EmilyJane
EmilyJane
Back to Basics

Weekly classes:

NC Dance Institute: Raleigh, NC.

Tap on Mondays:

Beg./Int. @ 7pm.

Int./Adv. @ 8pm.

Drop-ins welcome.

What Students are Saying.

As a former student of Emily’s, I can wholeheartedly say that out of the four studios I have studied at, as well as many different choreographers I have worked with, Emily was the kindest, most genuine, and dedicated choreographer of all. In the past, I have been fortunate enough to have taken both technique classes and workshops with Emily, as well as working in shows that Emily has choreographed. Her passion for dance and teaching always shines through her work. Emily works as well with extremely skilled dancers as she does with beginners. She always makes sure that the material is understood and perfected to the students’ best ability before moving on, instilling confidence in every dancer she works with.  

Ryann Perkins: Musical Theatre Performer and former student.

Bring a workshop to your studio or school.

Click on the image to see more workshop information.

bojangles.jpg

Doin’ the New Lowdown

Class Setting: In person or virtual. Solo or group class.

Level: Intermediate - Advanced

This piece of choreography, by Bojangles himself, was first performed in the Broadway Revue Blackbirds of 1928. The song, Doin the New Lowdown, was written specifically for Bojangles when he joined the show. Although he was originally from Richmond, VA, Bojangles became known as the “Mayor of Harlem” and worked hard to break boundaries for African Americans performers of his time. He was one of the first African American performers to NOT perform in blackface, as well as the FIRST to perform solo in the vaudeville circuits. At the time there was a “two-colored rule” that required black performers to have at least one partner to perform in white vaudeville performance halls. He also one of the first Black performers to perform with a white partner (in Shirley Temple). It is said that he gave away around one million dollars in charity and donations to organizations and individuals in need. Bojangles was well respected and loved and after his passing, the Copasetics Club (a social group made up of musicians, performers, and dancers) was founded to honor and uphold his legacy.

The Shim Sham

Class Setting: In Person or Virtual. Solo or group class.

Level: Can be taught to any level. No tap shoes or experience required.

A bit of background: In 1927, vaudeville duo Leonard Reed and Willie Bryant were performing for the Whitman Sisters, who asked the duo to come up with a finale the entire cast could dance together. Reed and Bryant put together a simple one-chorus routine featuring four tap sequences connected by breaks. Because the dance was easy, the entire cast would join in with Reed and Bryant. Their routine was a comedy dance executed in a goofy way, so originally, they called the dance “Goofus”. When Reed and Bryant went to New York City in 1931, the dance was already popular among many clubs. A shoulder shake was added to the choreography and it had been given a new name, “The Shim Sham Shimmy”.

The dance is now considered the national anthem of tap dance and is still performed as a finale for tap dance performances. It is also beloved by the Swing Dance and Lindy Hop community and danced often without tap shoes.

Learn the Shim Sham and join the community of dancers connected through this dance.

Honi Coles, Leonard Reed, & Cholly Atkins do the Shim Sham

Celebrating the Mothers of Tap Dance

Class Setting: In person or virtual group setting, with the ability to watch footage/video clips.

Additional resources (footage links, history handouts, etc) will also be provided.

Level: Intermediate - Advanced

Too often we talk about the incredible men that moved this art form along, without mentioning the women. We often think of the tap renaissance of the late 1970’s and 1980’s, with tap coming back to Broadway, rediscovering tap masters, and the introduction of tap dance festivals. The tap masters who took part in these festivals, passing the dance along, giving us so much, were mostly (if not all) men.

But what about the women who were also dancing in the 1930’s - 1950’s and shaping the art form during that time?

What about the women of the chorus line at the Apollo Theatre, who led the first strike by African American performers establishing the American Guild of Variety Artists, still in existence today?

What about the women pictured here? Can you name any?

In the words of the late Gregory Hines “where are all the women”?

These women have been called the “forgotten mother’s of tap”, and this workshop celebrates them. Let us do our part, as current tap dancers/lovers, to make sure their contribution to the form will no longer be forgotten.

Every time this workshop is presented, a portion of the proceeds will go to the Parent Artist Advocacy League, supporting the Black Motherhood+Parenting New Play Festival.

  • Most of these women left the dance in some capacity because they became caregivers (to children or elderly parents, etc). PAAL works to lift up caregivers and create safe spaces for them to continue to create art.

  • Please note: I am not a dance history expert - just passionate about sharing what I have learned. I am open to continuing to learn and welcome your stories of these women!

Celebrating Black Lives through Tap

This workshop was created and held in response to the Black Lives Matter movement of 2020. The message is still important and should be shared, discussed, and danced. Encourage your students to join the conversation by hosting this class series at your school or studio.

We cannot have a conversation about tap without talking about the history of the dance. We cannot have a conversation about the history without talking about the Black experience. We cannot have any of these conversations without acknowledging the heartbreaking events happening in the Black communities,

& supporting our Black & Brown fellow HUMANS.

Watch a montage of clips from this series held virtually in 2020.

Class Setting: In person or virtual group setting, with the ability to share and watch footage/video clips. Additional resources (footage links, history handouts, etc) will be provided.

Series: 4 part series with each week focusing on a different tap master. The choreography will be in the style of that tap legend. Throughout we will discuss the artists' history and experience, watch footage & open it up for questions, comments, or thoughts.

Single Class: Have a shorter conversation focusing on just one tap master: John Bubbles, Honi Coles, Mable Lee, or Gregory Hines.

Level: Intermediate to advanced mature dancers.

A portion of the proceeds from this series benefit organizations that work to educate and end white supremacy. Previous groups supported include Color of Change, The Loveland Foundation, and Claim Our Space Now.

Please Note:  I am not a tap history expert, just incredibly passionate about it & love sharing what I have learned over the years.  I am EVEN LESS of a race relations discussion facilitator.  Please have patience with me as we work together to have these conversations.  

Bridging the Gap: Musicianship for Tap Dancers

Taught by professional Jazz clarinetist, Adam Price.

A Full Day Workshop Taught and Accompanied by Musicians.

Sunday March 5, 2023 at Theatre Raleigh Studios

So often we, as Tap Dancers, call ourselves musicians, but we don't have the musical training to back that up. In my journey to grow as a musician and improve my improvisation, I began working with Adam. I soon realized there were other tap dancers AND teachers that had the same interests and questions I did. Enter the workshop!

Throughout our history, jazz music and tap dance commonly shared a stage. The two art forms grew together and inspired each other, collaborating and communicating. As tap moved into the studio and out of jazz clubs, a separation grew between the two forms. Tap dancers don't have many opportunities to dance with live musicians and our training doesn't often include music theory. With these workshops we are hoping to start to bridge that gap, offering you tools to grow, not only as dancers, but as musicians.

Class Reviews.

- See what the students are saying. -

In Person Classes

Begin Again Jazz Workshops for professional actors held in NYC.

Emily is an awesome dance instructor. My background is in operatic performance and dance was never stressed in my training. Now that I am singing musical theater as well, I need to learn the fundamentals of dance to make it through the dance calls. In just three jazz sessions with Emily I have learned fundamental technical skills and an overall awareness of my posture while moving. On top of that her sweet spirit makes it a warm and safe environment to learn and grow in. I would recommend her to any one looking for a fun learning experience.

Virtual Workshops

Back to Basics Virtual Tap Classes held over Zoom.

February 2020 had just hit and BAM, everyone was unemployed, artists were suddenly stuck without an outlet to express themselves and the sense of solitude was heavily looming over us all.  It was a tough time and no one knew the direction we were heading.  But in the Spring something very special was created by Emily Jane with her virtual tap classes!  Suddenly we once again had community, a supportive environment where we could all just let loose from the woes of the pandemic, have fun, keep in shape and most importantly learn about the rich history of tap! 

 Emily doesn’t miss one flap in her classes!  Her enthusiasm for this art form is utterly INFECTIOUS and only inspires her students to want to explore more!  Through her we learned about the saints of tap, those who paved the way and so generously shared their creations from generation to generation. During our virtual class, I felt like we were part of the legacy, continuing the beautiful craft of those who came before us.  I can’t express how much my time in these classes meant.  Not only did it provide refuge from lockdown but it also introduced wonderful new friends into my life!  Anyone who has had the privilege to study with Emily will tell you right off the bat, that you are in good hands, (Or tap shoes!)

Coaching Sessions

Tap coaching to help support her in the swing track of the Busch Garden Williamsburg show Celtic Fyre (Best Theme Park Entertainment 6 years in a row).

Private lessons with Emily helped improve my tap technique and confidence more than I ever could have imagined! I have been a professional dancer for almost a decade having trained under the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus, but tap has always been a discipline where I felt that I was lacking. With time and practice, I could make my body do tap steps, but I had no context for why they needed to be done or the history behind it. Emily breaks down the mechanics while giving you the history of tap dance as a whole. I feel like a stronger and smarter well rounded dancer having worked with her.

  • Megan Tatum: VA based professional performer & choreographer.