Shining a new light on tap dance, jazz music and the African-American heritage, NTE’s acclaimed educational programs are as much a tribute to our past as an investment in our future. Each year, more than 20,000 school children attend assembly programs all across America. No hype, no violence, no headlines (read: no media coverage) here, just some hard and honest work by one of America’s busiest performing arts companies - the only kind of work that makes a difference for our kids in the long run.
Tapping, drumming, but also math,
social studies,
music, teamwork, health and history are all
a part of NTE's school residencies
Many of these programs are only possible
with financial support from the "American Heritage On Tap" funding program.
One example of the fund's initiatives is the SUPPORT A KID campaign.
Read on to find out you too can be a part of it!
Girls AND boys are having a blast!
|
"Thank
you for coming! I had a lot of fun. I thought it would be real boring. I hope you come
again. By the way, how long have you been tap dancing? It seems like you did it for 2,000
years!" |
What exactly is the A.H.O.T. fund?
Supporting exclusively the national tap dance company’s educational programming and scholarships, the A.H.O.T. outreach fund is a program that gives YOU the unique opportunity to contribute directly to your community's vitality and to awareness of our own very special heritage. You can help bring knowledge, pride and exhilaration to the heart of your own neighborhood, with a full 100% of your financial contribution going into actual programs.
Which NTE programs may benefit from your A.H.O.T. contribution?
Here are a few examples:
- The Buster Brown "Future of Tap Dance" Scholarship fund is the main source of funding for scholarships that allow young tappers to attend our intensive workshops, seminars and conferences at tuition levels that are dramatically reduced and sometimes attain full scholarship.
- The Tops In Taps: Great American Heroes show demonstrates how tap, as a dance/music form has crossed regions, eras, and communities to remain what legendary tap dancer Steve Condos used to call "the tempo of America". This audience-involving performance of authentic tap dance masterpieces and jazz music originals was performed for the 500th time in February of 1997 at Otterbein College in Ohio. Tops In Taps is also extensively performed in schools across the United States. It has been presented abroad as well.
- "The Heartbeat of America" Creative Residencies weave tap and jazz into a school’s curriculum and enhance the student’s multi-cultural awareness. Tailored to each school, they also foster a greater knowledge and pride of the student’s own American heritage.
- Workshops for School Teachers help them learn how tap and jazz can stimulate learning in American history, math, music, physical education, social studies, poetry and more.
- Scholarships are available for NTE’s intensive National Tap Seminar, with courses that include daily classes at seven levels with NTE’s master teachers, repertoire, writing contests, spoken and performed history, film showings, and much more. Emphasizing "total tap education", these sought-after, week-long seminars and conferences offer an in-depth approach that helps tap dance students and teachers further their knowledge base and reach new heights in tap dance. They are attended by tap enthusiasts from around the world.
- The Shim Sham Shimmy Workshop teaches dancers and non-dancers alike the steps to ‘the tap dancer’s national anthem", including the dance’s links with African drumming and jazz music.
No community or deserving tap dancer is left out!
The best part of these captivating programs is perhaps their lasting impact. Each year hundreds of inspired children send drawings, essays, letters, many expressing a newly found interest for their own, rich American heritage.
|
"The
show told us about where tap dance was formed and it was in the South... The moon walk was
formed in Africa... Your show was great because you talked about famous black
people." |
A great example!
If you want to get personally involved in your community, consider following in the footsteps of such inspired people as Ginger Hayes, Cultural Arts Representative for the Cary Elementary School in North Carolina. Ms. Hayes wanted to bring NTE to her school, but the large number of children (over 1,000!) plus the additional need for the portable stage meant a budget that was above what the PTA could afford. So Ms. Hayes asked for a stack of A.H.O.T. brochures, made phone calls and set up a few meetings. A few weeks later, nine local businesses had made $300 in tax-deductible A.H.O.T. contributions. Representatives of several of these dynamic businesses were able to attend the shows and also see for themselves the good work done in the school by staff and students on a daily basis.
Ms. Hayes made a difference in her community. So can you!
|
"We
were totally delighted to have the National Tap Ensemble tap their way into our hearts.
From the initial meeting to the actual show I was impressed with the tone of conversation
and the willingness to accommodate changing schedules due to hurricane Fran tearing
through our neighborhood. The rapport with the audience was wonderful, quickly shifting
gears for the slightly older group. Thanks for kicking our school assembly programs off to
a glorious start." |
|
"The
performance for our students was exceptional. Their talent
provided an alternative to some of the other cultural arts
programs we’ve seen. The nearly 800 pre-kindergarten to grade 5
students who attended the program were captivated and inspired...
Hopefully you can see the immediate impact of this presentation
and the possibilities to promote this dance and music in future
generations. We thank you for your support of the National Tap
Ensemble’s educational funding so that children who normally
would not be exposed to this art can experience it first
hand." |
How YOU can get involved
Most of NTE's educational programs are offered at very low cost. Your contribution of only $2 per child will go a long way toward making these programs available to even more children. Once you have clicked on the link below, you will have the opportunity to choose the numbers of kids you'd like to support, to earmark your A.H.O.T. donation to a specific program, to the Buster Brown "Future of Tap Dance" Scholarship fund or to make a donation to the general fund in which case you will automatically become a "member" of one of our snazzy "tap clubs." Your name will be given prominent listing in any major program produced directly by NTE. A full 100% of your contribution goes to supporting our acclaimed educational programs.
HIGH-LEVEL
RECOGNITION OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUBSTANTIAL DONATIONS
NTE's
unparalleled accomplishments in the educational field
have unfortunately received very little respect and
attention from institutional funders (less than 10% of
programs cost on average, far lower than in most other
countries) and it seems to be getting worse year after
year. While our institutions' lack of interest in our
own national heritage is indeed deplorable (tap is
American as apple pie!), it is also an opportunity for
private individuals or corporations who wish to help us
continue this type of
programming with substantial financial support to
see their good deed and their good name prominently
recognized. Yes,
we will be happy to name a major Scholarship Fund or
Educational Fund after you! (please
contact our PR department,
serious inquiries only please.)
The National Tap Ensemble is a 501 (c) (3) non profit educational and performing organization. Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
Step up to the plate, whether you are
a concerned citizen or you represent a corporation that cares. Support our country's
national tap dance company and share NTE’s vision of a better America built by
enlightened children!
Click here to make your donation online
