Lost In The Shuffle Tap Dance Podcast

Improve Your Improv Workshop (excerpt)

25 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Enjoy this FREE 30 minute excerpt from Hillary-Marie's Improve Your Improv Workshop (August 2021).

All Your Tap Improv Questions Answered

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join Hillary-Marie as she answers all of your tap dance improv questions (literally). After receiving over 300 questions from tap dancers and tap teac...

Teaching Adults vs. Teaching Kids

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There is a HUGE difference between teaching kids and teaching adults. Join Hillary-Marie as she breaks down many of these key differences for you so t...

Inspiration from Miles Davis

07 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus episode! Hillary-Marie shares some inspirational Mile Davis quotes.

The Time I Met Oprah

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie shares a crazy story about the time that she met Oprah with her mentor, Harold Cromer.

Are you ready to start teaching?

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you know you're ready to start teaching? How do you know you're ready to start learning how to teach? How do you know you've had enough trainin...

Workshops vs. Weekly Classes

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Weekly Tap classes vs. Workshops. They're both important in your tap dance journey… But how do you know which one your should be putting your energy...

BONUS: Let's talk Sports Bras

17 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

3 Common Tap Dance Corrections (and what they really mean)

14 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You need to sit in the pocket. You need to finish your phrase. You need to loosen up. Sound familiar? Hillary-Marie discusses three common tap dance-s...

How do you measure a successful dance class?

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This one's for all the Tap Teachers out there. Take a moment and ask yourself... what does an awesome tap class look like? How do you know that the cl...

Tricky Tap Dance Trick Steps

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Pullbacks. Wings. Toe stands. Over the tops. All the tricks! What order should they be taught in? What age/level should they be introduced? Hillary-Ma...

Defining Tap Dance Levels

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tap dance levels are tricky business. Why? Because there is no standard level that is acknowledged by the Tap Dance Community at large. This means tha...

BONUS: Let's talk Leggings

16 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus episode! Looking for good leggings?

5 Tips for Creating Choreo on Portable Tap Floors

14 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie shares 5 Tips for Creating Choreo on Portable Tap Floors that will help you turn the portable floor into a tool of inspiration, rather t...

What is your Tap Dance DREAM?

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie celebrates her 100th episode by talking about Tap Dance Dreams, including the the dreams of Tap Dancers all around the world, including ...

3 Tips to Learning Choreo Faster

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Wish you could pick up choreography faster? Need help remembering it? Hillary-Marie shares 3 tips and tricks on how to do exactly that!

BONUS: Tap Dance on Netflix

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus episode! Check out this Netflix show for some Tap Dance.

2 Jumps EVERY Tap Dancer Needs

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie discusses the two types of jumps that every Tap Dancer needs, and why these jumps are the key reason for tap dancers getting stuck in th...

Tap Floors Part 3 - How to Refinish Your Floors

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

So you've got a gorgeous sprung wood tap dance floor, and now it's time to refinish it... Here's a step-by-step process on how to do it.

Do you REALLY need to keep your heels OFF the floor?

10 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you've ever heard someone say... "Keep your heels off the floor" "Get those heels up" "Make sure you're on the balls of the feet" "Don't let those ...

Tap History Research Reflections

03 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tap Dance History is one of the most heavily debated topics in the Tap Dance Community. Understandably so, because the Tap Dance Community is passiona...

#094 Shuffling into the New Year

29 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you are a longtime listener of the Lost in the shuffle tap dance podcast, then you know that while Hillary-Marie's not one for New Year's resoluti...

#092 How long should a tap class be?

08 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This question comes up all the time during iTap Chats. How long should a tap class be? In this episode, Hillary-Marie dives deep into the structure of...

#091 What age should you start teaching Music Theory in Tap Class?

01 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Not sure when or how to introduce music theory into your tap classes? No worries! In this episode, Hillary-Marie gives you her top tips and tricks on ...

#090 3 mistakes you might be making in your tap practice

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie shares with you 3 mistakes you might be making in your tap dance practice time, and how to solve them quickly and easily so you can be...

#89 How to Introduce Jazz Music into Tap Class?

18 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As more and more Tap Teachers learn about tap dance history, they're appreciating the connection of tap dance to jazz music. And this often leads to t...

#88 Tap Dancers' Top 3 Mistakes when Practicing Fast Footwork

11 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever find yourself wondering... How can I dance faster without missing my sounds? How do you teach speed and clarity? In this episode, Hillary-...

#087 How and When to Use a Metronome in Tap Class

04 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Not sure when or how to use a metronome in your personal practice or tap classes? No worries! In this episode, Hillary-Marie gives you all the info yo...

#086 How to capture the wandering attention of your tiny tap dancers?

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie shares 3 tips to capturing the wandering attention of your tiny tap dancers.

#085 What's the BIGGEST lesson your tap teacher ever taught you?

18 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie and the iTapOnline Community answer the question... what's the biggest lesson that your tap teacher taught you?

#084 5 Tips to Energize Your Teen Tap Classes

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie shares 5 quick and easy tips on how you can energize your teen tap classes this week.

#083 What I wish my tap teacher taught me...

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The iTapOnline Community answers the question... what's the ONE thing that you wish your tap teacher taught you?

#082 New Ideas for Across the Floor

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever feel like you've exhausted all your options for across the floor steps? Hillary-Marie shares with you an exercise that will make sure you ...

#081 Tap Teacher Questions Answered

21 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie answers tap teacher questions from the iTapOnline Community, including best tap shoes for student, how to help dancers dance lighter on ...

#080 Tips for Teaching Perfect Pullbacks

14 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie shares her top tips and tricks for teaching your students crispy clean and perfect pullbacks.

#079 Are your students using Tap Journals?

07 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are your students using tap journals? In this episode, Hillary-Marie shares how tap journals have transformed her students' dedication to tap dance an...

#078 Shuffling into the New Year

30 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie shares her favorite journaling exercise for shuffling into the New Year, with a Love It, Leave It and Learned It list.

#077 Top 3 Tap Teacher Questions of the 2020 Year

17 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Check out the top 3 most popular episodes of the 2020 year!

#076 Tap Teacher Questions Answered

10 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie answers Tap Teacher's questions, including turns, wings and more.

#075 How to Teach Proper Flap Technique

03 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Is your flap coming from the front or the back? Hillary-Marie discusses proper Flap technique.

#074 Giving Thanks

26 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Taking a moment to give thanks for all things tap dance.

#073 Why are there different names for the SAME Tap step?

19 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How did we end up with so many names for tap steps? Hillary-Marie discusses the inconsistency of tap dance vocabulary and how it relates to tap dance ...

#072 Are your students behind on their Tap Technique?

12 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie answers an iTap Teacher's question on how to help students who are behind on their technique.

#071 The Secret to How My Students Learn SO Quickly

05 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie discusses one of the secrets to why and how her students learn SO quickly.

#070 Why We Did NOT Dance Outside during COVID

29 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie discusses why she didn't take her tap classes outside right away, and instead chose to wait it out to reopen indoors (and why her patien...

#069 Tap Teacher Questions Answered

22 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie answers Tap Teachers' questions, including how to socially distance your tap classes, the best mask to teach in, everything you need for...

#068 4 Tips for Tap Dancing in a Mask

15 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie shares for tips for tap dancing in a mask.

BONUS: Shout Out to iTap Teacher Monica

13 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#067 Tap Teacher Questions Answered

08 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie answers Tap Teacher's questions, including how to build rapport with students who are Zooming into class that you've never met before, h...

#066 How to Teach an Awesome Hybrid Tap Class

26 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I've just finished my first week of teaching Hybrid style classes at my studio, Grooves Unlimited (Livingston, NJ), and it was AWESOME. If you're a Ta...

#065 9 Lessons Learned in Quarantine

22 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#064 COVID Inspired Changes for iTapOnline

22 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I was pretty quiet in the beginning because I was focusing on saving the studio, and I was lucky because I already had an online platform built. As ev...

#063 How My Studio Survived Covid-19

22 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today I'm sharing with you the story of how my studio made it through COVID-19. No rent forgiveness. No rent deferral. No refunds from venues. No lay-...

#062 Should You Teach for FREE?

08 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#061 Your Students NEED You Right Now

06 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#060 10 FREE iTap Resources Available to You Right NOW

01 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Free iTap resources are available at www.iTapOnline.com.  

#059 How to Get Your Dance Classes Online

28 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dance Studios all around the world are currently closing their doors. I've got Tap Teachers and Studio Owners worldwide who are reaching out because t...

#058 Tap Teacher Questions Answered

03 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie answers Tap Teachers' questions, including how to choreograph traveling footwork for formation changes, when to teach tap class etiquett...

#057 Which Tap Steps Do Your Students Struggle With Most?

29 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Tap Teachers share which steps their tap students are struggling with most and Hillary-Marie shares her tips and tricks on how to approach their techn...

#056 Tap Teacher Questions Answered

16 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie answers Tap Teachers' questions, including what to do with a student who is struggling to keep up in class, what's the best way to asses...

#055 Shuffling into the New Year

26 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie shares her favorite journaling exercise for shuffling into the New Year, with a Love It, Leave It and Learned It list.

#054 Quitting a Teaching Gig

12 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When the time comes to quit a teaching gig, here are some thoughts to consider.      

#053 What type of tap classes should you be teaching?

05 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

BONUS: Tap Fest Applications are LIVE

02 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jersey Tap Fest applications are LIVE! HIgh level teens and adult tap dancers are invited to join us for this 11th annual celebration. Applications ar...

#052 Thankful for Tap Dance

27 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Taking a moment to give thanks for all things tap dance on this Thanksgiving Day.    

BONUS: I'm going LIVE

22 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

You're invited to join me for an iTapOnline Family Member LIVE Session!  

#051 This Week in Tap Class

21 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Looking for some inspiration for your tap classes this week? Hillary-Marie shares what everyone in the iTapOnline Community is up to in their tap clas...

#050 Top 10 Traits of Terrific Tap Teachers

14 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What makes the best Tap Teachers out there so special? Join Hillary-Marie as she celebrates some of the best Tap Teachers out there and the 10 traits ...

We've hit the 2000 mark!

12 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we celebrate 2000 members in the iTapOnline Community!  

#049 Interview with Heather Cornell

07 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie is joined by special guest, Heather Cornell. Join them as they celebrate 29 years of Heather's Tap Labs in Nyack, NY and discuss the fea...

#048 Top Tips for Beginner Tap Dancers

31 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie shares top tips for beginner tap dancers.

#047 Protecting the Learning Environment

17 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie talks about the effects of in-studio viewing windows and cameras that live-stream classes to the studio waiting room.

#046 5 Tap Dance Learning Types

09 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that there are different learning types in tap dance? Hillary-Marie helps shares how you can help your students identify their learning t...

#045 The 5 Fundamentals of Tap Dance

03 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie shares the Five Fundamentals of a well-rounded and thriving tap dance program. Are you incorporating all five into your weekly classes?

BONUS: Surviving or Thriving?

30 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Is your Tap Dance program SURVIVING or Thriving? Hillary-Marie talks about the big differences between surviving Tap dance programs and thriving Tap d...

BONUS: Confession

27 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Let's keep it real...

#044 How to Teach Your Students to Count Themselves In

27 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie answers an iTapOnline Community question: how do you explain to your students the importance of a good count in?

BONUS: 5 Secrets to a Thriving Tap Program

23 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie shares her Top 5 Secrets to a Thriving Tap Program

#043 Top 3 Technology Recommendations for Tap Teachers

12 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie answers an iTapOnline Community question: What are your top 3 technology recommendations for tap teachers?

#042 How to Keep Beginner Tap Dancers Engaged in Class

04 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie shares a quick teaching tip on how to keep your beginner level Tap Dancers engaged and excited.

#041 Top 5 Worst Production Moments

29 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

BONUS: My Response to Good Morning America

26 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie shares her thoughts and feelings on the recent Good Morning America controversy.

#040 Helping Dancers Who Are Hard on Themselves

22 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How do you deal with the perfectionist students who are really hard on themselves and seem frustrated in class even though they're doing just fine? Hi...

#039 Starving Artists

15 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Is being broke and living in a studio apartment the reality of a starving artist? Mark Orsborn and Hillary-Marie answer this question at Jersey Tap Fe...

#038 Poaching Dancers and Toxic Ownership of Students

08 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie discusses the inappropriate actions of poaching dancers from another teacher/studio and the increase of toxic ownership of students with...

BONUS: iTapOnline Community Shares Injuries

05 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The iTapOnline Community shares their most common and craziest injuries

#037 10 Years of Life Lessons Learned at Jersey Tap Fest

01 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie celebrates 10 years of Jersey Tap Fest by sharing her biggest mistakes, lessons learned, failures, changed made and more.

BONUS: See you soon, Jersey Tap Fest!

29 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jersey Tap Fest celebrates 10 years with a FREE Tap Jam and Live show!

#036 Why Marley Floors are BAD for Tap Dancers

25 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Why does marley flooring get such a bad name in the tap dance community? Hillary-Marie discusses why marley flooring is such a challenge for percussiv...

BONUS: The Ins and Outs of a Tap Dance Company

23 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Caleb discusses what it is to produce, choreograph, direct and perform in a body of work all at the same time

#035 The 3 Instruments of a Tap Dancer

17 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie breaks down the three most important instruments of a tap dancer and shares with you one part of the instruments that is SO important an...

#034 Tap Master Class Etiquette

10 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Ettiquette is a HUGE part of dance culture and Hillary-Marie shares her tips and tricks that will have you and your students ready for an awesome Tap ...

BONUS: See you soon, Atlanta!

03 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Catch Hillary-Marie in Atlanta, Georgia this weekend.

#033 My Performance Philosophy

27 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie shares her past performance philosophy and what her goal is when taking the stage (then vs. now)

BONUS: "Dance Competitions caused my Divorce"

26 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie shares the story of an Uber driver who claimed dance competitions caused his divorce

BONUS: See You Soon, Aspen!

21 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Catch Hillary-Marie in Aspen, Colorado this weekend at Snowmass Jazz Aspen with Wycliffe Gordon

#032 How to Handle Criticism

20 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join Hillary-Marie as she discusses how to handle criticism, including when to take it to heart (never), how to take it in context (always) and how cr...

#031 The Ins and Outs of a Professional Tap Dance Company with Caleb Teicher

13 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join Hillary-Marie and Caleb Teicher of CT&Co, as they discuss the ins and outs of running a professional dance company, including artistic inspiratio...

BONUS: Struggling with the Inner Critic

06 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hillary-Marie responds to a teacher who struggled with her inner critic (response to Episode 021: How to Turn Off Your Teacher Brain)

#030 The Importance of Continuing Education

30 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Why is continuing education so important for tap teachers? Join Hillary-Marie as she shares her passion for supporting tap teachers in the continuatio...