Colburn’s Tap Dance Program is an embodied music education. Students are taught to read percussion music and then physically manifest those rhythms, cultivating their bodies as articulate musical instruments.
Early Tap – No Audition Required
Introduction to tap technique and the proper use of legs and loose ankles for accurate sound production. Students will learn the basic rudiments and weight placement. Terminology is emphasized. Using basic rudiments, students are asked to dance and understand the value of quarter notes, eighth notes, and sixteenth notes. This class meets once a week.
More advanced steps, flaps and time steps are introduced. While continuing to review established skills and terminology, the class will practice the connection of the steps to the music for clarity of sound. Sixteenth notes and eight note triplets in 4/4 time are introduced. Turns, arm placement and more movement are emphasized. At this level, students are challenged by more advanced combinations and dances.
Two years prior tap instruction is needed for this class. Students continue to improve their skills and terminology through repetition of basic tap rudiments and time steps, and are challenged with pull backs, flaps, and turns across the floor. Emphasis is placed on staying on the balls of their feet, lifting their knees, and relaxing their ankles. Continued practice counting their notes musically is encouraged. As students begin to gain more accessible skills, they learn to be presentational with their dancing. This class meets three times weekly, two tap classes and one modern dance class.
Three years of previous tap study are needed for this ensemble. Students will receive instruction from three different teachers weekly and expand their technique and music skills. Tap Dance Artists will continue to practice their basic steps and rudiments, giving them vocabulary to explore and develop their improvisation. More advanced and challenging choreography is introduced, demanding dance movement and performance quality. Continued music study and tap history are crucial for this ensemble. Learning how to work with fellow dancers on stage and in class is key to building our tap community and allowing the best outcome for our Tap Artists.
As the most advanced tap level offered, Tap Dance Artists will have added performances and master class opportunities. This ensemble advances serious and committed artists to their full potential and skill level. Group and solo dancing are explored. Traditional and original choreography is taught by master teachers and our state-of-the-art faculty. Tap Artists will also be encouraged to create their own choreography. A full understanding of music and percussion allows students to improvise with confidence and tap accurately in unison or individually. Tap history is included through Artistic Inquiry sessions. This class meets for four tap sessions per week and a full dance class weekly.
By invitation only, dancers enrolled in this course must be enrolled in Tap V: Tap Ensemble II
This once weekly class is designed to give dancers who want to deepen their tap study or increase their versatility in dance. It is essential for serious Musical Theatre students who need tap training to be competitive and gives those who love to tap a weekly class. Basic Technique, terminology and music skills are practiced weekly. All levels are welcome in this class.