The other week, a colleague — a former professional dancer and teacher — asked me if I would be interested in teaching a tap class for drama students.

I said heck no, but what is the stipend because I know people to ask.

Turns out I misinterpreted, she had the time to teach, but wanted an extra body, and THAT I could do.

My tap career started my senior year of high school. We were doing a show no one has ever heard of, and my childhood bff — we weren’t besties at that time, but still friendly, and then life changes and we became super close again later and this is why I change my hair color on the regular — was the choreographer. After one rehearsal, Meghan asked everyone who had tap experience to raise their hand.

I did not raise my hand.

Meg came up to me on the way out and said, “Davis, you’re tapping.”

Ann: I didn’t raise my hand.

Meghan: I don’t care.

***end scene***

Not only has this been our friendship since we met in 1987, I have since spent much of my career pretending to be a tap dancer. I even made my own tap shoes once. Of course, the last time I tapped in a show, there were only a few of us, so I insisted on wearing regular character shoes and not taps so as not to screw up the sound.

One of those castmates gifted me a pair of 3” heel tap shoes because after two hip replacements, she was never wearing them again, so that’s what I pulled out to “help” for these classes.

This class was a non-requirement bonus for drama students, so I said that while Rebecca taught them the real steps, I could at least show how to fake it.

I wasn’t a perfect assistant, and that’s fine. Early in my semi-pro career I was told to “just bounce and smile” and it’s been my guiding light ever since. Which is kind of a problem when, like, playing a middle-aged housekeeper, but here we are.

AND I was so inspired by the workout that I bought a pair of flat tap shoes — which are way easier. They arrived in time for my last class with students, and I foresee lots of home practicing in my future. Sorry, puppies.

Rockettes, here I come!