About
the Tap Arts Project is a not-for-profit dance venture that focuses on Education; Health and Fitness; and Social Development through various dance styles at a full range of skill levels.
the TAP also offers: Experienced Tutors; Informative Workshops; and Resources for Further Study
Each student of the TAP will receive individual feedback in classes to facilitate their dancing to the best of their ability.
Welcome to the Tap Arts Project...
It is our philosophy that anyone can dance and it doesn't really matter how or whom you learn from as long as you are enjoying yourself and getting out of it what you want. It is through dancing that the Tap Arts Project strives to provide a comfortable environment for people of all ages to have fun, improve fitness, coordination, grace, musicality, social confidence, performance or any other personal goal they may have.
The mission of the Tap Arts Project as a not-for-profit venture is to offer classes in a variety of dance styles at a full range of skill levels and to provide each student with individual attention, feedback and the opportunity to achieve their goals in an affordable, supportive, no pressure atmosphere. This is achieved through having small class sizes, experienced tutors and a communicative relationship between students and tutors to make sure the student's goals are being met.
Since 2004 the Tap Arts Project has been hosting tap jams and workshops, performing at community events, and developing a progressive stream of tap classes based on traditional technique and rhythmic understanding.
How to get TAPPING:
- Call or email for a class timetable - dance classes for pre-schoolers, kids and adults - daytime classes and private lessons also available.
- Come to FREE tap jams - First Sunday of every month 6:30-8:00pm at Otari School Hall in Wilton to see & hear what tap dancing is all about - no experience necessary!
- Host a TAP Break at your workplace for your staff - A great way to take a break from the desk, get the body and brain moving and learn a fun new skill!
Director and principal tutor of the TAP, Wendy Westwood, came to Wellington in 2004 from Colorado, USA. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Chapman University and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching from Victoria University. Wendy has over 13 years dance teaching experience in multiple styles from pre-school ballet/tap/jazz to cheerleading to adult jazz, contemporary and tap. Wendy trained at Peak Academy of Dance (www.peakdance.com) in Conifer, Colorado; Chapman University in Orange, California; and the University of Otago; as well as studying tap with the National Tap Ensemble (www.usatap.org). In Wellington she has performed in and choreographed multiple Fringe Festival and Dance Your Socks Off events. Wendy is currently undertaking her first year as a classroom teacher but still continues to work as a freelance teacher, dancer, choreographer, music editor, video editor, mother-to-be and wife extraordinaire.