About Level 2

Level 2 Training and Certificate

The Level 2 Training takes place in two sessions. Level 2 curriculum covers teaching fast beginning to advanced beginning tap students (children, teen and adult students). New material and information will be taught in all areas to explore deeper rhythm tap concepts. Trainees who successfully complete both sessions and evaluations will be awarded a Level 2 Certificate issued by the ATDF. Trainees are required to complete all the work of the Level 1 Training before starting Level 2.

Session 1

  • 6-day training intensive at the American Tap Dance Center, NYC.• tap technique• Copasetic Canon repertory• Bufalino repertory and exercises• Classic Tap material and exercises
    • pedagogy• jazz music concepts• tap composition & improvisation• tap history & video• informal showing• discussions and info sharing

Session 2

  • Independent work, off-site

  • Trainees are assigned a faculty mentor and will complete independent work and assignments and prepare for evaluations from their home communities

  • Certificate Trainees who successfully complete assignments will receive a Level 2 Certificate awarded by the ATDF.

Session 1 - Intensive Overview (subject to change)
The intensive begins with a Tuesday orientation meeting and classes. Wednesday to Saturday, students will be in class all day, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. The intensive week concludes on the last Sunday with an information meeting and workshop on Session 2 assignments. Faculty includes Brenda Bufalino, Barbara Duffy, Thelma Goldberg, Susan Hebach, Margaret Morrison, Toni Noblett and guest faculty TBA.  Daily schedule will be provided in June.

July Level 2 Course Descriptions (subject to change)

Rhythm Tap Technique
In a daily intermediate/advanced level tap technique class students will work to clean up their own rhythm tap technique and identify habits that prevent solid technique, while honing full body expression, listening skills, and personal style.

Copasetic Canon Repertory and Informal Performance
In Level 2, new Copasetic Canon repertory, Bufalino repertory and classic tap material will be taught with a focus on foot technique, body movement, style, musicality and performance skills. Class will perform the material in the informal showing at the end of the intensive. Level 2 repertory includes: “Laura" by James "Buster" Brown, "Strike Up the Band" by Brenda Bufalino, classic time steps and exercises including flaps, shuffles, paddle and roll, and more.

Teaching towards the Canon - Level 2 Pedagogy
Classes will address strategies and methods for teaching Advanced Beginning level tap students (children, teens & adults), using the technical challenges, stylistic body use and musical ideas of the Copasetic Canon from the Level 2 and Level 1 Trainings. Sophisticated but moderately paced dances, such as many Copasetic Canon works and Bufalino's "Strike Up the Band," are just the right level for your advanced beginner dancers to develop strong technique and performance skills. Footwork and concepts from more challenging works, such as "Laura," can be slowed down and introduced at this level. Level 2 repertory will introduce concepts of double-time, counterpoint, polyrhythm, phrasing over the bar. All of these dances build a solid and progressive foundation for beginning through advanced tap students and provide essential lessons in rhythm tap, including: solid tap technique, learning to count a measure of music, the structure of 8-bar phrases, learning how a 2-bar break is used, the structure of a chorus: understanding AABA, swing rhythms and triplets, use of the body, weight change and gravity, full-body rhythmic expression and style, tap history.

Master Class with Brenda Bufalino
Ms. Bufalino coaches Trainees on body style and musicality. She will address her approach to rhythm tap education and training the next generation of rhythm tap artists. With live piano accompaniment.

Jazz Music Concepts, Tap Composition & Improvisation Level 2
A deeper exploration of the jazz music essentials that all tap dancers and students need. A live musician will
accompany the class. Students will hone improv skills and learn composition skills to develop class material.

Embodying Tap History
Several class meetings will explore ways to bring tap history and artistry alive for your students and provide an overview of the historical intersections of tap rhythms, jazz music, and American culture.

Discussions & info meetings: Topics in teaching
The week intensive includes group discussions to share information.

Informal Showing
At the end of the week, Trainees will present Copasetic Canon Repertory to each other.

Session 2 Overview
Fall - Spring

In Session 2, trainees will be assigned a faculty mentor and will return to their home communities to complete independent work. During these months, trainees are required to develop their skills as tap teachers by working every week with their own student groups, teaching the concepts and repertory of the Copasetic Canon.

  • By the end of Session 2, trainees will demonstrate through written documentation, video, and evaluation: • that they are able to dance the works of the Level 2 Copasetic Canon Repertory accurately• that they have taught a minimum 40 hours, working with students on Level 2 concepts• that they are able to teach Copasetic and Bufalino repertory to students• that they are able to incorporate key aspects of the Copasetic Canon into their teaching, including:      - tap technique that builds towards the repertory      - body use and dance style that is gleaned from the repertory      - jazz music concepts      - tap historyOther requirements include:• completing composition assignments based on concepts taught in the Jazz Music Structures and Tap Composition class• communicating by email, once a month, with their mentor on their progress• staying in regular communication with fellow Tap Teacher Trainees for support and information sharing 

The months of Session 2 are an essential time for each trainee to develop her/his skills as a rhythm tap teacher. More details TBA after students register.

Assignments and Certificate

During Session 2, trainees will digitally submit written and videoed assignments to mentors. Trainees who successfully complete work will be awarded a Level 2 Certificate from the American Tap Dance Foundation.