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Kids' Words and Artwork

Kids' impressions of Tops In Taps: Great American Heroes
Each year an average of 20,000+ school children - many of whom could never afford to go see a show in a theater - get the opportunity of having the national company's master dancers come to their school and perform this exciting, participatory history show as a cultural assembly. This program is often complemented by NTE workshops held in the school and by classroom activities such as creative drawing, various writings revolving around the show's many subject matters, special projects, etc.  The company receives hundreds of these works each season.  Here are a few of the most original, touching or interesting ones.

Got some works of your own? You will find all details about what to send and how to send it at the bottom of this page. Make your school proud and send us your works today. They might very well end up right here!

 

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SHORT QUOTES

  1. "I especially liked when Chris picked people from the audience even though I didn’t get picked. And I liked the syllable state contest. I enjoyed your performance and I hope to see you next year."
    Sohaib Ambukh, Parks ES, Indian Head, MD
  2. "The show was funny and educational. I enjoyed it when the two tap dancers dressed up like 80's rappers and acted funny."
    T.J. Cooley, Saint Bernadette School, Silver Spring, MD
  3. "You can move your feet so fast, I can't even tell if you are moving your feet at all. Did you know that after my sister saw you she walked home tap dancing? Thank you for coming."
    Robbie Delaney, Swift Creek Elementary, Raleigh, NC
  4. "You were terrific. I don’t have an idol but I’m beginning to think you guys are my idol."
    Hadija Fafana
  5. "Thank you for coming! I had a lot of fun. I thought it would be real boring. I hope you come again. By the way, how long have you been tap dancing? It seems like you did it for 2,000 years!"
     Katie Johnston, Swift Creek Elementary, Raleigh, NC
  6. "What I liked about the show is that you did the tapping battle. That was very cool."
    Caitlin Merryman, Saint Bernadette School, Silver Spring, MD
  7. "I learned a lot from your program. When I got home I wanted to tap away. I really liked the way you tapped fast. Your greatest fan."
    Sarah Murphy, Gambrills, MD

 

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WRITINGS: REPORTS, ESSAYS, LETTERS, ETC.

Some of the works produced by the children also contain questions. You will find answers to many of these questions on the Tap Dance Q&A page.

 
  1. "I thought that tap dancing was dumb at first then when I saw you do such cool things I changed my mind. I was a volunteer [on the stage] and I had a great time. At first it is hard but then it gets easier. I also learned a lot about different people. I think tap dancing is a great exercise, a great source of music and it is fun."
    Brendan Brady, Saint Bernadette School, Silver Spring, MD
  2. "The show was funny. They were two people. The show was great. The show was cool. I loved the show. It made me happy."
    Ciara C., Ms. Brown's 1st grade class, Lucy Barnsley     Elementary, Rockville, MD

  3. "I liked the Tops In Taps because I liked the tricks. I liked the battle. There were two people tap dancing. I like when we did the beat."
    Matthew C., Ms. Brown's 1st grade class, Lucy Barnsley     Elementary, Rockville, MD

  4. "I liked how they danced. They are funny. I liked the show. It was cool. I feel good."
    Andrew D., Ms. Brown's 1st grade class, Lucy Barnsley     Elementary, Rockville, MD

  5. "Dear National Tap Ensemble,
    Yesterday you were great. If I knew how to tap dance, I never could have been better. It was cool the way Chester could do that drum thing with his mouth. I wish I could do that. It was also really funny the way Chris was shy and unhappy and went behind the curtain. I can tell you one thing, you were the best tap dancers I've ever seen."
     Ellen, 4th grade, Manteo Elementary, Manteo, NC
  6. "I learned how to do the moon walk, and learned about tap dance that it started 2,000 years ago and so did the moon walk. The show told us about where tap dance was formed and it was in the South... The moon walk was formed in Africa... Your show was great because you talked about famous black people."
    Spurgeon Ezebuiro, Parks Elementary, Indian Head, MD
  7. "Thank you very much for coming to our school and dancing for us. I love tap dancing. It's really neat, and you guys are great! I liked it best when you had battles, when you did the Shim Sham Shimmy and when you picked some kids from the crowd and let them dance to that song. Did you know that one of the kids was from my class? Are you going to come back to my class? I hope you do. Good job!"
    Sierra Fath, Lucy Barnsley     Elementary, Rockville, MD

  8. Click here to read Katy's "FUNNY" thoughts! 
    Katy Flynn,     Saint Bernadette School, Silver Spring, MD
  9. "I liked it because I like when they put on the hats. They were two people and they were funny. We were laughing a lot. They were very good dancers. I liked their story."
    Emily G., Ms. Brown's 1st grade class, Lucy Barnsley     Elementary, Rockville, MD

  10. "I really enjoyed your show, and I love history so it was cool. I thought it to be very educational. I once took tap dance, and I must confess, I could never keep up with my teacher and other dancers. In other words, I stunk, but you, my friends, are absolutely awesome. I like your idea of using tap dancing to teach history, because I find that learning from a book is not as fun as learning through fun activities. Though I believe your show was excellent, I have one small suggestion: if you wore orange suspenders, it would look funnier. PS: I'm 10."  
    Sallie Kimmitt, Saint Bernadette School, Silver Spring, MD
  11. "Dear tap dancers,
    Thank you for coming to our school and performing. You performed a great show. You probably practiced a long time. I especially liked when you did that R&B, hip hop, jazz and rock act. You looked cool! I also liked the tap dance battle. The thing I most liked was the Shim Sham Shimmy. I hope you come back again because you're better than Gregory Hines or the thirty third Super Bowl's Halftime Show and I think you're better than any tap dancer that ever lived or I've seen. Who is your favorite tap dancer?"
    Sarah Mupo, Lucy Barnsley     Elementary, Rockville, MD

  12. "Thank you for coming to tap dance! I've never seen the bottom of a tap shoe until you came. Guess who is the king of jelly dounuts? The answer is Elvis Presley! Everybody liked that one when you looked cool. Does the tap shoe ever pull your foot back to the ground?"
    Wes Pritchard, Lucy Barnsley     Elementary, Rockville, MD

  13. "Dear Dance Ensemble,
    Thanks for coming to Mattaponi! You did a great show and I'm probably going to take tap in the fall... I was born in Alaska and moved when I was four, then I lived in Texas till I was seven, and then I lived in Oklahoma till I was ten. I ended up moving to Maryland... I love to dance and so does my dad. Me, my dad and my sister play piano. You guys make me want to play jazz on the piano!   ‘I don’t have an idol but I’m beginning to think you guys are my idol."
    Heather Probert, Mattaponi Elementary, Upper Marlboro, MD 
  14. "The best part that I liked is when your group did the rap. The second best part was when you did the battle and it was a tie because I said so. I would like another show because it's cool to see. I might want to be a tap dancer."
    Allan Ross, Lucy Barnsley     Elementary, Rockville, MD

  15. "I really liked the tap dancing show. I thought Wow! That was fun. I never tap danced before. If I could, I would practice and practice until I was really good. I like the part when you said "ah shim ah sham ah shim sham shimmy!" I don't think I have the Internet. I can ask my dad if I can use his computer to go on www.usatap.org. I want to see the famous tap dancers and how old the most famous tap dancer in the world is. I loved the tap dancing. Thank you for coming." 
    Jeremy Shumway, Lucy Barnsley     Elementary, Rockville, MD

  16. "Thank you so much for coming to tap dance for us! I liked it when you both dressed up and danced the "Shim Sham Shimmy." I also liked it when you had the tap dance battle. Is it hard balancing on your toes? I think you are the best tap dancers I ever saw perform! Now I might want to take tap dance class. To me, it looks really fun, but at first I might have a little bit of trouble learning. Please come back to perform."
    Katherine Tribble, Lucy Barnsley     Elementary, Rockville, MD

  17. "I loved your tap dancing show! As you could probably tell, everyone especially loved your new "Shim Sham Shimmey." Don't take this the wrong way, but it was hilarious! Does that 70 or 80 year old tap dancing fool visit schools? I'm amazed that someone of his age has the energy to tap dance! Or for that matter that he can tap dance so well. Tell me, what are the basic things that you do when you tap dance? Tap dancing seems to be an awfully interesting and fun activity to learn. You said the slaves communicated with their feet. Can you two communicate using some secret tap dancing language? Anyway, your tap dancing was totally extravaganzo!"
    Donald Wolcott, Lucy Barnsley     Elementary, Rockville, MD

 

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ARTWORK

"Art does not reproduce what we see. It makes us see"
Paul Klee

Viewing tips
- Click on the small pictures below (i.e. "buttons) for full size reproduction. Better yet, if you'd like to keep this web page on your computer screen, right-click on any button and choose "open in a new window." 
- Additional children's writings or comments that were below or in the back of an artwork have been added just below any such artwork. See section above for more extensive writings.   

  1. Waldon Woods Elementary, Clinton, MD, 11-1993, Bryan 
  2. Woolridge Elementary, Midlothian, VA, 11-1993, Mrs. Patrick's 1st grade class, Amanda 
    "I like your tap dancing, and I wish I could learn. You're the greatest tap dancers I've ever seen."
  3. Owings Mills Elementary, Owings Mills, MD, 12-1994, Rebecca Wackerman 
  4. Owings Mills Elementary, Owings Mills, MD, 12-1994, Warren Nock 
    "I thank you for coming to our class. I hope we might know each other a little better now. Please come again."
  5. 1994, Mrs. Polovicks' class,  Rebecca H. 
    "The tap dance started in the United States. When the lady did the splits she quickly got back up and started tap dancing again."
  6. Rippling Woods Elementary, Glen Burnie, MD, 10-1995, Mrs. Mardiero's class, Stacia Cosvor 
  7. Severna Park Elementary, Severna Park, MD, 02-1998, Jed Barnes 
  8. Severna Park Elementary, Severna Park, MD, 02-1998, Julie Corwin 
  9. Severna Park Elementary, Severna Park, MD, 02-1998, Christi Holterman 
  10. Severna Park Elementary, Severna Park, MD, 02-1998, Alex Serini 
  11. Severna Park Elementary, Severna Park, MD, 02-1998, Lori Stambaugh 
  12. Severna Park Elementary, Severna Park, MD, 02-1998, Patrick Wiedorn 
  13. Severna Park Elementary, Severna Park, MD, 02-1998,
  14. River School, Sebastian, FL, 02-2000, 5th grade, Tristan Goff 
    "Thank you for coming and dancing for us. I had a good time up on the stage."
  15. River School, Sebastian, FL, 02-2000, 5th grade, Girija H. 
    "Thank you for putting on a tap dance show for my school. I enjoyed it very much. Love. Girija"

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SEND US YOUR WORKS!

Attention teachers and principals!
Please make sure that each child's work features on the BACK of the child's work (pasting a large-size sticky note is OK):
- School name
- School teacher's name
- Grade
- Student name
- Date

  
WRITINGS
We welcome essays, reports, special projects, etc. Please refer to the Tops In Taps Teacher's Guide for additional information and ideas.

ARTWORK
Please be aware that works that are larger than legal size (8.5 X 14 inches) cannot be reproduced on this page. Do ask children to send any accompanying writings on a separate piece of paper, unless the design requested from children includes short comments, such as for example work #9 above.  

PICTURES
While videotaping the copyrighted Tops In Taps show is strictly prohibited, taking photographs (whether using standard film/prints or digital media) is welcome as long as you ask the performers first AND you see to it that copies of all pictures (digital and/or prints) be sent to the front office. Yes, you may use flash (unlike in our theater shows), yes, the photographer(s) may come right up to the stage (taking pictures from far away rarely produces good pictures anyway) and yes, we always welcome copies of any good photographs (prints or digital) you may have taken! Please see the Pictures Page for a few examples. 

ADDRESS
Snail mail.
Please send materials and pictures to:
Educational Programs
National Tap Ensemble
PO BOX 2439
Hagerstown MD 21741-2439

Email
Please adhere be sure to adhere to the following rules as your email might otherwise be misrouted and lost! 
   
    Write on the SUBJECT line: SCHOOL WORKS [Name of your school] - [City, State] - [Date NTE program was performed at the school]
    for example: SCHOOL WORKS - Jones Elementary - Harrisburg, PA - 9/25/06

Thanks!

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