the globe who are dancing today.
Levels of TDC Ensemble
TDC has three levels of intermediate through
advanced levels of teen dancers age 14-18 that meet on Sundays to rehearse from September -June:
TDC I: 12-3pm (Adv)
TDC II: 2-4:30pm (Int/Adv)
TDC III: 1:00-3:30pm (Int)
TBA : TDC Jr. Ensemble (ages 10-13) Stay Tuned!
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Dancers are accepted by audition. This is a tuition based program, scholarships are available based on need and merit.
Auditions for 2025-26
& Apprentice Program
We will be holding auditions on the following dates:
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Sunday, Feb. 23rd: 12:00-1:30pm
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Sunday, March 30th: 12:00-1:30pm
All dancers must be between the ages of 14-17 and dancing at an int/advanced level. Auditions will be conducted as a masterclass with our TDC faculty or guest faculty. Please click here to be directed to a google pre-registration form for the audittion.
TDC Apprentice workshop this Spring 2025
There will be an apprentice workshop opportunity to participate for 6 weeks on select Sundays to learn part of our TDC repertory from April 6-May 18, 2025 (no meeting on April 13). Time TBA.
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Please contact Susan Hebach for more information at shebach@tapdancecentral.org or call 646-921-9705.
Tuition
TDC Ensemble is a tuition based program. There are also several fees ensemble members pay in addition to tuition:
$50 registration fee
$100 concert fee
$100 materials fee
All these fees go toward administrative costs and support costs for the program.
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TDC Ensemble tuitions are slightly subsidized based on the premise that many students have participated in the program for multiple years and serve as TDC ambassadors in the community through performances and events. We value our longstanding students and who add value to our program through their hard work and dedication to our mission and goals. Scholarships are available and are give on a case by case basis for financial need and merit.
