Spotlight on... Middlebury's 'On Tap'

Author: Jonathan King

OnTap, Middlebury's tap-dance troupe, energizes the McCullough stage with its spring show and performances at dance events throughout the year. The group undoubtedly draws its success from the versatility, experience and ambition of its members. The Campus talked with Kelly Bennion '10, choreographer of Saturday's company number, and Leah Anderson '09, three-year member and choreographer of past performances. Both girls balance their dedication to OnTap with involvement in the Riddim WorldDance Troupe and other dance pursuits on campus.

The Middlebury Campus: When did you begin tapping?

Kelly Bennion: Tap was the first form of dance that I started. I started taking tap once each week at a studio in Arizona when I was seven. I continued only until about the age of 12, but I really loved it. At Middlebury, I started tapping again with OnTap and now I teach beginning and intermediate tap workshops during the week.

Leah Anderson: I started tapping at a studio in my hometown when I was about three years old and then continued there until high school. Then I was involved in a lot of competitions and performances. I took a few years off from tap for my last few years of high school and then I started again when I got to college.


MC: Do you find that you can accomplish through tap certain things that aren't possible to achieve through other dance styles?

KB: One of the things that I especially enjoy about tap dancing is that it can be really fun to just create the different rhythms with your feet. Tap also involves a distinct personality. It's not as strenuous other styles, so it really forces you to also focus on your facial expressions in addition to what your feet are doing.

LA: Yeah, definitely. One of my favorite movies is singin' in the rain. My freshman year, one of my friends and I got together and decided to recreate this famous tap duet to Moses Supposes. So we got together and watched the movie and then performed. That was the pinnacle of my tap-dancing career.


MC: Did you think that OnTap did anything differently in Saturday night's performance than it has in the past?

KB: The dance I choreographed was fairly difficult technically, but they did a really great job with that. In addition, the dance had a lot of jazzy aspects to it. So if members didn't have any specific training in jazz, they had to work on developing that aspect of their dancing. ut everyone did great.

LA: It was definitely a very well coordinated show. There have times in the past when we've all been very stressed out, but this time it felt very together. There was also a fantastic audience. It was a great turnout and that was really exciting


MC: Do you plan to continue dancing after college?

KB: I do. I'm teaching at a dance camp this summer. I imagine that for at least a few more years I will continue teaching at dance camps and at various lessons throughout the year. Eventually, I would love to take a few years off after college to dance, either as a backup dancer or, more likely, on an NBA or NFL team.

LA: Absolutely. I'm hoping for a dance internship this summer and that may help me decide if I want to choose dance as a career path. I always want to keep it in my life even if I'm not going to be a professional dancer.


MC: Is there anything you'd like to see OnTap do in the future?

KB: I'd think we should work to expand our beginning and intermediate tap programs and encourage people in them to try out for OnTap. I also think we can do more than one show each year.

LA: We usually only do one show of our own in the spring and then we just perform in variety shows and with MiddDance in the fall. I'd really like to see us do two full-scale shows each year. I think we're up for it.