About.

We are a not-for-profit society that exists to promote, develop and preserve the art of tap dancing. We aim to build an inclusive network of tap dancers of all ages and levels, as we seek to connect our nostalgic past to our bright future.

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West Coast Tap was founded in March 2003 by Jennifer Bishop and Carmelle Cachero. Founding members included Shelley Stewart Hunt, Keri Minty, Melissa Frakman, Melissa Lipkowski, Monique Trottier, Tracie Henry, Amy Burns, Kerry Lackner and Jenny Stewart. The collective was formed to serve the needs of professional tap dancers, instructors, choreographers and, most of all, anyone with a passion for tap dance.

West Coast Tap has established regular tap jams, tap talks at the Vancouver Public Library, a scholarship fund and annual Tap Day celebrations to educate dancers and the public about tap dance. As a non-profit organization, West Coast Tap's purpose and mission is to provide an opportunity for tap dancers of all levels to network and participate in a collaborative environment and to promote tap dancing as an art form by educating the public through performances and instruction.

Land Acknowledgement | West Coast Tap holds its events on the traditional and unceded territories of many Indigenous Peoples - primarily on the lands of the Coast Salish peoples. We are honoured and grateful to tap dance, share our stories and foster community upon these lands.

Cultural Acknowledgement

The history of tap dance is interwoven within the complicated history and experiences of Black Americans. West Coast Tap acknowledges and recognizes our role in preserving, and educating about, this history. We honour those who came before, and acknowledge those who are continuing to advance the art form today.

To learn more about this history here are some great links:

Tap Dance History in America

Tap Dancing is the Story of America | Ted Talk by Steve Zee

The Black History of Tap Dancing | Audio Recording by Brian Siebert, Dianne Walker, Lisa LaTouche

West Coast Tap is actively looking for ways to honour the Black history of tap. We are committed to evolving our policies and actions. Here are some of our current actions:

Each year West Coast Tap celebrates, and educates about, National Tap Dance Dance and the birthday of Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson.
West Coast Tap educates our membership about the history of tap dance as a Black American dance form and highlights Black tap artists past and present
We strongly encourage Black artists and actively strive to make connections with local black individuals and organizations.