Tap for Joy!
*Feature on NPR*
Visit the ‘Calendar’ page for upcoming classes.
…is an outdoor tap dance program for students of all ages and skill levels. It’s hard to be unhappy while you tap! And we could all use a little—or a lot—more joy these days. Come and make music with your feet, be together (in person!), and get lost in the music. Classes are by donation and open to the public. Handmade tap boards and tap shoes provided. @tap_for_joy
jennyherzogmusic@gmail.com
Your donations help to expand programming, hire live accompanists for class, and pay me for gas and teaching!
Venmo: @jenny-herz0g-1
Or here for tax deductible donations: Donate Here!
Hear the story of how Tap for Joy was born out of depression—featured on PBS’ Stories From the Stage.
It’s hard to be unhappy while you tap!
I started Tap for Joy during Covid in an attempt to bring people together (face-to-face) to connect, make music, and facilitate some joy during rough days. When I am down, tap dance always (without fail) cheers me up; I am not exaggerating when I say that for me, it is an antidepressant. So, I developed a theory: it’s impossible to be unhappy while you tap. In order to spread the joy I believed was inherent within tap dance, I decided to put out some boards and offer free classes in the park. People came out of the woodworks, and, a year later, my theory has yet to be proven wrong. Tap dance is an inherently joyful form. Come and dance with us!
Feature in The Boston Globe!
Thanks to Daniel Gewertz, who happened to be passing by one Saturday, for this lovely article.
On this glorious Saturday, we reached a new record: 31 students, and not enough boards!
Thanks to Brad Powell (Awesome Video Makers) for this video!
Photo by Carlos Arzaga
all classes are…
Donation Based!
Open to the public!
Tap shoes and handmade boards provided!
RSVP to reserve your board: jennyherzogmusic@gmail.com
“Listen to my feet and I will tell you the story of my life.”
~John Bubbles, Father of Rhythm Tap
Tap for Joy partners with the Community Art Center! Thanks to Lionel Blaise for this video.
Even a pandemic can’t stop the music!
“All you need is a pair of tap shoes to be part of this community.”
~Gregory Hines (and you don’t even need those)
Thanks to a grant from Cambridge Arts, Tap for Joy was able to offer programming at Fletcher Maynard Academy (2nd, 3rd, and 5th grade), the Community Art Center after-school program, Newtowne Court (public housing), and JFK Apartments (Senior/Assisted Living Public Housing).
Tap for Joy partners with Fletcher-Maynard Academy to bring tap dance to 2nd, 3rd, and 5th graders!
Tap for Joy partners with the Community Art Center!
Tap for Joy at Fletcher-Maynard Academy! Second, third, and fifth graders!
Stick around after class for some live music…
Playing after class with Colescott Rubin (bass) and AJ Rubin (trumpet).
Tap for Joy…
is a mobile program! I love to bring tap dance throughout the greater Boston area. If you would like to host a workshop, or a series, please reach out to me. I am especially interested in bringing the program to areas of need. Also available for libraries, community centers, etc. Be in touch at jennyherzogmusic@gmail.com.
Thanks to David Andrus (davidandrus.weebly.com), for drawing us as he happened to pass by…
Tap for Joy at Newtowne Court, Cambridge Public Housing…
tap your story.
It’s hard to be unhappy while you tap!
Saturday community class! Open to all ages and skill levels, and followed by an Intermediate Rep class focusing on musicality.
Class in the center of Newtowne Court, Cambridge public housing site!
Photo by Carlos Arzaga
All ages. All skill levels. Free. Join us.
Thanks to Cambridge Arts for allowing Tap for Joy to expand to Fletcher-Maynard Academy,
the Community Art Center, and Newtowne Court!
Your donations help bring Tap to Joy to more communities, expand programming, buy new tap boards, tap shoes, a new sound system, bring in live musicians to accompany class, and pay me for gas and teaching! 100% of your donation goes to me if you use Venmo: @jenny-herzog-1
For tax deductible donations, please use this link: