Join us for these exciting events happening this summer!
Already looking into the fall? Check out the VanTap Academy’s 2019-2020 schedule here.
Summer is in Full Swing!
VanTap News
Join us at our AGM
If you are a member in good standing, you are invited to join us on Saturday, June 22 at 1pm for our Annual General Meeting. Here from our Board President and Artistic and Executive Director about what last year was like, and what’s in the works.
Not sure if you’re a member in good standing? Contact us here.
Welcome DanceHouse
We’re happy to announce a community partnership with DanceHouse. We’re partnering with them for their 2019/2020 Season and specifically in the presentation of DorranceDance of ETM: Double Down (May 15 & 16, 2020). Our community thoroughly enjoyed the company’s last visit to Vancouver, and we are excited to be able to offer special opportunities to our members and donors for next year’s presentation.
In addition to special discounts our members and donors will receive early access to ticket sales (as early as this Saturday, May 25th, Tap Dance Day!).
Not sure if your membership is active? Contact us and we can check for you.
Want to become a donor? Join our Annual Campaign now at the Give Me A Step level to be subscribed to our special donor newsletter.
2019 Annual Campaign Launch!
The Vancouver Tap Dance Society has long held an ethic to work against the financial barriers that many students encounter on their journey towards tap dance education. This ethic is due in large part to the story of founding Executive Director, Sas Selfjord, who as a child, would walk by the very building that is now the VanTap Cultural Arts Centre, unable to take part in the dance classes being held inside on account of financial barriers.
This year we officially named our scholarship fund in Sas’ honor, to commemorate her commitment to provide those who have need or exhibit merit the necessary resources to pursue their journey. For the first time in our history we are officially launching an annual campaign to seed the Sas Selfjord Scholarship Fund. We need your generosity to continue the ethic of giving that began with our founding.
Upcoming Programs!
We have awesome upcoming programs, events + workshops!
- March 1 | Spring Fundraiser —> Tickets
- March 3 | Competition Showcase —> Tickets
- March 3 | The Cypher with host Jeffrey Dawson
- March 5 | LaVaughn Robinson Pop-Up w/ Tosh McLaughlin –> Register
- March 8 | The Friday Get Down with Andrew Nemr –> Reserve Spot here
- March 10 | The Cypher with host Jeffrey Dawson
- March 12 | Pop-Up Workshop with Demi Remick –> Register
- March 16 – March 31 | CLOSED | Spring Break
- March 17 | Pre-TapCo and TapCo classes running
- March 17 | The Cypher with host Jeffrey Dawson
- March 18 – 22 | Dance Days of Spring: Everything 70s | Ages 6 – 12 –> Register
- March 18 – 22 | Tap + Live Music Week –> Register
- March 24 | The Cypher with host Jeffrey Dawson
- March 26 | Pop-Up Workshops with Tosh Sutherland –> Register
- March 28 | Pop-Up Solo Jazz Class with Doug Barber –> Register
- March 31 | The Cypher with host Jeffrey Dawson
- April 5 | The Friday Get Down with Andrew Nemr –> Reserve Spot here
- April 6 – June 1 | Absolute Beginner 8 week course with Andrew Nemr –> Register here
- April 6 – June 1 | Absolute Beginner 8 week course with Doug Barber –> Register here
- April 7 | The Cypher with host Jeffrey Dawson
- April 14 | The Cypher with host Jeffrey Dawson
- April 19 – 22 | CLOSED | Easter all classes
- April 21 | The Cypher with host Jeffrey Dawson
- April 28 | The Cypher with host Jeffrey Dawson
- May 3 | The Friday Get Down with Andrew Nemr –> Reserve Spot here
- May 19 | CLOSED no Pre-TapCo or TapCo
- May 20 | CLOSED | May Long Weekend
- June 17 | Year End Show Dress Rehearsal Time TBD
- June 23 | Year End Show 7pm @ Centennial Theatre –> Tickets on sale May 15
NEW January 2019
Have you ever wanted to try tap dancing? Missed out on your opportunity as a kid? Now is your chance! This 8 week course is geared towards absolute beginner tappers interested in learning.
THREE hours of intense tap dance training with VanTap Artistic Director Andrew Nemr. Get down for any of the 1 hour classes or take all 3 for a full effect.
Hour One – Technique – Steve Condo’s style Rudiments, Traveling Steps, Air Steps, and Turning Steps. There will be no hiding allowed.
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Hour Two – Choreography – New choreography will be built each month. Modeled after Andrew’s experience in Savion Glover’s TiDii and his own tap dance company Cats Paying Dues, choreography will be ensemble-based and focused on listening, dynamics, and moving through formations.
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Hour Three – Improvisation – The circle, trading 8’s, the time step, the song as improvisational structure, groove based improvisation, and communal improvisation – all different ways of approaching the art of improvisation that will be explored as we journey together.
Reserve your spot here, pay at the door.
Have you been wanting a space to practice a few moves? Have a friend take a look at a piece of your choreography? Master a step? The Cypher is an informal practice session allowing you to get those feet moving for just $2!
Reserve your spot here, pay at the door
Welcome, Andrew!
Vancouver Tap Dance Society is pleased to announce that international performer, choreographer, educator and TED fellow, Andrew Nemr will become the society’s new Artistic Director. Nemr, a Canadian-born dancer, is coming home after 25 years of honing his craft in New York City among the greats of the Tap world, including Gregory Hines, Dianne Walker, Ted Levy, Mable Lee, Harold Cromer, Dr. Jimmy Slyde and Savion Glover. His appointment comes at a natural juncture in the lifecycle of VanTap as it transitions to an artistic lens from that of its founder and retiring Executive Director Sas Selfjord.
“In my 20 years providing leadership to VanTap, I have often realized dreams we never thought possible,” says Selfjord. “Having Andrew offer his energy, insight and leadership to this magnificent organization is another dream come true. It is such an honour to welcome him and I am sure the future will require sunglasses!”
Nemr has played with Grammy Award winning musicians across multiple genres, founded the tap dance company Cats Paying Dues, directs the Tap Dance Freedom education platform, and co-founded the Tap Legacy™ Foundation, Inc., along with his mentor Gregory Hines.
Under his artistic direction, Vancouver‘s tap community will flourish and new audiences will discover the rich art form that continues to evolve while honoring its past.
Nemr says he is excited to focus his energy and talents in Vancouver and especially at VanTap, a dynamic not-for-profit organization he sees as uniquely positioned to provide a North American hub for tap dance.
“New York casts a long shadow, but oral traditions are not only about geography. They are about people. So when someone tied to the roots of an oral tradition comes to a new city, that city is like new soil for the tree.
“VanTap provides the best of both worlds for me: a space to explore artistically and a place to pass on the lessons I’ve learned from my many mentors. That’s a rare combination as opportunities go. I am honored and excited to be entrusted with the reins moving forward.”
Vancouver Tap Dance Society was founded in 1996 by Sas Selfjord and Lana Caputi. It is a thriving arts organization that leads a resurgence of tap dance in North America. At its core is an academy that teaches tap to students of all ages, body types and abilities and which is known in Vancouver as the place to come if you want to learn to tap at the elite level.
Nemr assumes his position October 29, 2018. For more information about Nemr: http://www.andrewnemr.com/biography
