Behind Forest Arts Centre's #ArtsventCalendar door eighteen...
We're excited to see tap classes back in venue at Forest Arts Centre, New Milton in the New Year! To get moving, grooving and into the festive spirit this Christmas, we caught up with tap tutor Lucy Kelleher who has put together a few simple tap steps to Christmas music...have a go and enjoy 🎄
How did you start out in tap and what's your story?
I started tap dancing at the tender aged of 21. I had just started a job after graduating from university which involved a lot of shift work, resulting in a curtailed social life. The search began to find something sociable that fit in with my shift pattern and kept me a little bit fit as well – and so my love for tap began!
Many classes later, I joined the Associated Tap Dancers and have enjoyed going to tap festivals, as well as being taught by West End professionals. I started teaching adults in 2014 and have really enjoyed seeing how quickly beginners become tap dancers! I love performing and choreographing for local amateur groups and my tappers have performed at the Christchurch Dance Festival, Be Involved in New Milton and at the Bashley Fun Day. Â We have also taken part in the annual Tapathon in aid of Children in Need since 2015 and have put on two shows raising money for local charities.
What do you love about tap and who inspires you?
I love the sound that tap makes and how you can create rhythmic sounds with your feet! Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly and the glamour days of Hollywood are my first love, but I also take inspiration from the modern style of rhythm tap, first seen with the Australian Tap Dogs.
What are the benefits of tap dancing?
Tap is great for the mind, body and soul. Tap also really helps with balance – after all you have to stand on one leg to tap with the other – and I teach techniques to help improve your balance and posture.  Tap dancing is not just about moving your feet, but encompasses the whole body so you learn co-ordination skills too using your arms and feet, plus the occasional hat or cane addition! Tap dancers are a friendly bunch and classes are often filled with laughter - tap dancing is a lot of fun.
What can we expect in your classes starting January 2021?
Whether you are a beginner, improver or intermediate tapper, we will start by learning or refreshing basic steps. Â Once mastered we'll put the steps together to build a fun routine to traditional tap or big band music for adults and something more modern for the kids!
Tap at Forest Arts Centre:
- Date with Dance: Tap Workshop Fri 8 Jan, 5.30pm - 6.30pm. £7
- Intermediate Tap Mon 11 Jan - 8 Feb, 9.30am - 10.30am.  £25 for 5 weeks
- Improvers Tap Mon 11 Jan - 8 Feb, 10.45am - 11.45am. £25 for 5 weeks
- Kids Tap Weds 13 Jan - 10 Feb, 4.30pm - 5.30pm. £22.50 for 5 weeks
- Basic Tap Fri 15 Jan - 12 Feb, 10am - 11am. £25 for 5 weeks
Keep up to date with more #ArtsventCalendar content throughout December here on Culture on Call, or on all three arts centre Instagram accounts: West End Centre in Aldershot, Ashcroft Arts Centre in Fareham and Forest Arts Centre in New Milton.
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