The clicking and clacking of tap shoes echoed throughout the second floor of the 916 S. Wabash Ave. building. Inside, a group of students rehearsed a tap dance choreography to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Every Friday, Tap Club is held in one of the dance studios of the 916 S. Wabash Ave. building, and the club is open to all students, regardless of tap dance experience.
Club president Mollie Holbrook, a junior musical theatre major, said she found out about the club through an announcement at the New Student Connections event when she first arrived at the college the same semester the club was formed.
“I don’t think I’ve missed a single tap club,” Holbrook said. “I’ve been here since day one. I’ve always loved to tap, and I’m really glad that I get to keep doing it every week.”
Holbrook has been tap dancing since she was around five years old and was worried that once she finished high school and left the studio she was tap dancing at, she wouldn’t be able to find more opportunities to practice. Then she found Columbia’s Tap Club.
A typical meeting begins with a warm up to get the ankles, calves and feet ready for dancing. Then, they begin by following a member’s choreography, which is called a combo. At the end, they film the dance and post it on the club’s Instagram page.
For sophomore musical theatre major Jack Hewitt, he learned about the club while at Admitted Students Day. Glastonbury was the tour guide for the School of Theatre and Dance, who was, at the time, the co-president of the club.
“It was a factor in my decision to come here because I love to tap dance,” said Hewitt, the club’s secretary.
Hewitt has five years of tap dancing experience under his belt, and he said what drew him in was the idea of finding community with other people who also tap dance.
The club will have themed days dedicated to different pieces of media. At one meeting, they hosted a “Teen Beach Movie” theme where they learned the original choreo from one of the musical numbers in the movie. On Friday, Feb. 20, it was “A Night at the Ballroom,” featuring “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Some weeks are more beginner friendly and some are for people already knowing how to tap dance, making it more accessible to anyone interested in practicing.
Sam Dethrow, who is new to tap, was drawn to the club because of its accessibility and open environment.
“Everybody’s very welcoming and willing to meet me where I’m at,” said Dethrow, a first-year musical theatre major. “Nobody ever makes me feel bad for being like, ‘wait, how do we do this step?’”
Dethrow joined last week through a friend who already tap dances. Although Dethrow is already taking a beginner course at Columbia for tap dancing, she said the club pushes to get better.
After the group of seven dancers finished their tap rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” members continued to help each other practice the combo.
“You don’t need experience, don’t even need shoes. Just come for a good time. Get some exercise at the very least,” Hewitt said.
Copy edited by Katie Peters
