St. Louis: Your Gateway to Tap
St. Louis, the “Gateway City,” is more than just a landmark between the Eastern and Western United States, it’s also a gateway for many to the professional dance world. With annual dance festivals, large, professional studios and a variety of skilled instructors, many working dancers owe their success to the strength of the dance community in this Midwestern city.
The emergence of all of these opportunities for aspiring and experienced tap dancers has significantly changed the atmosphere in the St. Louis area over the past two decades.
“I have been a tap instructor in St. Louis for 14 years and have seen tap dancing grow as an art in all ages, both kids and adults,” says Tracy Dupre, tap coordinator at the Center of Creative Arts (COCA). “I began teaching tap at COCA in 1995 and back then COCA only offered four to five tap classes per week. Since then the number of classes we offer has tripled.”
Dupre says the tap dance explosion in St. Louis is not necessarily due to the city’s resources, however, and it may be because of tap’s increasing popularity. “I feel tap has a bigger presence in the dance community today. Therefore, the aspiring tapper has more opportunities handed to them than a decade ago,” she says.
Photo are courtesy of Gina Barrera at Diva La Tap
There is no denying the strong presence of tap dance in the city. Even in the months when the St. Louis Tap Festival is not occurring, many youth and adult dancers are learning the fundamentals and perfecting their footwork in preparation for larger goals.
“With the proper training and exposure you can become a professional tap dancer by starting out in the good ‘ole STL,” Dupre says. “I've known several tappers from St. Louis who have gone on to become professional tap dancers. They are members of Tap Dogs, Manhattan Tap, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, etc.” Dupre says the strong tap community in St. Louis helps students gain exposure that they can use to get jobs dancing on stage in the future.
“A student starts by taking tap technique classes, then gains exposure to the tap world through master classes, [the] tap festival, conventions and intensives,” she says. “From there he or she would go to New York or Chicago to audition for a professional tap company.”
Classes
For tap dancers in the St. Louis area wanting to brush up on some skills, COCA, an award-winning arts institution, is a fantastic place to start. The 60,000 square foot facility is one of the biggest and best in the area, offering classes for children and adults of all ages.
“We offer a ‘Happy Feet’ class for kids age 4-6, which teaches basic tap vocabulary and rhythms,” Dupre says. “The kids love it because they get to make lots of noise and bang on a drum! We also offer all levels of tap for kids and adults as well as invitation-only classes and musical theater tap classes.”
COCA also offers open classes in ballet, jazz, modern, hip-hop, African dance, belly dance and flamenco. Master classes are held on a fairly regular basis. (January’s class was titled “Legally Blonde the Musical Masterclass.”) The center employs more than 150 faculty members, allowing it to offer a wide variety of classes at all times.
The City Studio provides a dance program designed for dancers and non-dancers alike, with a weekly schedule of children and adult classes at all levels. The studio offers a discounted student and artist rate as well, making it a bit easier on the visiting dancer’s wallet.
Performances
COCA’s 400-seat theater is also home to some of the city’s diverse family programming. The center is home to two student dance companies, which perform year-round at the facility and around the community. Ballet Eclectica is COCA’s ballet company, which incorporates elements of classical and contemporary ballet into its repertoire. COCAdance is the center’s advanced level dance company, comprised of students ages 11-18. Dance St. Louis, a local non-profit “dedicated to enhancing cultural well-being by creating and perpetuating interest, awareness and appreciation of dance,” sponsors performances, pre-performance talk backs and master classes with world-renowned dance companies. The 2008-2009 season has so far included performances by Paul Taylor Dance Company and Pilobolus and has upcoming shows with the Kansas City Ballet (dancing Twyla Tharp) and Armitage Gone! Dance (a New York-based modern dance company). And of course, the St. Louis Tap Festival’s “ALL THAT TAP” showcase brings together the who’s who of the tap world for an annual awe-inspiring performance.
St. Louis Tap Festival
It’s no secret that tap dance thrives in St. Louis, and this is in no small part due to the St. Louis Tap Festival, which is now approaching its 19th year. Founded and curated by Robert L. Reed, head of the Robert L. Reed Tap Heritage Institute, the festival’s mission is to help develop an appreciation for tap and its cultural contributions to the world. Held annually every summer, the festival includes classes by some of tap’s greatest master teachers, a tap jam, panel discussions, a participants showcase, an awards ceremony and a master tap concert titled “ALL THAT TAP.” Past participants have included Dr. Jimmy Slyde, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards of "Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk" and "Black and Blue," teaching/performing duo Avi Miller and Ofer Ben, Stick and Move Dance Crew and M.A.D.D. Rhythms. If you really want to experience tap in St. Louis, attending the festival is a must.
Reed is also director of the St. Louis Hoofers Club, which brings together talented youth and adult tappers to take master classes and engage in performances together.
All of the tapping has created an underlying rhythm in the city, not only in class and on stage but also on the street, as evidenced by the occasional tap jam in the Delmar Loop – the city’s vibrant entertainment and shopping district. “If you can catch it, it's a real treat to see and hear!” Dupre says.
Between daily open classes, performances with world-renowned dancers and companies and a tap jam here and there, St. Louis has proven to be an inspiring destination for aspiring and professional dancers alike. This Midwestern city has more to offer than The Gateway Arch; it’s a cultural hot spot for performers – especially those who like to make music with their feet.
Resources
Center of Creative Arts (COCA)
524 Trinity Avenue
(314) 725-6555
cocastl.org
The City Studio
4397 Laclede Avenue
(314) 533-4142
thecitystudio.com
Dance St. Louis Presents:
Kansas City Ballet Dances Twyla Tharp: Feb 27-28
Stomp: April 3-5
Armitage Gone! Dance: April 30 and May 1-2
Riverdance: May 1-3
Spring to Dance Festival: May 21-23
(314) 534-6622
dancestlouis.org
St. Louis Tap Festival
tapheritage.com
info@tapheritage.com
St. Louis Hoofers Club
Stlouishoofers.com