JAM CHRISTMAS FOLLIES

DANIEL NASH

I’ve been tap dancing for almost 4 years, and dancing with Rhythm Nation for almost a year.

Most of my tap experience has come from Wendi and her son, Will. My favorite thing about tap dance is the fun and challenging moves we sometimes do. My favorite tap dancers are the Nicholas Brothers. They died in the late 1900s and early 2000s, but they were fantastic dancers. They were self-taught by watching tap dancers perform and then copying them. They were simply phenomenal, and it’s amazing seeing old videos of them in their prime.

Apart from tap, one my favorite hobbies is gaming. I play Fortnite casually, and Super Smash Bros competitively, playing on an ESports team. I won the game that won my team the State Championship earlier this year for my age group!

My favorite tap step is probably the Waltz Clog. It’s a fun move that I would say I can do pretty well, and it works great in many scenarios. My favorite tap performance I’ve ever done is probably Utah Tap Fest 2023, where I was able to perform several dances, including a solo.

My favorite part of being a member of a tap dance company is the community. Everyone is super kind and chill, and I love the atmosphere. Things that influence my dance style are those that teach me. As I’m being taught, I’ve picked up some of their style, merging it into my own style. A future goal is just to have fun dancing, and possibly do well in a tap competition that I know I’ll eventually be forced into.