The Art Beat Tap Festival is an exciting celebration of rhythm, artistry, and community, bringing together tap dancers of all ages and skill levels for a weekend of interactive classes and inspiring workshops. Featuring world-renowned guest artists and a welcoming atmosphere, the festival offers a unique opportunity for dancers to deepen their skills, connect with the tap community, and learn from the best. From beginners to seasoned professionals, participants will enjoy a weekend filled with the joy of movement, the magic of rhythm, and the chance to be part of an unforgettable tap dance experience. Join us at the Art Beat Tap Festival and experience our community of music, rhythm, and tap dance!

*Please note that due to funding cuts, there will be no concert. "Love Notes" has been cancelled for 2026, but the classes, the preservation, the mentorship, and the community that is at the heart of the Art Beat Tap Festival will continue. 

Thank you for your continuing support of the Art Beat Tap Festival and the Art Beat Foundation.

Tap Festival Class Levels

Advanced Beginner
For dancers who have a solid grasp of basic tap vocabulary (shuffles, flaps, time steps, rudiments) and are ready to build speed, clarity, and musicality. You should be comfortable learning short combinations at a moderate tempo.

Low Intermediate
For dancers who are fluent in core tap vocabulary and can pick up choreography at a quicker pace. You’re comfortable with swing, syncopation, rhythm variations, and improvisation basics, and ready to expand your phrasing and style.

Intermediate
For experienced dancers who can learn longer phrases quickly and thrive in a faster-paced class. You have strong control, clarity, and rhythmic awareness, and are eager to be challenged technically and musically.

High Intermediate
For advanced dancers who have strong technical command and musical understanding. You’re comfortable with complex rhythms, faster tempos, improvisation, and longer phrases, and you’re refining your style and artistry.

Advanced / Professional
For pre-professional and professional dancers with extensive training and performance experience. You pick up choreography quickly, have excellent control and musicality, and are ready to push artistry, phrasing, and improvisation to the next level.

Please note: Tap festival levels tend to be more advanced than studio class levels. When in doubt, we recommend starting in a lower level and moving up if needed.

NEW! PRESERVATION COURSES AT THE ART BEAT TAP FESTIVAL!

The Preservation Courses at the Art Beat Tap Festival offer dancers a rare opportunity to study historically significant choreography directly connected to the great masters of tap. Each course provides in-depth instruction in a classic routine—meticulously broken down, contextualized, and passed on in the authentic style of its creator. These classes are longer, more intensive, and limited in size to ensure individual attention and historical accuracy. Participants are encouraged to record, take notes, and share the lessons they learn, helping to preserve and pass forward the artistry and legacy of tap dance.

Buster Brown's Fascinatin' Rhythm

"Got a stack of magazines about this high, I can't read them and you know why, I gotta go tap dancing tonight." - Buster Brown

Experience the joyful swing and rhythmic sophistication of Buster Brown’s “Fascinatin’ Rhythm” with Nicole Hockenberry. This course explores Part 2 of Brown’s iconic suite (which includes his beloved “Laura”), diving into the musicality, phrasing, and style that made Buster one of the most revered hoofers of all time. This course has 3 sessions and is a High-Intermediate level.

Eleanor Powell 

“A tap dancer is really a frustrated drummer.” — Eleanor Powell

Step into the elegance and power of classic Hollywood tap with Terry Brock as she explores the signature style of Eleanor Powell—from her lightning-fast footwork to her commanding stage presence. This course blends vintage choreography with technique and flair worthy of the Queen of Tap herself. This course has 4 sessions and is an advanced level.