Tap is a truly indigenous American dance form with roots in the African drum, Irish Step Dance and Appalachian Clogging.  What makes Tap unique is that the tap shoe is a percussion instrument and, therefore, the dancer is also a musician.  Classes are taught from a musical point of view and include the study of music, rhythm, choreography and history.  Most importantly, Tap students learn how to listen. Our classes are in the rhythm-based style, which lays the groundwork and prepares the student to perform any genre of Tap including Funk, Broadway and Improv.  Hamilton Dance Studio is known for the solidity of its Tap training.

Ages: 5 and up
Class Composition: Warm-up, Center Work, Improv Games, Choreography

Rita Hamilton is the owner and artistic director of Hamilton Dance. Her dance career began in Philadelphia at her father's dance studio "Jimmy Hamiltons Dance Corner". The Dance Corner, known for its strong dance foundation, sent many students to Broadway and operated for over 50 years. After studying with her father Ms. Hamilton received a degree in theater from DeSalles University where she began honing her choreographic skills in the musical theater. In the early 80's Ms. Hamilton choreographed everywhere from off Broadway, regional theater to the Philadelphia Mummers Day Parade and continued to teach dance class in Philadelphia and at studios all over NY. In 1987, two years after the Dance Corner closed, Ms. Hamilton opened Hamilton Dance in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Ms. Hamilton is proud of her strong and dedicated faculty and is a current member of Dance Educators Of America. In 2005 her studio was the first to be presented with the Bobby ShortScholarship Award from the American Tap Dance Foundation which allowed all Hamilton Dance students to attend the NYC Tap Festival, "Tap City". Ms. Hamilton is honored to be part of the dance community and joyful to pass on the knowledge received from her father and all her teachers in NY.