Kate Cavenagh has been Tap dancing for over 30 years. She grew up studying at the Jackie Lynn School of Dance in Middletown CT, and it wasn’t until seeing Tap Dogs and “Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk”  in the late 90s did she find her true rhythm tap dance calling. She has studied with numerous teachers in Boston, CT, and NYC over the years and has acquired a love of tap history as well as a strong, solid background in the roots of tap dance and jazz music. Kate has been sharing her love of rhythm with students professionally since the early 2000’s and keeps up with her own learning and technique by taking classes, residencies, and workshops in New York and CT. Her style is deeply rooted in improvisation and the understanding that you are not only a dancer, but also a musician.

 

My Philosophy:

Tap is my life. It’s what I live and breathe. I have chosen to focus my life on this particular art form because it is truly where I feel I belong. I have felt a deep connection to Tap my whole life, and have studied many other forms of dance, but there is something about Tap that makes me feel inspired, creative, and gives me what I need to express myself.

Growing up I never knew about the rich history behind the dance I was learning. I don’t regret the fact that I missed out on studying with masters like Jimmy Slyde, Gregory Hines, Honi Coles, and so many of the other greats that have passed on because there is a new generation adapting and fusing the old with the new. I cherish every opportunity I get to take class with anybody who is carrying on the Tap tradition.

I feel it is important to share the history of tap with my students. This is one of the reasons I have created my Blog. It is my goal to have as much information as possible available to anyone who is interested in learning about Tap. I always refer to past teachers and legends when I teach class because I never had that growing up. There is a different and deeper understanding of the dance when you know where it came from and how it evolved.

I encourage expression and experimentation. I say “take class with as many different teachers as possible because you will always learn something new”. It’s important to see the other styles that are out there, work to understand new concepts, and be able to pick them up quickly. You never know who you are going to be working with or what style you are going be asked to do, so why not be able to do them all.

Tap is evolving at such a rapid pace it seems almost impossible to keep up. There is always a new trick or a new concept being created every day. How do you learn it all?

My answer? Always be honest with yourself as to where your ability is. We all learn at different speeds and we all have our strengths and weaknesses. Things don’t happen overnight. It takes practice and determination. It is counterproductive to compare yourself to someone else in class. When you do this you lose focus and don’t perform to YOUR best ability. Who cares if Susie Hoo-Hoo can do one foot wings when you are still working on a shuffle. Respect the level you are at and work to perfect the concepts you struggle with before trying to do something that for RIGHT NOW is out of your grasp. It will happen. It took me almost 27 years of tap to get my one foot wing. You never know when that ah-ha moment will be or where it will come from!

Most of all, have fun. Don’t be afraid to express yourself. So many times I see students mumble with their feet. Say what you mean and mean what you say, even if it’s a remix of what you really meant! Say it with conviction even if it’s wrong. We are human. We make mistakes. We learn from making mistakes. You have to fail before you can succeed.

Lastly, teachers teach because they are passionate about passing along the history, tradition, and evolution or dance. They are your best resources. Ask them questions! They are there to help you learn, not to throw concepts over your head and leave you in the dust. Just because everyone else “seems to have it” doesn’t meant they can’t use the practice; we ALL benefit from review and repetition. As a teacher, I make it a point to share stories about my experiences with my students. I want them to hear about the different ways I learned a step or how a certain class opened my eyes to a new concept. The more they hear you talk about it the more they feel connected. The student/teacher relationship is so important to the cohesiveness of the class. They will thank you for it.

Love what you do, and do what you love. If you can believe it, you can achieve it.

Happy Tapping =)