Casey Coker

Casey lives in the Trinity area and is earning credits toward her college degree while continuing her tap dance training. She began dancing in jazz, ballet, contemporary, and tap dance.  She shifted her focus to tap dance once she came under the direction of her teacher Cathy Scavelli, who allowed her to assist her in classes, and encouraged her to attend her first tap festival, The Big Apple Tap Fest.  She has been accepted into and attended intensives such as Tap Kids, SoFlo’s Workshop on the Wood, The Intensive, Sarah Reich’s Tap Music Project, and The Woodshed Experience. Eventually, she became a mentee of Derick Grant, and her passion for the art of tap dance continued to flourish, concentrating on improv and technique. She has also attended tap dance festivals throughout the country such as DC, Little Rock, Orlando, Tampa Bay, North Carolina Rhythm Tap Fest, RIFF Dallas, and Tap Into the Network.  Casey spends her summers traveling to training programs and is currently an apprentice with Tap Into the Network.  She is a member of Aaron Tolson’s Company, Speaking in Taps, and Malana Murphy’s Next Step Tap Project.  She has performed under the direction of Derick Grant, Anthony Morigerato, and Sarah Reich.  She trains weekly with her mentors, Derick Grant, Jason Samuels Smith, and Dormeshia.  She is thrilled to reunite with two of her past teachers, Jillian and Julie, and to be able to share her passion for tap dance with the next generation of tap dancers.  

 

Favorite Inspiration:

Watching students learn and grow

 

Favorite way to learn:

Watching footage of tap dancers and listening to jazz music

 

Favorite style of dance:

Tap dance and improvisation

 

Favorite music:

Jazz standards and classic rock

 

GOALS:

To be accepted into The Jacob’s Pillow Tap Program

 

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

I will continue to take my weekly tap classes with Derick Grant, Dormeshia, and Jason Samuels Smith, as well as attend Woodshed 2021 and Riff Dallas 2022, among other various intensives 

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