April 19, 2021
Calling all tap dancers
The Kansas State University Tap Dance Ensemble is currently accepting audition applications for the 2021-2022 academic school year. The ensemble is committed to sharing tap dance with the local and regional community. They do this by offering live performances and lecture demonstrations and supports and promotes tap dance worldwide.
The K-State Tap Dance Ensemble has been in existence since 2007. The ensemble can be seen at local Manhattan retirement communities, local schools, the Sunset Zoo SpookTacular, Winter Dance and Spring Dance, and charitable walks such as Relay for Life, Walk for ALS, Walk for Type 1 and Walk for Fragile X. A highlight of the ensemble was the McCain Series Savion Glover pre-talk show and performance.
The ensemble has a developed a partnership with Parents as Teachers Programs across the state and country, home school networks, school districts and senior living communities by offering its community program Tap To Togetherness Across Populations. The program has dedicated itself to bring all populations together that include young children, families and Parkinson's and memory programs. Bringing together multiple populations is necessary to nurture and grow empathy and understanding of others. Aligning with the exchange and support for the programs tap dance has brought together thousands of kids and families in the United States, Ghana, Africa, and Kuwait City, Kuwait. It is remarkable to think that social tap dancing can enhance the lives of others but that is exactly what it does.
To learn more about auditions and joining the K-State Tap Dance Ensemble please contact Professor Julie L. Pentz, ensemble director, at jpentz@k-state.edu.