About the time our Mid-western plains were first being crossed by rail, another sound was making its way across America. It was a new kind of music, a music that threw away the instruments and danced the notes instead. Its ingredients were many, savoring of Africa and Europe. Peppery sweet. Its rhythms moved everywhere, rippling up the Mississippi, floating out an open window in Harlem, knocking down the walls of a jazz club, flashing from a movie house screen. They peek out at us today between the beats of a rap video, on the Broadway stage and on the silver screen. And now you have a chance to taste the full experience...
America's national tap dance company invites you and your community to an unforgettable dance and music experience that proudly celebrates the uniqueness of the the African-American legacy. The energy and enthusiasm of these master musicians and dancers, a multi-cultural ensemble of men and women who have been mentored by many of the art's older statesmen, have ignited the imagination of over 300,000 people around the country and overseas. Their inspired interweaving of state-of-the-art performance and accomplished audience discussion, together with their interdisciplinary approach to history, music, math or fitness make for an unmatched combination.
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to the most current information that is available about many of these
educational and cultural programs. Clicking on any link below or on any
link at the top of this page will take you to other pages with additional
information.
MISSION AND PHILOSOPHY OF PROGRAMS
| Education
is not just a buzzword - or just a a few programs performed here and there
- for the national tap dance company, but an integral part of its mission. Over
twenty different educational
and cultural programs are
available year-round and the company
dedicates over half of its resources to teaching, lecturing and
performing, sharing their unparalleled knowledge and enthusiasm and often
providing an unforgettable educational experience. Each year, for example,
an average of 20,000+ children have been attending the outstanding Tops In Taps: Great
American Heroes and/or Music From The Ground Up cultural assembly programs right in the comfort and
safety of
their own schools all across America, and even overseas! Unlike many other performing arts companies, NTE does not allow inexperienced/apprentice dancers or "company B dancers" to appear in any contracted program. Instead, educational programs are performed by the national tap dance company's PRINCIPAL dancers/choreographers and musicians, the same performers who have appeared in movies, documentaries and on countless stages in over 30 countries. Even school kids get our best! All audiences are served, from the wealthiest to the most disadvantaged and from full-time professional tap dance performers or teachers to totally inexperienced tap dance students. NTE's affordable educational programs celebrate the American spirit and highlight the legacy of the great African-American
pioneers of tap dance and jazz music. They are performed with the highest
standards, have received official accreditation from over twenty
Arts In Education institutions nationwide, and are welcome by many
more. Many
programs of the programs below are available in several customized versions which are carefully tailored to the needs of a particular community or
audience. |
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WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY CAN EXPECT
|
LIST & SHORT DESCRIPTIONS OF CURRENTLY AVAILABLE PROGRAMS
- Tops In Taps: Great American Heroes
Cultural assembly program for public schools, private schools, community/recreation centers, senior centers, etc. Small cast version of the full cast National Tap Ensemble show on the true history of tap dancing. The most widely performed program of its kind for the past ten years.
Other quick links:
Testimonials by PTA/PTO representatives, school principals, school teachers, etc.
Works produced after the program by school children: essays, drawings, etc.
Booking information and request form (for accredited school representatives only)
Program pictures
Important! Proper flooring is required for all in-school NTE programs to ensure both the safety of the artists and quality programming.
- Tap Dance Plus
This one day "Artist-In-School Residency" may feature a combination of two assemblies, up to 2 workshops and a "meet the artist" Q & A session which can be done in the classroom and is always highly enjoyed by the students. A very substantial discount over the cost of booking each program separately is automatically applied (this alone saves you hundreds of dollars, contact the company early in the school year and you may be able to also obtain Arts In Education funding, bringing the total savings up to 50%!) Tap Dance Plus is entirely customized to your school’s needs and priorities and is a good choice for any school, especially Arts and other Magnet schools. Please fill out the online Info Request Form or call us for details on this program.
Important! While specially-built percussive dance flooring is now required for all in-school NTE programs for the safety of the artists, the extra cost is underwritten by a generous sponsor for the first thirty schools in each state served by the company (effective Fall 2004, applies to both Public and Private Schools, funding permitting)
- Music From The
Ground Up
Cultural assembly program for public schools, private schools, community/recreation centers, senior centers, etc. Music is arguably the most universal form of communication, and percussive dance may well be the form of music that uses the largest number of our "multiple intelligences." There simply is no more exciting way of rediscovering them than... From The Ground Up!
Testimonials by PTA/PTO representatives, school principals, school teachers, etc.
Booking information and request form (for accredited school representatives only)
Important! While specially-built percussive dance flooring is now required for all in-school NTE programs for the safety of the artists, the extra cost is underwritten by a generous sponsor for the first thirty schools in each state served by the company (effective Fall 2004, applies to both Public and Private Schools, funding permitting)
- Music Plus
A one-day, in-school residency by the Director of the company in person at a public or private school. This residency provides a customized combination of programs including up to two "Music From The Ground Up" shows, up to two workshops or master classes of your choice and one "Meet The Artist" Q & A session (can be held as a classroom visit, great for magnet schools!) A very substantial discount over the cost of booking each program separately is automatically applied.
Important! While specially-built percussive dance flooring is now required for all in-school NTE programs for the safety of the artists, the extra cost is underwritten by a generous sponsor for the first thirty schools in each state served by the company (effective Fall 2004, applies to both Public and Private Schools, funding permitting)
- Educated Feet: A Taste Of Tap
This workshop offers up to thirty students with or without tap training a more in-depth, "feet on" experience (compared to the short participatory workshops which takes place during the Tops in Taps: Great American Heroes assembly program.)
Important! While specially-built percussive dance flooring is now required for all in-school NTE programs for the safety of the artists, the extra cost is underwritten by a generous sponsor for the first thirty schools in each state served by the company (effective Fall 2004, applies to both Public and Private Schools, funding permitting)
- Shim Sham Shimmy
This workshop teaches students with minimal tap dance experience the Shim Sham Shimmy, a classic dance considered by scholars and historians to be the "tap dancer's anthem." Great fun to learn and perform, the "Shim Sham" has vital connections with African Drumming and Jazz Music that are explained and illustrated. Tap dance students looking for more versions of this great Classic American Dance/rhythm should consider attending the Shim Sham Craze course taught each year at the National Tap Seminar. or the ATDI Conference.
Important! While specially-built percussive dance flooring is now required for all in-school NTE programs for the safety of the artists, the extra cost is underwritten by a generous sponsor for the first thirty schools in each state served by the company (effective Fall 2004, applies to both Public and Private Schools)
- The
Heartbeat of America
Extended Creative Residencies in public and private schools. Provide one or more NTE artists in residence at the school for in-depth work and maximized educational impact.
- Tap Dance Master
Classes and Workshops
Guest classes and workshops. Taught at 7 levels, from absolute beginner to professional. Special master classes may place emphasis on such topics as repertory, tap dance musicianship, composography, tap notation, improvisation, etc.
- Jazz Music Clinics
Conducted by NTE's experienced musicians, including Music Director Calvin Jones, founder of the Jazz Studies Program at the University of the District of Columbia. Focus is on the fundamentals of jazz improvisation through the medium of the blues, or on other topics drawn from Mr. Jones' invaluable experience as a composer, arranger and mentor of premier collegiate jazz ensemble.
- American Tap Dance Institute,
Certification for Professional Tap Dance Teachers
The American Tap Dance Institute is the higher-education and research division of the National Tap Ensemble, USA. It features the world's leading Teacher Training and Certification Program for dedicated professional tap dance teachers, which has been providing in-depth training, history studies, peer support, and challenging exams sanctioned by official certification since 1998. While theory and fundamentals of the art of teaching tap dance are studied, the program focuses on specific professional objectives and favors a practical, problem-solving approach.
- American Tap Dance Institute, Annual
Conference
The American Tap Dance Institute's annual "Spirit Of Tap" Conference is usually held in July and is perhaps the most comprehensive and forward-looking major annual tap event to be found anywhere, with a cornucopia of activities, presentations and events: tap dance courses with certified teachers, lectures, video & film showings, forums and discussions, jam sessions, panels, free practice space, choreography contest with expert feedback, ATDI Post-Graduate School, master classes, formal papers, seven levels of instruction, danced and spoken tap history, writing contest & scholarships, shows, etc.
- National Tap Seminar
Emphasizing "total tap education," this one-week intensive "camp," held each Summer in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado offers a comprehensive approach that helps tap dancers of all ages and levels reach new heights in tap dance. Courses include daily classes taught by master teachers, repertoire, spoken and performed history, film showings, health topics, and much more. These seminars are regularly attended by tap enthusiasts - students and teachers - from around the world who relish the opportunity to get great classes while spending a whole week close to the NTE cast, all in clean air and a beautiful mountain setting.
| "Most of all, thanks to all for a fabulous week of tap. My daughter,
Megan adored it and learned more in the week with you than in months of
classes here in Denver. All of you were so inspiring, enthusiastic and
joyful. We are hoping you will consider doing this again in the Summer of
1998 and the whole family is coming." Carla Garrity, CO "This seminar was a wonderful experience and I am so glad I came. The teachers were great and I learned so much. Not only has my technique improved, but I have learned more tap history in this one week than in my entire life." Andi Larsen, CO "I learned a lot, and I had fun doing so." Karin Dierckx, the Netherlands "Thank you all for your hard work, caring spirits, wonderful dancing and great smiles!" Dianne Homan, Canada |
“Exploring An American Legacy: Tap Dance Giants At Work”
This program is an excellent example of what we like to call our "feet-on" combination of research and education. It may feature courses, traditional research, collection of oral and written memories, choreography/composography reconstructions, etc. Activities range from the tedious to the exhilarating and are held in a variety of settings, from intensive courses to documentaries and performing events.
Customized staff development workshop for:
1 - Classroom teachers who wish to acquire tools to integrate the arts - particularly the performing arts that come from the American heritage - with the "mainstream" curriculum. Workshops are customized and may address how tap dance and jazz music can stimulate learning in American history, math, music, physical education, social studies, poetry, geography and more. Classroom activity suggestions offer full integration in curriculum framework as well as innovative concepts.
2 - Dance or music specialists who wish to broaden their field of expertise, get new ideas and/or complement their existing expertise.
School teachers, get your professional development up to new standards and... in the groove!
This is an opportunity for dedicated and gifted young dancers to become a part of today's authentic tap dance revival. A regional, multi-state audition is followed by an intensive residency with NTE cast members involving daily training and a final performance often featuring live music as well as original works created for and by participants. This program honors the legacy of tap legend Baby Laurence, widely regarded as the greatest tap dancer in history, and is always dedicated to him as a "living part" of the Baby Laurence Legacy Project. Program participants are taught the history of Mr. Laurence's extraordinary accomplishments and encouraged to literally follow in his footsteps.
| "You have taught me skills
that I can take with me and apply to many other dance forms as well as
tap... I became more aware of the many different sounds that a tap shoe can
create... I had the wonderful experience of not only meeting Buster Brown in
person, but also performing and taking classes with him." Kelly Boyd, participant in "Tapping Into The Future," Prince George’s County, MD |
Tap dance clinics in a private or semi-private format for the dedicated tap dance student, for the aspiring professional who needs guidance to get that "edge" in preparing for a successful career, or for the professional tap dancer who needs to reach her or his full potential. Are you truly dedicated to advancing your professional career as a tap dancer? Would you simply like to become as good as you possibly can, even though you may not be a pro? This program might be for you!
A free resource for children or adults who attend NTE's educational programs and cannot afford to buy their own tap dance shoes. The TSB has been used by hundreds of economically disadvantaged people since 1989.
Outreach touring residency offered to rural and/or lower income communities. The company's performers "caravan" through a given region. Block booking allows for affordable programs, local access, and helps foster new partnerships at all levels in the community within the toured area.
Taught by cast members at a local dance studio which meets a set of acceptable standards and is able to provide a good level of schedule flexibility due to the cast's occasionally heavy touring schedule.
| "All senior students who have been taking classes from
Cassandra are thrilled to have her teaching them. She has not only
remarkably improved their technique, she has been a true role model for all
of them, as a dancer, a teacher, and as a person... We're lucky to have her
teach these girls at such an important time in their lives. Thanks to all
you have done to make it happen." Deborah Bennett, owner, Spotlight Dance Studio, Millersville, MD |
A wonderful opportunity for dance studios, university/college dance departments, tap dance programs, etc. to bring Chris Baker, Director of the company, straight to the heart of their community, anywhere in the world. This very flexible Artist-In-Residence program exists in three versions: MT1= one day residency, MT2 = two-day residency, MT+ = extended residency that can last from three days to several weeks (schedule permitting.) The content of each Maximum Tap residency is based on the needs and desired of the hosts, and may consist of master classes, workshops, lectures, etc. pulled from Mr. Baker's extensive knowledge and repertoire as well as film/video showings from the national company's archives. Other programs may be included as needed. Very substantial discounts over the cost of booking each program separately are automatically applied. Please note that this program is only available to Category 2 members of the International Tap Dance Network (ITDN.) However, ITDN membership is free, and the form can be found here. If you are a new member, and are SERIOUSLY interested in booking a Maximum Tap residency, please indicate that in the "Comments" box at the bottom of the membership form and a staff person will contact you.
For the last twelve years of his life, the legendary Buster Brown was a member of the national tap dance company. In honor of his talent, generosity and many contributions to our cultural heritage, we have given his name to this very important fund which provides thousands of dollars in scholarships each year. Talented and dedicated dancers of all ages aspiring to further their tap dance studies (including intensive programs such as this one) may be eligible for financial help (scholarships) as well as for receiving guidance and private training from NTE's master dancers (mentorships.) Each year for example, winners of the "From Toes to Fingers" writing contest receive scholarships to attend the following year's National Tap Seminar. This scholarship fund is supported by the generous, tax-deductible contributions of donors and by the sale of some original products.
Artwork by children from a Terre Haute, Indiana school
"Every child is an artist. The
problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."
Pablo Picasso
PROGRAM AFFILIATIONS
The
national tap dance company's educational and cultural programs have been recognized by
and affiliated with the
following programs and organizations:
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