Cookeville Leisure Services reviving its tap dancing program after several decades to expand the variety of recreational offerings available through the Cookeville School of Dance.
Cultural Arts Superintendent Rex Bennett said the department received numerous requests from community members and finally secured an instructor. Bennett said the new classes will include options for both school-aged children and adults looking to learn the fundamentals of the dance style.
“It’s a lot different from ballet, which we traditionally offer, or modern dance, or even dance for young children, so it’s just one more little new thing we are proud to bring back,” Bennett said. “And tap is a great way to do that because it’s fun, it’s fun to hear it, it’s fun to see it, and even if you think you’re going to be terrible, that’s okay, we’ll take that, and we will have an excellent instructor that will show you the way.”
Bennett said the department is introducing an intermediate adult ballet class this year alongside its existing beginning and technique sessions. Bennett said the youth programming remains popular and includes modern dance and theater jazz, which focuses on musical theater choreography.
“The beginning adult teen classes, ballet classes, are very popular, to the point where we’re having to kind of break them into multiple classes,” Bennett said. “I think people that are moving here want to either get back into ballet later in life, and there’s not too many places you can do that through our Leisure Services catalog, so they’ve been very, very popular.
Bennett said the department utilizes taxpayer funding to offset costs and keep classes affordable at $10 per session. Bennett said the primary limitations for further expansion are currently studio space and finding qualified instructors for specific disciplines.
Along with affordability, Bennett said the opportunity to make new friends is a driving force for many who sign up.
“I think the social aspect is highly important,” Bennett said. “We actually have quite a few dancers that have gained friendships through this. I have quite a few folks that have moved to Cookeville that take dance classes to kind of get that community that they may have left when they moved from other places in the country.”
Bennett said the dance season runs from August until May and concludes with an annual recital at the Cookeville Performing Arts Center during Mother’s Day weekend. Bennett said the department does not provide equipment, students must bring their own tap shoes.
While the class is marketed as beginner-friendly, Bennett said he is hoping for a talented tapper to solo in this year’s recital.
“We want folks to have fun most of all and if they learn something and gain a passion for dance along the way, then we’ve done our job,” Bennett said.
Bennett said the department intends to maintain the affordability of the programs as a long-term goal for the Cookeville School of Dance.
