The Lady Hoofers Youth Ensemble is composed of young women, ages 9-18, who excel in tap and want to continue their training alongside professional dancers. Students from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware audition in the spring and accepted dancers rehearse with the company through the fall, culminating in our annual production of THE TAPCRACKER at The Suzanne Roberts Theatre on Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts. Advanced dancers who demonstrate the requisite technique and maturity may also be invited to perform in The Lady Hoofers Tap Ensemble's annual spring concert ON TAP as Apprentice Dancers.
Youth Ensemble dancers receive mentorship and training in performance, choreography, and improvisation. All dancers also participate in a professional photo shoot, and may be invited for additional performance opportunities. Our dancers have gone on to dance in both Broadway and Off Broadway productions, to perform with tap companies across the country, and to major in dance at top universities and conservatories. Auditions for our 2023 production of THE TAPCRACKER will take place on Saturday, May 20.
Youth Ensemble dancers receive mentorship and training in performance, choreography, and improvisation. All dancers also participate in a professional photo shoot, and may be invited for additional performance opportunities. Our dancers have gone on to dance in both Broadway and Off Broadway productions, to perform with tap companies across the country, and to major in dance at top universities and conservatories. Auditions for our 2023 production of THE TAPCRACKER will take place on Saturday, May 20.
2023 Auditions
Auditions will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023!
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The Tapcracker
Since its premiere in 2018, THE TAPCRACKER has taken its "rightful place among Philadelphia holiday traditions on the Avenue of the Arts" (The Broad Street Review). With support from The Philadelphia Cultural Fund and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, this original all-women, all-tap production is performed annually to sold out crowds at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre. Set to the music of both Tchaikovsky and Duke Ellington, THE TAPCRACKER transports audiences to Paris, where an infestation of rats has thrown the city into chaos. Toy soldiers guard the Eiffel Tower, mice wreck havoc in the Metro, and frazzled chefs prepare for a feast at the magical palace of Versailles, featuring characters from the beloved Land of the Sweets. The Lady Hoofers are delighted to share our rhythmic twist on the classic holiday favorite with audiences young and old.
Rehearsals
Dancers audition in May for placement into the Youth Ensemble and rehearse from September through December. Accepted Youth Ensemble dancers train under company directors Kat Echevarria Richter, Katie Budris, and Tamera Dallam in addition to our First Company Dance Captains and Teaching Artists.
The rehearsal fee for participation in The Lady Hoofers Youth Ensemble is $495.* Accepted Youth Ensemble dancers will receive:
• Three months of instruction in company repertoire
• Experience working with professional choreographers
• Training in performance, musicality, and improvisation**
• Professional performance opportunity on Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts
• A photo shoot and headshots with a professional photographer
• A DVD of the 2023 performance of THE TAPCRACKER
• Pre-sale access to purchase tickets for THE TAPCRACKER prior to public sale
*A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. Please email admin@ladyhoofers.org for further information.
**Rehearsals focus on choreography, not technique; dancers are expected to continue taking regular tap classes at their home studios and are also encouraged to train in ballet, jazz, hip hop, and African dance styles.
The rehearsal fee for participation in The Lady Hoofers Youth Ensemble is $495.* Accepted Youth Ensemble dancers will receive:
• Three months of instruction in company repertoire
• Experience working with professional choreographers
• Training in performance, musicality, and improvisation**
• Professional performance opportunity on Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts
• A photo shoot and headshots with a professional photographer
• A DVD of the 2023 performance of THE TAPCRACKER
• Pre-sale access to purchase tickets for THE TAPCRACKER prior to public sale
*A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. Please email admin@ladyhoofers.org for further information.
**Rehearsals focus on choreography, not technique; dancers are expected to continue taking regular tap classes at their home studios and are also encouraged to train in ballet, jazz, hip hop, and African dance styles.
Testimonials
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"The Lady Hoofers are very polished, professional, and detail-oriented. Every aspect of the experience was well-organized from the audition to the final performance . . . Additionally, The Lady Hoofers, with all of their personal accomplishments in education, careers, motherhood, etc., represented how tap can still fit into the fullness of a woman's life and be generously shared with the community and younger generation. Very inspiring!" -Emelyn Hatch, Youth Ensemble Parent
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"I just have to tell you that not only does Daelyn LOVE being a part of The Lady Hoofers, Dana and I truly appreciate all of the TIME, EFFORT and HARD WORK you ladies dedicate to the organization. Your professionalism, organization, and friendliness are exceptional and I only wish more organizations ran like yours! Being a dad of two girls, I am always looking for positive role models for my daughters to emulate . . . I am so grateful that Daelyn is part of The Lady Hoofers." -Dan Phelan, Youth Ensemble Parent
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"The Youth Ensemble was the perfect performance opportunity for my tap-loving dancer! She studies tap at her performing arts school but doesn’t have many chances to perform for the general public . . . My daughter came out of the experience with a great sense of accomplishment having learned and performed challenging choreography. She thoroughly enjoyed performing in front of new audiences and was thrilled to make new tap friends." -Missy Layden, Youth Ensemble Parent
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