Youth Program
Our Youth Program will start up again in
early September!
Registration is processed with assistance from our reception team.
Please contact info@tapdancecentral.org or call 646-921-9705 to register.
Our youth program supports dancers of all levels and ages, we have levels for everyone!​
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We strive to find the right fit for each student.
Free level assessments are available with staff for
onboarding new students, and can be scheduled now!
Please contact Susan Hebach by email shebach@tapdancecentral.org
or call 646-921-9705 to schedule. ​
Young Rhythm Makers
Introductory
For our youngest dancers ages 5-7, this is a creative introduction to tap dance using creative dance, games and exercises incorporating basic tap vocabulary. Students explore tap history through books and video on a variety of dancers who have fascinating and important life histories, such as Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Peg Leg Bates, Fred Astaire and more.
Tap Fundamentals
Beginner
Dancers concentrate on learning the basic foundational vocabulary of tap dance, explore music concepts and beginning improvisation. Students learn how to warm up, travel across the floor, and combine different basic steps to make combinations. Students explore the a variety of tap artists through video and discussion, both from the rich historical legacy of tap dance and present day tap community
Shim Sham Crew
Advanced Beginner
Students with 3 years of experience or more build upon their skills and begin to learn historical repertory of the Copasetics such as the famous "Shim Sham". Students are introduced to more complex ideas and technique including time steps, paddle and roll combinations, and more challenging choreography. Students explore the history of the Shim Sham and its creator, Leonard Reed, among others.
Copasetic Club
Pre-Intermediate
(4-5 years of tap experience) Students at this level have developed intermediate skills and are ready to learn tap repertory. Students progress forward in tap technique, improvisational skills and classic repertory that passed down from a rich tap legacy of the Copasetics, such as the Coles Stroll, the Copasetic Soft Shoe, and parts of "Doin' the New Low Down". Students explore more complex rhythm time steps, paddle and roll combinations, and begin working on steps such as pullbacks and wings. Students explore the history of the Copasetics and dancers most associated with this historic group, such as Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (for which the group was formed in his honor) and Charles "Honi" Coles, the choreographer of the Coles Stroll.
Timesteps & Traditions
Intermediate
Syncopation and swing are the inspiration here, and the focus is on further development of technique, learning more complicated and challenging time steps from the masters including Leon Collins, Cookie Cook, Eddie Brown and more. Students are encouraged to create time steps of their own. The classic dance "the B.S. Chorus" is explored, and exciting moves such as pullbacks, wings and over the tops and flash steps are added to our skills list. Students take a deeper look into fascinating historical pioneers of classic flash tap, the Nicholas Brothers and continue to explore modern day revolutionaries and their contributions to tap dance, such as Brenda Bufalino, Michelle Dorrance, Gregory Hines and more.
Hoofers & Hitters
Intermediate/Advanced
For intermediate/advanced teens. Focus is on a continuation of cultivating technique, improvisational skills, and learning & creating choreography. Exploration on contemporary and historical styles, use of a range of jazz and contemporary music.
Day X:XX - X:XXpm with Teacher Name (ages 5-7)
Day X:XX - X:XXpm with Teacher Name (ages 5-7)
Day X:XX - X:XXpm with Teacher Name (ages 6-7)
Day X:XX - X:XXpm with Teacher Name (ages 8-10)
Day X:XX - X:XXpm with Teacher Name (ages 8-10)
Day X:XX - X:XXpm with Teacher Name (ages 12+)
Day X:XX - X:XXpm with Teacher Name (ages 8-10)
Day X:XX - X:XXpm with Teacher Name (ages 10-12)
Day X:XX - X:XXpm with Teacher Name (ages 13+)
Day X:XX - X:XXpm with Teacher Name (ages 8-10)
Day X:XX - X:XXpm with Teacher Name (ages 12-14)
Day X:XX - X:XXpm with Teacher Name (ages 14+)
Day X:XX - X:XXpm with Teacher Name
Day X:XX - X:XXpm with Teacher Name
Day X:XX - X:XXpm with Teacher Name (ages 14+)
Day X:XX - X:XXpm with Teacher Name (ages 14+)