Tap 1
Dance Class Information
Instructor: Brendan P. Behan, MFA
Fall 2026
Sundays
11:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.
Ages: 6–10
Session 1: Sept 13 to Oct 11
Session 2: Oct 18 to Nov 22
Robert Crown Community Center, Evanston, Illinois
Tap 1 makes its much-requested debut!
About Tap 1
The All-New Dance Class at Robert Crown
This class provides an introduction to tap dance technique covering the fundamentals of rhythm, coordination, and musicality.
Tap 1 instructs students to the fundamentals of coordinated movement with tap shoes and movement-based musicality. Tap I provides a strong foundation in the basics of movement sequencing, embodied rhythm, and percussive foot movement.
Class Structure
This fifty-minute class is typically includes with the warm-up followed by footwork practice, across-the-floor exercises, and creative choreography. Students will also be encouraged to supplement class choreography by developing their own original choreography through structured movement creation activities.
Who is Tap 1 Designed for?
Tap 1 is a dance class best suited for children ages 6 up to 10 who love to move and dance, who like experimenting with sound, or who have demonstrated an interest in expressive movement. Prior dance experience is not required as this is an introductory level class geared toward students with some to no prior experience with tap dance.
Ages: 6 to 10 years.
Class Length, Location, & Schedule
This class meets once weekly for fifty minutes on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. in the dance studio on the second floor of the Robert Crown Community Center.
Attire
Clothing should be comfortable, non-obstructive, and support dynamic movement in all spatial planes.
Clothing also needs to fully cover all undergarments. This includes shorts, skirts, loose-fitting sportswear, lower-body wraps, etc., which need to provide sufficient coverage in a wide variety of dynamic movements and positions. Please keep in mind that this is a dance class, which means that dynamic leg movement is common.
Shoes
Tap Shoe Tips
Shoe requirement: tap shoes are required after the first day of class in a new session; however, no student will be turned away soley for the lack of taps at class time.
Whether tap shoes are temporarily unlocatable, no longer fit comfortably, or were accidentally left at home, there are many ways to meaningfully participate in the practice of percussive coordinated foot movement.
Parents, guardians, and caretakers are strongly encouraged to take student feedback about shoe discomfort seriously. Please understand that the instructor will honor student feedback about uncomfortable footwear either by suggesting removal or some reasonable alternative that would allow for safe and healthy participation in class whenever feasible.
Of course, it still remains the case that learning to tap dance with tap shoes provides the greatest opportunity for skill development in this dance form, but this will not be permitted at the expense of a student's safe and comfortable participation.
Break in New Tap Shoes Before Class
It is strongly advised that students spend time wearing new tap shoes prior to attending any class meeting to ensure a comfortable fit throughout class. To break in tap shoes, try wearing tap shoes for short periods of time on suitable floor surfaces like wood or carpet in controlled environments. Abrasive, hard, and/or slippery surfaces can pose a serious safety risk and may also damage taps. Please exercise good judgment and suitable caution as tap shoes offer less friction than standard everyday shoes and do not have the grip that those who are new to wearing them may fully appreciate or be ready for.
May the Shoe Fit
Similarly, please ensure that tap shoes fit properly. Shoes that are too loose or too tight can cause real pain, and one of our practices in this class is to empower our students to listen to their bodies and to take pain and discomfort signals seriously.
I will let students know that shoes that make their feet hurt are not appropriate for tap class and that they are encouraged to remove them. Lack of comfortable, safe, and suitably fitted shoes is not acceptable in our dance studio.
Unsuitable footwear will not be permitted for use during class. The instructor reserves the right, at their sole discretion, to instruct students to discontinue use of unsuitable footwear.
Other Things to Know
Be sure to bring a water bottle. There is a water fountain just down the hall from the studio where students can fill up before and after class. Restrooms are also just around the corner from the dance studio.
Accessibility & Inclusivity
We strive to make all our dance classes at Robert Crown Community Center accessible and inclusive. This is both my personal commitment as a professional educator who cares deeply about equity and inclusion and is also a part of the City of Evanston's accessibility commitment.
As part of this commitment, I include sensory check-ins with students to make sure music volume levels are appropriate. One thing to note is that since we practice in tap shoes in this class, some strong auditory stimuli can occur. Students are encouraged and empowered to take sensory breaks as needed.
City of Evanston Accessibility Statement
The City of Evanston is committed to promoting a city-wide culture of accessibility and inclusivity. To request an accomodation for a program, service, or activity, please call 847-866-2919 to make an ADA service request or fill out a request form online at evanstonil.qscend.com/311.
Class Registration
Register for Tap 1 through the City of Evanston Parks & Recreation online system:
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