Professional tap dancer Jeff Foote will visit Ohio University this weekend to teach classes for anyone interested in learning how to tap dance.
Inspired by the Broadway show Bring in ’Da Noise, Bring in ’Da Funk, Foote began tap dancing when he was 20. He is a member of the New Jersey Tap Dance Ensemble and performed in the inaugural Jersey Tap Fest last year.
While he is here, Foote plans on teaching tap dancing skills to anyone who wants to come to the classes.
“You don’t have to have your tap shoes for the beginner class,” said Kylie Brooks, a member of the OU Tap Cats who helped to bring Foote to OU. “If you want to tap dance, for an hour of your life you can learn.”
Classes are tomorrow in Mackinnon Hall basement. The beginner class is at 10 a.m., the intermediate class is at 11:15 a.m. and the advanced class is at 1:15 p.m.
“I’m going to teach the beginner class the basics of tap dancing,” Foote said. “The intermediate class will learn technique and the advanced classes are going to work on choreography.”
In addition to learning new tap combinations, Brooks, an OU senior studying communications, also wants to learn what it’s like to be a professional dancer.
“He does a lot of stuff with community theater, but he’s also a tap dancer making a living,” she said.
After tomorrow’s classes, the Tap Cats will showcase what they learned later that evening in The Front Room Coffeehouse in Baker University Center from 7 to 9 p.m.
The Tap Cats have performed at pep rallies, such as the Yell Like Hell rally on Homecoming weekend. They compete in talent shows and perform at Relay for Life every year.
Tap Cats have had visitors in the past, but most have been OU graduates who were former Tap Cats.
“This is the first time we’ve had someone come in from the outside and teach master classes for everybody,” Brooks said.
OU’s School of Dance doesn’t offer tap dance as a study.
“We’re not a part of the dance school. It’s not something the university offers,” Brooks said. “So if there are any tap dancers at Ohio University, they can’t take a class. We’re offering something that people don’t get a chance to do.”
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