The Vancouver Tap Dance Academy

Vancouver Tap Dance Academy

Vancouver Tap Dance Society strives to be a leader in the promotion and preservation of tap dance and is dedicated to developing an awareness of this art form. The Society's mandate includes the Tap Academy, Vancouver International Tap Festival, TapCo, a youth performance ensemble and an Outreach Program that provides tap classes to hundreds of children each year.

 

Jan-June 2012 Classes and Registration

January 2012 YOUTH Programs and Registration Form
January 2012 ADULT Programs and Registration Form

Check out our Summer Program 2011

VTDS 2011 BOOT CAMP-July 18, 22
Ages 10 to 18 years
Click here for more info on the 2011 Tap Boot Camp

 

 

THE ACADEMY

Hallmarks of the VTDS Academy include: professional faculty, a commitment to preserving the legacy of the tap masters, high profile performance opportunities and a culture of respect and passion for tap dance.

The Academy offers program instruction from the introductory recreational level to the rigorous curriculum offered to the pre professional student.

A colorful palette of tap classes have been created for adults from the absolute beginner to dancers seriously committed to studying the art of tap dance.

Vancouver Tap Dance Society currently has a Receptionist/Administation job opening. Details here

Tap Academy Faculty

TROY MCLAUGHLIN
Troy hails from Richmond, Virginia and holds a B.F.A. in Jazz Dance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. There he studied under the master hoofer and tap legend Lavaughn Robinson. Troy co-founded Tap Team Two and has danced with the illustrious Manhattan Tap and had the privilege of working with the late great Harold Nicholas. He has shared his talent with universities, public schools and studios all over North America. Troy's performance career has taken him around the world, performing in Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Starlight Express", Disney's "Lion King", with the Radio City Rockettes. Locally he danced in "Miss Saigon" and Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" for the Arts Club Theatre Company.

MARY LOU BRIEN
Mary Lou has worked extensively in Canada as a dancer, choreographer and teacher trained in the disciplines of ballet, jazz, tap and modern. She first studied in the Vancouver area and continued her training in London, England and Los Angeles, Calf. She was a member of the Pacific Western Ballet Theatre under the direction of Joy Camden and Norbert Vesak and carried on to be a part of the Paula Ross Dance Co., and The Winnipeg Contempory Dancers. She co founded the Great Canadian Tap Co. and was a founding Board Member of the West Coast Tap Dance Collective. She has recently developed a masters tap competitive group who have won Gold at the World Tap Dance Competition in Reisa, Germany. For the last 8 years she has focused her energies and talents to her first love, Tap, and is currently teaching, choreographing and adjudicating.

AMANDA GEORGESON
Amanda's training began at Peggy Peat School of Dance at the age of three. Studying extensively in all forms of the art, she excelled in jazz/lyrical and tap. Amanda was Provincial Representative in the Stage category for four consecutive years. In 2005 she was the BC Provincial Runner - up in Vernon. In 2004 Amanda and her partner competed at the Tap World Championships in Germany, taking first in their category. She began her professional career at the age of 16 working in various venues through out Greater Vancouver. Amanda has been featured in many shows. The most recent being the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Olympic /Paralympic Games. She has worked with Michael Buble and closely with Cirque du Soliel. Amanda also took on the leading role in The Source Dance Company 2005/06. After graduating in 2005 Amanda was offered a position with Princess Cruise Lines. She completed 2 contracts on board with them before going to work for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

ANGELA LOWNDES
Angela was born in Costa Rica and has studied dance all over the World. She is a choreographer, Dancer, Teacher, and Singer. Her technique ranges in many different styles such as Old Skool, New Skool, Locking, Popping, Street Jazz, Jazz and Ballet. Her many credits include Moka Only, Rascalz, MTV Canada, MTV US, Much Music and many more. Her Dance crew, Grandmaster C and the Funky 5+1 are the recent Hip Hop Champions in the West Coast of Canada. The group traveled to Los Angeles this summer to represent Canada in the World Hip Hop Championships.

TERYL ROTHERY
Teryl started dancing at the age of 9, and by the time she was 13 she was one of the lead dancers entertaining for a major cruise line. Upon her return she began teaching tap and jazz and also fell in love with Musical Theatre and performed with various theatre companies, including Theatre Under The Stars, where she received the "Most Outstanding Performer" award for 'Annie Get Your Gun'. Professionally she has danced on television specials for CBC Vancouver, ITV Edmonton, and two seasons on The Tom Jones show. In addition, Teryl's an actor in voice-overs, animation, and on stage and screen. She spent seven years as a series regular on 'Stargate SG-1', three seasons on 'Kyle X/Y' for ABC Family, two seasons on 'The Guard' for Global TV, and just finished her first season with NBC's sci-fi series, 'CAPRICA'. I should mention that my greatest role and favourite job came about on October 3, 2008 when I gave birth to my little girl, Londyn, so don't be surprised if you see her tap, tap, tapping away.

SHELLEY STEWART HUNT
Shelley is currently on a leave of absence.
Selected performance credits: Evita and My Fair Lady at the Arts Club/Stanley Theatre, CATS national tour (Rumpelteazer), ABC-TV's Bye Bye Birdie (Alice). Instructor: tap, jazz and musical theatre, Capilano College musical theatre diploma program. Choreographic credits include: The Boyfriend, Guys & Dolls, Pal Joey (Studio 58); My Fair Lady, Emily (Gateway Theatre); Oklahoma!, West Side Story, Little Shop of Horrors (TUTS); The Wiz, Children of Eden (Exit 22 Productions); motion capture choreography for Barbie: The Princess & The Pauper (Mattel); The Bird and the Waterfall, original musical (Kay Meek Centre); On The Town (co-director, Applause Musicals); Eve and the Firehorse (special jury prize winner Sundance Film Festival); resident choreographer for Uncle Randy Productions since 1997 (Ovation Award recipient for Jesus Christ Superstar and Cabaret). Upcoming, Singin' In The Rain for Theatre Under The Stars.

DANNY NIELSEN
A native of Calgary, Danny Nielsen began his tap dance career as a founding member of MADD Rhythms Canada, studying under Lisa La Touche, Bril Barrett and Martin Tre Dumas III. In his hometown, he prepared short choreographies for Decidedly Jazz Danceworks productions Tinge and Tone and assisted the tap luminary Heather Cornell in creating a tap piece for the DJD 25th Anniversary show 25. An emerging artist on the scene, Danny performed as a principle dancer in the worldwide broadcast of the 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies, in Heather Cornell's ensemble CanTap, with MADD Rhythms in Chicago, in the opening number for the 2008 Jerry Lewis Telethon choreographed by Chloe Arnold, and with Calgary's Quinteto led by renowned saxophonist Oliver Miguel. Danny is extremely excited to share his passion, work ethic, and dedication with the Vancouver Tap Society in this upcoming year long Artist in Residence. Danny adds, "My background includes mentors who fostered hard work, the history of the dance and the influence of Jazz. When this opportunity came up, I jumped at the chance. VTDS is a group of educated, hungry, and hard working dancers and I'm ecstatic about taking on the challenge of inspiring and mentoring them."

DIANNE WALKER
Dianne 'Lady Di' Walker, a pioneer in tap dancing's resurgence has a 30 year career spanning Broadway, Television, Film and International Jazz Dance Concerts and Festivals. United States Artists selected Walker as the recipient of the USA Rose Fellow 2008, Dance. Ms. Walker holds a Master's degree in Education, and has taught at Harvard, Williams College, University of Michigan, UCLA, Bates, and Wesleyan. She received Oklahoma City University's 1998 Living Treasure In American Dance Award, adding to a long line of awards and lifetime tributes. She began her dance training in Boston with Mildred Kennedy-Bradic and later, Leon Collins, Jimmy "Sir Slyde" Mitchell and Jimmy Slyde. Leon Collins passed away in l985, leaving Dianne to continue as one of the Directors of his school. She continues to share this rich legacy with her students. Dianne has attended all 12 of our festivals and has supported VTDS as a member on our advisory committee. Over the years she has provided insightful leadership, razor sharp historical lessons and unconditional friendshipto VTDS and to me personally. This year, with our studio purchase, we strengthen our commitment to creating an inclusive and creative space for the tap community. It seemed fitting that Dianne join us to celebrate this momentous time in shaping our legacy - a home for tap dancers. VTDS is thrilled to have the world's ambassador of tap joinus as VTDS guest artist.