Tap51

Come see Tap51 perform a brand new piece at Knock on Wood’s Open Mic!

When?
-December 14th, 4:30 pm

Where?
-University of Maryland’s student union

Cost?
-Free for performers, $25 for non-performing guests

✨Member spotlight: Lily!✨

Lily started tapping at age 5, excited to have found a new way to make noise-with her feet! From competitive dance to musical theatre education, Lily has explored a wide range of tap styles. After serving two years as Artistic Director of her college tap company, Tonic Tap, followed by a year-long hiatus, Lily is so excited to put her JSams back on and join the Tap51 community!

Fun fact: she made her professional theatre debut in high school! 🎭

Lineage & Legacy: Happy Birthday Gene Kelly!

Gene Kelly was a dancer, singer, actor, and director—and used those skills in countless movie musicals, most notably Singin’ In the Rain. Through this movie and his other artistic endeavors, Kelly sought to connect dance to athleticism—a theme that influenced his own signature style. Kelly is recorded as acknowledging his predecessors, saying he was “very fortunate” to have learned from Bojangles, and for insisting that space be made for his fellow Black tap dancers—such as The Nicholas Brothers in “The Pirate”—despite pushback that it would affect profits in the South.

Sources: Kennedy Center, New Yorker, Huffington Post

✨Member Spotlight: Stephanie! ✨

Steph joined Tap51 in February 2025 but has been rocking tap shoes since the age of 5. Throughout college, she danced with a tap dance company and Trajectory Dance Ensemble, diving deep into modern dance. These days, she’s not just tapping — she’s teaching tap and other styles across studios and schools. Steph says she’s learned so much in such a short time with Tap51 and feels lucky to share the stage with such talented tappers!

DC TAP FEST ALL-STAR CONCERT!

We are so honored to be invited to perform again at the DC Tap Fest All-Star Concert alongside amazing tap dance faculty and companies from all over the globe!

The performance is Friday, August 29th at 8PM at The Westin Washington, D.C. City Center, 1400 M St NW, Washington, DC 20005

We hope to see you there! It is sure to be an amazing night! Click the link in our bio to get tickets!

✨Member Spotlight: Rachel!✨

Rachel joined Tap51 in October 2024, with 25 years of tap under her belt! Her style is a blend of inspiration from coast to coast-from SF’s Sam Weber to NYC’s Jared Grimes & Charles Renato, and tap festivals all over the country. Her favorite part of being in the company is getting to choreograph and creating new works as a team.

Fun fact: when she’s not tapping, you’ll find her on a long hike (up to 20 miles in a day😱) or catching up on top tier reality tv! 🙌

Lineage & Legacy: Happy (slightly belated 🥲) Birthday Eddie Brown!

Eddie Brown was discovered by Bill “Bojangles” Robinson at a talent contest when he was 16 and offered a job. He toured with Bojangles and performed with Jazz musicians like Jimmie Lunceford, Duke Ellington, and Dizzy Gillespie. Brown referred to his own style as “scientific tap”; rhythmically intricate and sophisticated. When asked how to achieve his style, he says, “Make every tap count; don’t miss any.”

Sources: TAP!, American Tap Dance Foundation

🌟 Member Spotlight: Leeann!🌟

Leeann joined Tap51 in October 2024 and has been tapping on and off for the past 15 years! Her dance journey includes being a part of a tap club in college and a dance group during graduate school. She loves the challenge of new choreography and being surrounded by such a fun and talented group of dancers!

🍀Fun fact: She took up Irish dance in college!

Today is Juneteenth—a day that marks when the last enslaved people in the U.S. were finally told they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Tap dance is just one of many art forms rooted in the experience of Black Americans that would go on to define music, dance, and culture worldwide. This list includes, but is most certainly not limited to: Hip-Hop, Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Rock and Roll, House, Techno, Funk, R&B, Soul, Lindy Hop, Stepping, Vogue, Slam Poetry, and even Country music.

On Juneteenth, we ask that you take time to honor the humans that contributed not just to tap dance, but to all of the art that we enjoy every day.

🌟 Member Spotlight: Olivia! 🌟

Olivia joined Tap51 in October 2024 and brings over 20 years of tap experience to the floor! She loves diving into a mix of historical choreography and original works created by our members. Before landing in DC, Olivia was part of a tap crew in Charleston and trained in both Boston and London.

🕺 Fun fact: She’s also a salsa dancer!

Our first member spotlight is Adrienne!
Adrienne started tap dancing in 1994 and returned from a decade-long tap hiatus to start performing with Tap 51 in 2024. A former member of dance companies in North Carolina and St. Marcellin, France, she specializes in Broadway tap and enjoys dancing to show tunes with a plentiful application of sequins. She’s thrilled to be tapping and learning alongside the immensely talented dancers and choreographers in Tap 51.