A smile grows on my face as I lace up my shoes. The sturdy leather and solid metal on the bottom ground me as I stand up. I roll my ankles and warm up my feet, finding my balance and rhythm. I always look forward to days when I get to tap in-studio. Assisting in classes with kindergarteners does not bring the same satisfaction as making complicated rhythms and becoming one with the music. Tap dancing makes me feel like myself. I can feel happy, sad, even angry, all while moving my feet with a speed that shocks even myself sometimes. 

I began tap dancing when I was 3 years old. My dance teacher, Ms. Sarah Miller, taught my small class basic steps such as shuffles, heels and “flippidy-flops.” I would giggle and spend my 20-minute class living my best life, dancing to “Tiger in a Tutu.” As I have grown up, my skills have also grown. Between kindergarten and fourth grade, I learned more skills, like paradiddles, flaps, Irishes and drawbacks. I danced to fun songs such as “Ridiculous” and “A-Tisket A-Tasket”. Each dance I learned, every skill I added to my toolbox of dance, fostered my love of the art. I would go home and teach my grandma all of the steps I learned that day, creating fun (but terrible) dances and performing for my family.

Eventually, I joined the competition team at my dance studio, Stagedoor Dance Centre. My first year, I exclusively competed in Jazz, but eventually a tap team was formed for my age group. We danced to “Inspector Gadget,” and every time I was at the front of the dance, I felt special, like I was good at what I was doing. My best friend and I loved to tap so much that we decided to perform a duet together. They began as cute, simple dances to iconic songs such as “Devil in a Blue Dress,” “Blame it on the Boogie” and “No Diggity”. We loved every second of the process – hours of work in the studio, days of rehearsals and many performances onstage. 

Now 16, I still love to tap dance. It remains my favorite style of expression and dance. I assist in tap classes ranging from ages 2-10, helping the next generation love tap as much as I do. I dance with my studio’s advanced tap team, continuing to perform duets with my best friend. The hours of rehearsals after school still make me feel just as happy as they did when I was younger, bringing me closer to myself. We dance to songs such as “Love On Top” and “Edge of Seventeen”. 

I also take every opportunity to further my tap education, auditioning for different experiences with different tap programs. Last year, after earning a partial scholarship to the “Tap Into the Network” tap convention, I auditioned for the summer tap experience with Joffrey’s School of Ballet. I was accepted and allowed to dance in the iconic Pearl Studios in the heart of New York, studying tap with other teenage girls and learning from professional tap dancers. My perception of my ability to dance changed that week. I realized that I was good at tap and my confidence grew. When I returned to my studio, I used my new skills to expand my technique and be more precise in my dancing. I also love the rich history of tap. Learning about the doctors of tap, the iconic choreography and the influence that tap has throughout American history deepened my appreciation for the style.