This page provides answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the National Tap Ensemble, America's national tap dance company. Please note that this is a general FAQ, there are many other, more specific FAQs scattered throughout this site on an ad-hoc basis.
- "How many
performers do you have? Is there pictures of them somewhere?"
The size of our cast varies from as little as one for certain small-budget educational programs to ten or more for full-cast shows. You will find pictures here and on linked pages.
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"Hagerstown? Is it a really small town or something, I could not even find it!
Why on earth would you have a national company there?!"
"Why did you leave DC? Doesn't that make it more difficult to meet, travel, etc. and do what you do?"
For those who aren't familiar with the history of the company, during the first ten years NTE's headquarters were indeed located "inside the beltway" (the beltway is a big highway in the shape of a "loop" that surrounds Washington, DC, the USA's capital.) In 1999 they were relocated to Hagerstown, a city of 37,000 located about 90 minutes northwest of the nation's capital. We have found beautiful scenery, a much more relaxed community, significantly less air pollution, none of the constant political bickering that affects DC's daily news and artistic community, no overcrowding, no traffic jams, no road rage and most importantly, far less crime (those of you who raise children will relate.) Interestingly, road traffic in and around DC has actually gotten so horrendous that our artists tell us that getting to and from the local airports has actually gotten easier for them from Hagerstown..
As far as communications and administrative effectiveness are concerned, because our staff and cast have long been spread out nationwide, a "central building" would be a solution that is as expensive as it is inefficient. Instead we have been using what is called a Virtual Office (a network of computers and communications equipment) to connect both our people and the public, so this move did not have any kind of negative effect. In fact, we have found that in some areas there was quite an improvement. For instance, personnel at the small Hagerstown Post Office where our Postal Box is located has proved to be far friendlier and far less incompetent than the folks at the DC mail facility where our old Postal Box used to be.
For the record we'd like to dispel the myth that all professional tap dancers live in big cities. That is simply not supported by facts. While it is fashionable for some to claim that they are "from New York," the vast majority of today's top tap professionals live either in the suburbs or out in the countryside.
Finally, it seems as though we made a rather good choice. A June 2004 Money Magazine report lists Hagerstown as a Top 5 city. The magazine rated Hagerstown as one of the nation's "Up and Coming Cities," right up there with Napa, CA, Saginaw, MI, and Salem, OR. Of 149 cities under 250,000 population, Hagerstown ranked second behind Bremerton, Washington.
- "I would like more information. Thanks!"
"I am a new dance teacher at a High School in Georgia. I was wondering if you can send me brochures, posters, and general information about winter/summer workshops and intensives."
The national company dedicates a tremendous amount of resources and money publishing ALL the information it has on this web site both as a public service and to advance the cause of tap dance. Simply follow the links at the top of this page, browse around and have fun, it's all right here at your fingertips.
FYI compared to an informative web site, brochures have so many disadvantages that we actually stopped producing them years ago.
- "What
style of tap do you do?"
Just like American Ballet Theatre or the National Symphony Orchestra, the national tap dance company is a repertory company. Therefore one essential requirement for all performers (musicians and/or dancers) is that they must have the ability to perform not one but MANY styles and interpret whatever the composer, composographer or choreographer intended to create. That is one the reasons why we emphasize developing a strong foundation that will open many doors for the aspiring tapper, whether we teach tap skills at a workshop or certify professional tap dance teachers.
- "I am a
professional tap dancer and choreographer. How can I join your company? Do you
have auditions?"
These questions are answered here.
- "Can you
please put me on your mailing list?"
The national company no longer maintains such a list because it does not allow for customized mailings of information that is relevant to a particular person or institution. In addition, more and more people (rightfully) resent receiving "blanket info" i.e. the mass mailing or emailing of information they are not interested in (for example, information on a tap workshop in New York City when they live in Wisconsin.) It is a practice called SPAM that is unprofessional and often actually illegal. However, our staff DOES send relevant, opt-in information to members of the International Tap Dance Network when something happens in their region (basic membership is FREE.) Please click here to see which membership category and form best applies to you.
- "Can I buy
pictures or posters of you pros?"
Certainly. There are quite a few here.
- "My
daughter is just crazy about tap. Do you have a Junior Company? I myself
caught the bug when she started getting serious about it. I have been
performing in local productions with an adult group but I am looking for
something a little more challenging. Do you by any chance an amateur adult
group too? That would be great!"
NTE does have both, but do to touring constraints it is not possible to hold regular rehearsals so they have been dormant for quite a while. Flying Feet, the national tap dance company's Junior Company, and Tapsody, NTE's adult amateur group, opened for the professional company and/or performed all over the local DC area at local community shows, festivals, etc. for several years and gave their members their first taste of real, "serious" tap as well as excellent skills and training. Among the tappers who turned this into successful careers are Tapsody's Renee Kreithen, co-founder of Knock On Wood studio/Tappers With Attitude or Flying Feet's Andrew Nemr, Chloe Arnold, etc.
- "I love
the site, I can't believe it has taken me this long to find it. Maybe an icon
for workshops or am I missing that?"
"I may have missed it, but I couldn't find a master class schedule."
"I am looking to be in the area over Christmas break and was looking into taking some classes, if offered. I haven't been able to find that out from
the site yet."
As mentioned above the best way to be among the very first to find out about such programs is to join the International Tap Dance Network. If you are just visiting or passing through the area at a certain date and would like to know if there's a workshop or such, just look at the home page under Upcoming workshops and master classes , anything that is directly produced by the company will be listed there.
- "How can
I contact the company?"
Look at the colorful buttons at the top or bottom of any page on this web site and click on the one that says "Contact Information."
-
"I am not
comfortable ordering on the internet, do you have other options?"
You always have the option of filling out and simply printing any registration or order form on this site and faxing it. That will delay its processing but the job will eventually get done.
- "I
have registered my son for one of your events but I now realize I forgot to
enter one of the discounts he was eligible for. Can I get a refund when we get
there?"
The national company is by far the most generous tap dance organization out there when it comes to real, easy-to-apply discounts. We are also one of the very few organizations that does NOT make you pay a "registration" fee so at each one of our events you save $10 to $25 right off the bat. We still do accept most major credit/debit card without tacking on extra fees for people who like the convenience of using these cards, etc.
We also post our policies very clearly, including the refund policy which you agree to when you sign up for ANY event, as is customary. We cannot and DO NOT APPLY DISCOUNTS OR CREDITS "AFTER THE FACT" whether the proper discount code was "forgotten", the code was incorrect, the discount was simply not entered, etc. (staff members know this is strictly prohibited, so please do not ask!) This is abundantly stated not only on the registration page for most events, but also often on the event's page itself. You will even often find this information in bold and/or capital characters. In conclusion we are very happy to make all sorts of generous discounts available to the many communities we serve, but requesting discounts in a timely and correct manner WHEN YOU REGISTER is your responsibility.
- "I moved
last year to Montgomery county, MD and I have been taking classes all around
the DC area but I haven't found anything close to my level. I am so
excited to have found your company especially since it's only about an hour
away! I would LOVE to take classes from your performers. Where are they held
and how much does it cost? If you don't have any right now, can you call me or
email me when they start?"
Well there's bad news and good news. The bad news is that NTE is a TOURING company, which means that the traveling schedule is far too demanding for any kind of regular classes to be possible (in an average season over 200 programs are performed on both coasts, across the country and often abroad as well.) The good news is that we do offer workshops, community tap festivals, etc. in the area. If you'd like to get the scoop on these events we would highly recommend that you join the Tap Dance Network (sorry, nothing personal but it is NOT possible for our small staff to inform people one by one, however we GUARANTEE that by joining the ITDN you will be the first to know what's coming up.) Finally, if you are truly motivated and have the time and financial resources, we would suggest training under our Director as the part of the Steppin' Up' coaching program (tappers come from around the world for this one so at least you wouldn't have flight or hotel expenses <g>)
- "I'd
like to see one of your shows but I can't find a schedule of all your activities on
your web site. Did I miss it?"
Some years ago we attempted to publish such a schedule. However, with over 25 different programs performed - sometimes concurrently by different cast members in different parts of the world - different divisions (Major Programs, Education, ATDI, etc.) , an average of over 200 programs performed each season, and a multitude of producers, presenters and partners to work with, we quickly realized that maintaining a constantly up-to-date and accurate calendar was simply impossible. We would get flak for incorrect information provided by other parties, get complaints about the publication timeliness, etc. However, one of the good things that emerged from this is a survey that showed us tappers wanted us to re-think how the International Tap Dance Network works. That is when we started developing better membership categories and a super-fast notification process that allow members to receive just the info THEY need, in their OWN region, via email. Please click here to see which membership category and form best applies to you and take a few minutes to join (basic membership is FREE.) The next time a NTE concert or show happens in your region you will be among the first to know!
- "How can
my credit/debit card be declined when I know for certain that I have the funds
available?
When a card charge is submitted it goes "through the system" and the credit card companies unfortunately do NOT give our Registrar control over that at all. "Authorization declined" is all we get back. Credit card processing companies can send back such a message due to invalid credit card number, expiration date, daily limit, insufficient credit, or other reasons.
Aside from the fact that each denial automatically costs our company a little over one dollar, "resubmitting" rarely helps and is not allowed anyway because of the multiple charges we then incur (that's in addition to the 4% that it now costs to process a credit card charge once all is said and done.)
What some people do is double-check their card info and email the correct info to our Registrar (main staff email address here. Feel free to do this in a couple different emails for safety, or fax in the info.) Most people simply provide info for another credit card. To be on the safe side we recommend that you IMMEDIATELY contact your credit card issuer when you believe your card is OK and yet you get declined by ANY source. It is always a wise thing to do.
If you have a question which you feel should be answered on this page, by all means email it to the PR department.
