Tampa Bay Taps – Center for Tap Dance

Tampa Bay Tap Festival Professional Development Program

Find Your Rhythm and Let’s DANCE!

A new program, coming to Tampa, Florida June 4-9 2025!

Created for young professionals and aspiring dancers, this 6-day immersive experience will empower you to hone your skills, create your own community, and develop your professional mindset through mentorships and “real-world” tap dance experiences.

“Make your mark in the world and enjoy the journey. I wanted to create the opportunities I dreamed of having right in my backyard… Take the chance and join us as the inaugural Professional Development Program associated with the Tampa Bay Tap Festival. Each day you will have the opportunity to not only sharpen your skills, but establish relationships with Mentors and Festival Faculty. Take what you learn here into your everyday life–school, work, teaching, performing. Be the best version of yourself and Find Your Rhythm!” — Festival Director Ashlyn Bolton

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

(requires Google sign-in)

CLICK HERE TO PAY APPLICATION FEE)

What do you get?

• 6-day program with mentors and festival faculty.
• 24 hours of rehearsals and 7.5 hours of classes throughout the week with all mentors and festival faculty.
• Close relationship building with mentors. 
• Learn 5 pieces of choreography to perform.
• Improvisation, solo, and group work.
• Perform at Disney Springs and Tampa’s Straz Center and busk in Downtown Tampa!
• One-day, one-park admission ticket to Disney’s Magic Kingdom with PDP group.
• Transportation to and from Orlando on show and theme park days.
• PDP t-shirt and gear. 
• Collaboration with live musicians.
• Relationships and experiences that will last a lifetime.
• Learn in an intimate community space. Only 20 spots available! Geared towards older, 16+ dancers. Open to exceptional dancers starting 11+.

What Does Each Day Look Like?

Pre-Arrival: PDP Dancers will receive 1-2 pieces of choreography to learn on their own time BEFORE arrival at the event. Detailed video instructions will be sent via email closer to the event.

Day 1:  Arrival Day – Meet and greet with the entire group as well as individual groups and mentors. Begin learning choreography for your Disney Performance and review what has been sent via email.

Day 2:  Continue to grow relationships with Mentors and fellow dancers. Learning Improvisation group choreography, fine tuning pieces, and finalizing things for the weekend’s shows.

Day 3:  Show day at Disney Springs! Bus to Orlando with PDP. Perform and enjoy an Orlando activity together (TBD) before bussing back to Tampa that evening.

Day 4:  Tampa Bay Tap Festival Classes begin! Attend two morning classes with Festival Faculty, have an afternoon Mentor session before preparing to perform in the Festival’s show, “Copasetic.”

Day 5: Tampa Bay Tap Festival Classes continue! Attend four classes with Festival Faculty, have an afternoon Mentor session before preparing to go busking in Downtown Tampa. Solo and small group performances. (exact location TBA)

Day 6:  Bus over to Orlando with PDP and enjoy your day at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Theme Park!! Making memories with new and old friends! Transportation back to Tampa is provided.

*If you are a Disney Annual Passholder, you are still required to use the ticket included in your PDP package. Per Disney rules, Passholders are not able to participate in their performances unless a Performer Ticket is purchased.*
*In the event of bad weather, Disney Coordinators will do their best to accommodate rescheduling shows the same day or weekend. No refunds offered if our show is canceled due to weather.*

Everything* is included in the price of the event: (one) Magic Kingdom Theme Park Ticket, shuttle to and from Orlando on Fri and Mon, all classes, all rehearsals and choreography fees, participation in “Copasetic”, busking pop up, t-shirt, etc.
*travel and hotel accommodations will not be provided. However, a group rate at a nearby hotel will be offered. Please include your interest in application.

Tuition

$1,400 early bird discount if paying in full by 1/15/2025 | $1,510 after, paid in two installments + $30 application fee | $250 deposit included in tuition, refundable until 4/1/2025

Make payments (ONLY UPON ACCEPTANCE INTO THE PROGRAM)

| Pay in full | Plan payment 1 | Plan payment 2 |

Plan: $755 installments | First payment due 1/15/2025 | Second payment due 2/15/2025

Refund/Cancellation Policy

We understand that injuries and emergencies can come up that may prohibit you from attending. The $250 Deposit is refundable until April 1st, 2025. No refunds will be given afterwards. Medical issues will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

Scholarships

Very few scholarships will be available, with recipients selected by Tampa Bay Taps staff and PDP mentors.

We are seeking sponsorships (personal, business, corporate) for future events to help provide more scholarship opportunities. If you know of anyone who wants to contribute to the Tampa Bay Taps Scholarship Fund, please have them email us at tampabaytaps@gmail.com.

Application and Payment Schedule

• October 1, 2024 | Applications are open and Application Fee Due
• December 1, 2024 | Early/Priority Acceptances
• January 1, 2025 | Application deadline 
• January 12, 2025 | Regular Acceptances
• January 15, 2025 | Deadline for full payment or first payment on Payment Plan
• February 15, 2025 | Deadline for second payment
• April 1, 2025 | Deadline for deposit refund ($250) if withdrawing from the program
• Apr 1, 2025 | Final Round of Acceptances (if space allows)