Tap Happy

Dear Tap Happy People, long-time and new:
Please stand by. Changes are afoot. (Yes, pun intended.)
By early September or before, an announcement will be made.

Meanwhile, keep moving your body! Make rhythms, dance, walk, swim, yoga, or whatever brings you joy! Our bodies are our sacred vehicles for our souls on Planet Earth. Have fun taking care of yours!

Here is a gift to all who visit this website. It's a beautiful 8-ish minute short art film that reveals the beauty and rhythms of Odessa, Ukraine, pre-invasion. The second half of it shows a prime example of a Rhythm Tap (one style of tap dance) performance that is really wonderful! This will lift your heart and inspire you! Enjoy!

In The Rhythm of Tap Dance | Short Film (2021) In The Rhythm of Tap Dance (2021) 4KFilming took place in the summer of 2021 in Odessa, Ukraine. The film reveals to the viewer the swing and sound of the ci...

Tap Happy Menu for this week:

Tuesday, August 6, 2024 8pm Ballam Studio: Intermediate Tap, Lesson #8 (final lesson of the 8-week Summer Term).

We are going to have fun finishing out our tap dance routine together! See you then!

This group! On July 31, 2024 these awesome humans graduated from the Tap Happy Fast Beginning I Tap 8-week course! I don't normally hand out certificates of achievement, but this occasion was special. I am so proud of the accomplishments of each and all, through a change in location, my Covid cancellation, a hurricane and other storms, all the way to the end. And what fun we had together!

Then they surprised me with several bouquets of flowers, a card signed by all, and a little soiree with cupcakes and candy. Wow! It was a beautiful night, and it meant so much to me.

Thank you, my dear tappy friends!! Each and every one of you is special to me! Let's stay in touch!

Tap Happy's Final Wednesday Night Lesson is This Week!

This Week's Menu for Tap Happy 2024 Summer Term classes:
Tuesday, July 30 8-9 PM Intermediate Tap, Lesson #7
Ballam Studio
Wednesday, July 31 8-9 PM Fast Beginning I Tap, Lesson #8
Institute of Contemporary Dance,
Studio C

This Wednesday night concludes Tap Happy's final 8-week Beginning I level tap course. What a fun group of guys and gals!

Our final Tuesday night class will be August 6 with our sparkling Intermediate group!

Tap Happy Tap Happy offers workshops and tap classes -- from introductory to intermediate levels -- for adults (21+) in The Houston Heights and Meyerland areas.

Current tappers:
If you can't reach me via email for a day or so, please just call or text. Remember to leave your name in the message. :)

This week's Tap Happy Menu
Summer Term, 2024:
Tuesday, July 23 8-9 PM Intermediate Tap, Lesson #6;
Ballam Studio
Wednesday, July 24 8-9 PM Fast Beg I Tap, Lesson #7;
ICD, Studio C

We're having fun and getting noisy together!

Tonight's Tap Happy Menu
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
8:00 - 9:00 PM
Fast Beginning I Tap, Lesson #6
Institute of Contemporary Dance, Studio C

Only two more lessons after this one!!

Sending wishes that everyone has power and AC both at home and at work, and that everyone and their property is well!

I do hope that we can all get together again for class!

See you tonight!

I am happy to announce that Tap Happy will offer Intermediate Tap Lesson #5 this week, Tuesday, July 16, 2024! Lights and power are back on at Ballam Studio, and driving conditions should be good.

Can't wait to see you there, my friends!

Who has had their power restored since last Wednesday? I know some Houstonians are still without. I pray that everyone has that corrected TODAY!!

Once in a blue moon, something happens ahead of schedule in Houston. I vote for this being one of those. We have a Blue Moon coming up soon, so it would make sense, poetically.

Driving to Tap Class Tonight – Good to Know…

Tonight's Fast Beginning I Tap class, 8-9 PM, Lesson #5 at Institute of Contemporary Dance...

I hope that each of you is well, safe, and comfy in an intact home.

By popular demand and to help you get to class safely tonight, I'm posting this informational message from me to you:

To inform you of driving safety conditions, I did two things.

First, I checked with Transtar for high water and debris. When I looked, there were only three high water areas in Houston today, and fifteen road closures. There are no reports of debris, so you’ll have to ask your neighbors about that for that portion of your journey. Check updated details here: https://traffic.houstontranstar.org/roadclosures/roadclosures.aspx?typ=hw

Secondly, today I drove the length of Houston Avenue, from the south the I-45 North ramp exit onto it at Memorial Drive (perhaps after coming from I-10 East or from St. Joseph’s Parkway), to the north, within sight of Houston Ave’s exit/intersection with I-45 South. Regarding lights, signs, debris and high water, Houston Avenue looks pretty good. Here are the details:

High water: NONE! No water at all.
Debris: Almost none! See below.
From I-45 South and Houston Ave. heading south to the studio:
• Low-to-ground, leafy debris on your right for 10-15 feet as you approach the intersection at White Oak Bayou. I moved a bit left, a bit over the yellow line for opposing traffic for that (there was no traffic at that time). I didn’t see any sticks or branches, just leaves, but didn’t want to risk it. No debris at all when you get all the way up to the intersection.
• It appeared that the traffic lights at Houston Avenue and the I-45 South were working.
• No traffic lights – dark intersections:
o Houston Ave & White Oak Bayou
o Houston Ave & Crockett
• Once you are south of Crockett all traffic lights work fully as you approach the studio.
Heading north on Houston Avenue from south of Washington Ave.:
• All traffic lights work perfectly.
• The street sign for Dart Street is missing. This is the first street when you come up from the underpass that you turn right on to then turn left into the studio parking lot. If you miss this street, you can just turn right on the next street, Edwards, and right into the lot.
Going home after class, heading south on Houston Avenue to midtown, perhaps to get to I-69:
• All traffic lights work perfectly till you are through most of midtown on Bagby heading for the ramp to I-69
o The light at Bagby and Tuam is out.
Comments/thoughts:
• For me, coming from Montrose south of the studio, I expect it to be a very safe drive. You will need to decide how safe it is for you from your starting point.
• Matters to look out for:
o Seeing an unlit intersection without traffic lights in time to stop for it and taking turns safely to get through it. (If you are familiar with your route, this may not be a big deal.)
o Seeing debris (stacks of fallen tree branches) to carefully avoid if street lights are out.
• It is possible that some of these issues will be fixed before tonight.
Who can say?
• I believe that if traffic lights are working, probably the street lights also work. But there may be a difference, and you could maybe have street lights working without traffic lights working.
• You can check with Centerpoint about street lights, but don’t get your hopes up for official information.
• Treating dark intersections like 4-way stop signs and safely getting around debris can be slow and require patience, but I think that most traffic should be gone before 8:00 PM.

Please take your time to be safe and don’t worry if you are a little late due to slow traffic.

I do hope that you are well, your home is damage-free, you have power and all needed to be healthy, safe, and comfy, and that you are able to find a safe route to come enjoy class with us tonight!

I hope to see you around 8pm tonight!

Houston TranStar - Incidents/Road Closures

For Wednesday, July 10, 2024....Yes, our Fast Beginning I Tap class will meet!! Institute of Contemporary Dance has power and AC, so we are good to go!!

For me at home, our power just came on about 6:00 PM or so tonight. I charged my phone and filled my tank while cooling off in the car's AC, and did several errands in air conditioned stores, and managed to avoid accidents at no-light intersections. We had planned on going to a restaurant tonight to cool off, but now we're going to celebrate.

For any of my tappy friends still without AC, my heart is with you. Please be aware that if your body temperature starts to rise, you may need to get to someplace cool to not get overheated.

Be safe, be well, and best wishes with any repairs that are needed! May everyone have power, AC, and water by sometime tonight!!

See you in class.

No Intermediate tap class tonight on Tuesday, July 9th 2024. There is no power at Ballam studio. Meanwhile, I hope everyone is getting their power back and is safe and sound after hurricane Beryl.

Happy Independence Day to Everyone from Tap Happy!

May this country, despite all our worries, be blessed and may we all be healthy and prosperous and wise and may we love our neighbors. And may we dance together in peace and joy!

Tonight's Tap Happy Menu:

Wednesday, July 3, 2024
8:00 - 9:00 PM Fast Beginning I Tap Lesson #4
Institute of Contemporary Dance, Studio C

Tonight is only Lesson #4 and we go all the way through July 31st!
I look forward to having our class all together tonight in our wonderful, happy, bright studio.

We will review last week's new material and move forward even more! I can't wait to see and tap dance with everyone!

See you soon!

Tonight's Tap Happy Menu:

8:00 - 9:00 PM Intermediate Tap
Ballam Studio

We finished our Boogie Woogie dance last week. Tonight we begin our routine to The Boy from New York City. Fun!!

Tonight our Fast Beginning I Tap class will be together dancing again! Wednesday, June 26, 2024. I can't wait! It feels like it's been a long time. Get ready to do some fast hop-shuffle-steps and I'll see your beautiful, happy faces then! (Oh yes, and let's remember to take a class photo.)

I'm looking forward to dancing with Intermediate tappers tonight! Maybe we'll remember to take a class photo this time.

CLASSES ARE ON FOR THIS WEEK!

I have the go-ahead to teach dance on Tuesday, June 25 & Wednesday, June 26, 2024.

I have missed you, tappy friends, and I can't wait to dance with you again this week!

Dear Summer Tap Students,

Please check here before leaving for your class this week.

Although I expect to be well and to be able to teach, I need to confirm that.

Please check here the day of your 6/25 or 6/26 class if you have not received a confirmation email on June 24th or soon after.

Thank you, and I hope to dance with you this week!!

- Sara

Happy Juneteenth!

CLASSES THIS WEEK ARE CANCELLED, FOR JUNE 18 & 19, 2024.

So sorry, my adorable tap dancers, but I have a presumed case of Covid. Since Sunday afternoon I have been on the mend so hopefully we'll be back together dancing the following week.

I will let you know about what to do for the missed lesson when I figure that out.

Meanwhile, try to practice your challenging steps at home. Yes, I just gave you homework! You'll love it!

I do hope that each of you is well and feeling healthy & happy.

Thank you for all the get-well wishes I have received from many of you already!

Wednesday, June 5, 2024....Fast Beginning I Tap at the Institute of Contemporary Dance (ICD)!

(Please note that Tap Happy will be a guest at ICD; ICD is not offering this class. They cannot give you any details about it.)

This will be Tap Happy's final 8-week term for Beginning I tap, one of only two classes we are offering this summer during our "curtain call classes" before we close.

If you are a beginning level tapper (beyond Introductory - this is NOT for absolute beginners!) who enjoys swing music and having fun getting a good foundation in tap dancing, there is still room for more to join us.

Just email Tap Happy or google TapHappyDance.com to find our website. We're going to have a blast, and we'd love for you to join the fun!

Tuesday, June 4, 2024....Intermediate Tap at the Ballam Studio!

This will be Tap Happy's final 8-week term for Intermediate tap, one of only two classes we are offering this summer during our "curtain call classes" before we close.

If you are an Intermediate level tapper who enjoys swing and Broadway, chorus-line style tap dancing, there is still room for more to join us.

Just email Tap Happy or google TapHappyDance.com to find our website. We're going to have a blast, and we'd love for you to join the fun!

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day holiday weekend!

For me, my big sale is over and I am recovering.

Meanwhile, we are preparing for Tap Happy's final two classes this summer, and I invite you to join us!!

Fast Beginning I Tap Wednesdays 8:00 - 9:00 PM
June 5 - July 24, 2024 (8 week Summer Term)
Location: Institute of Contemporary Dance, Studio C
1302 Houston Ave Suite #300
Houston, TX 77007
(Fast Beg I Tap is the next level up after Introductory Tap for absolute beginners)

Intermediate Tap Tuesdays 8:00 - 9:00 PM
June 4 - July 23, 2024 (8 week Summer Term)
Location: Ballam Studio
(Campus of Resurrection MCC)
2025 W 11th St
Activity Bldg. 2nd Floor
Houston, TX 77008

There are still some spaces remaining for several more students in each class, and you also may have the option to register as a Drop-In student.

Going on vacation? Consider signing up for "all four June classes" or "all four July classes", or think about the Drop-in Plan.

If you are new to Tap Happy, ask about our Risk-Free Try-Out for a class.

We are going to have a blast together this final Tap Happy Summer Term!

REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR THE TAP HAPPY 2024 SUMMER TERM!

SCHEDULE – SUMMER 2024 ​ - Join the fun!

NEW LOCATION: 2025 W. 11th St., Houston, TX 77008 in the Houston Heights
Tuesdays
Intermediate Tap Class Tuesdays, 8:00 – 9:00pm
June 4, 11, 18, 25; July 2, 9, 16, 23. 8 lessons total

NEW LOCATION: 1302 Houston Ave Suite #300 // Houston, TX 77007
Wednesdays
Fast Beginning I Tap Class Wednesdays, 8:00 – 9:00pm
June 5, 12, 19, 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24. 8 lessons total

News: Tap Happy has it's second summer class for 2024 firmed up.

Fast Beginning I Tap (You must have mastered the Introductory level or equivalent for this. This level is NOT for absolute beginners.)

What: Fast Beginning I Tap for adults 21+

Where: Institute of Contemporary Dance
1302 Houston Ave Suite #300, Studio C
Houston, TX 77007
713-804-6646 (studio number, NOT Tap Happy number)

When: Tuesdays, 8:00pm - 9:00pm Time is Confirmed.

Dates: June 5, 12, 19, 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24. 8 lessons total.

Fee: $125 for the entire 8 weeks.

Use link below to access the TapHappyDance.com website page that explains how to register, and more!

https://taphappy.wixsite.com/taphappydance/copy-of-summer-2020

2024 IN STUDIO | taphappydance Access to the appropriate level online lessons is available for $20 for students enrolled in 4 or 8-week summer sessions, throughout January-February, 2024.  Drop-in students may have access at a different price.

BIG TAP HAPPY ANNOUNCEMENT!

After Tap Happy's sixteen year history all located at 1245 Heights Blvd, we are changing locations.

Studio space owner Roxanne Claire and I have enjoyed a lovely business arrangement that allowed Tap Happy to thrive while I rented studio space from her. Now she is closing her school and studio.

Thank you, Roxanne, for all those wonderful years in your beautiful, inspiring space! I am grateful from the bottom of my heart!

Summer Classes
At least one, and perhaps two, tap classes will be offered this June & July for our final Summer Term. It has been quite a struggle finding any proper dance space for tap that can accommodate our scheduling needs at all. However, we found one that will be perfect, and is also in the Heights area! Yay!

The Intermediate Tap class will meet on Tuesdays, 8:00pm - 9:00pm for eight consecutive Tuesdays, June 4 - July 23, 2024. This class is confirmed, so you are invited to register to join us if you tap at this level!

To register, just check this website page for details and instructions: https://taphappy.wixsite.com/taphappydance/copy-of-summer-2020

We are still working to confirm a time slot for our Fast Beginning I Tap class. Please keep checking here or the website for updates! We hope to dance with you this summer!

2024 IN STUDIO | taphappydance Access to the appropriate level online lessons is available for $20 for students enrolled in 4 or 8-week summer sessions, throughout January-February, 2024.  Drop-in students may have access at a different price.

Tap Happy sends wishes that everyone made it safely through last night's storm - both you, and your loved ones, and your property. We are safe and have power. May everyone who needs that have it back again before the day is out!

Wednesday, May 8th was our final night of classes for Spring 2024. We had so much fun and everyone's tap dancing accomplishments were shining!

We are now on break for the remainder of the month.

We normally offer the Tap Happy Summer Term over four weeks in June and four in July. When the schedule is ready, I will post here and on the website.

Meanwhile, keep moving and laughing!