The story of tap n’ pow{h}er

 

I often get asked about how tap n’ pow{h}er came to be…

What caused me to create this mind body fitness method and why?

I have been a dancer since the age of 3 and around the age of 12 became focused primarily as a solo tapper. Musicality, rhythm, and being a ham came naturally to me.  Always a performer, I had no problem getting on stage; however, it was my mentor, Joann Mauer, who taught me how to become a technician. Joann was the best teacher for me as she saw my true abilities through my previous training where I was allowed to fake my steps and use my stage presence to compensate. Joann gave me the gift of tap!

Sooooo… while I have tapped since the age of 4, I don’t believe I truly became a tap dancer until the age of 12.

Fast forward to 20 plus years later, a foot injury caused me to hang up my tap shoes. I chalked it up to age and decided my dancing days were behind me.

What I have since realized:

Once a dancer…FOREVER a dancer!

Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you’re “retired” because the dancer lives within us all!

I didn’t rediscover my inner dancer until last August when I was faced with a trying situation that caused me great heartache. Something that I’d loved, enjoyed, poured all of my heart, soul, and passion into for years was taken from me without warning or reason. In a nutshell, I was heartbroken.

My best friend, Jen Ashcraft, who also happens to be the owner of barre 11 fitness in Murfreesboro, TN encouraged me to get back up and change the sadness into something beautiful!

She was right…of course she was…she’s my Bestie!

Why, when I tell our community each and every day not to accept defeat and to rise up in the face of struggle, wouldn’t I persevere?

My heart needed to be heard…but in positive way!

After many days, late late nights, weeks, and months of workshopping alone and with Jen…tap n’ pow{h}er was born.

While not a “dance class” in the literal sense, it is a fitness fusion class for all levels, ages, and shapes.

tap n’ pow{h}er  allows us to go beyond the hustle and bustle of the day, the doom and gloom that can nip at our heels, taking the notions of “I can’t”, “I won’t”, “I’m not” and replacing these thoughts and emotions with “I ams”, positivity, and expression through movement.

This to me IS dancing! Everyone has an inner dancer!

I am grateful for everything that has lead to this point…all of it!

To be able to present my heart expressed through movement is the biggest gift! One that I never saw coming!

And now…to have the opportunity to share this method so full of challenge, strength, empowerment, love, light, and joy with others brings me full circle.

To those who are in the midst of a struggle- rise up!! Dream big because you never know what beauty is just around the corner.

We create our destiny through our thoughts and actions!

Shine light with your words, lend your heart freely, treat and love others well… and the world of abundance will be yours!

Much Love, Much Light,

Amy