Welcome to

Knock On Wood Tap Studio, Inc.

~ A 501(3)(c) charitable organization ~

Capitol Tap & District Tap

~ Resident Companies at Knock On Wood Tap Studio ~

KNOCK ON WOOD HAS GONE VIRTUAL! Grab your tap shoes and a portable floor, or grab your sneakers and a kitchen floor – it’s time for tap class!

All of our summer classes will continue being taught over Zoom . We have a full roster of classes set to go - please check them out and sign up for your favorites!

Although we cannot tap together physically, we found a way to have an end-of-the-session showcase! This could not have been done without our fabulous faculty members Candace Turitto (also a KOW Board member) and Jessyka Bagdon. They are responsible for the wonderful choreography and for the energy to spearhead this effort! Videography credit goes to Steven Jenkins.

Please enjoy this wonderful project by over 50 students and teachers at KOW! Thank you so much to everyone who participated!

Tap this link to watch - guaranteed to bring a smile!
Knock On Wood Tap Studio: End-of-the-Year Showcase Video

June 1, 2020

Like everyone in the Knock On Wood community, all of us who serve on the Board are deeply saddened and angered by the brutal and senseless killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the other racist violence that continues to plague our nation. Please know that we support and care about all of you, especially those who are suffering and may not feel safe.

Our mission is to continue the American tradition of tap, which is especially rooted in black life and culture. We pride ourselves on celebrating that rich tradition for the past 25 years and providing a safe place for our teachers, students and volunteers. We are dedicated to continuing that for decades to come.

Sincerely,
Dori Gillman, President
Michael Heimowitz, Treasurer
Ateille Lowery, Secretary
James Hughes
Penny Passikoff
Susan Kilbourne
Candace Turitto

June 15, 2020

Earlier this month, the Knock on Wood Board of Directors expressed deep sadness and anger about the senseless killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Aubery, and seemingly countless others. We also reaffirmed our mission of continuing the American tap tradition and reiterated its deep roots in Black life and culture.

While KOW has celebrated that rich tradition for 25 years, we have concluded that our studio can do more to acknowledge those roots. With that in mind, KOW has made a contribution to the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD), which preserves and promotes dance by people of African ancestry or origin. We have also committed to renewing our focus on the foundational and ongoing contributions of Black tap dancers in our educational efforts. We will be working with our teachers to determine how best to advance those efforts and welcome feedback from our community.

Knock On Wood Tap Studio and Capitol Tap are sad to announce that we have had to postpone our anniversary celebrations until June 2021. We will celebrate! When this crisis is over, watch for announcements regarding any class performance opportunities. We will have an auction, too, just not right now.

To Our Dear Tap Community,

We have made the difficult decision, in these unprecedented times of COVID-19, to temporarily suspend classes at our studio. With the recent decisions of the Maryland, DC, and greater metropolitan area to close schools, telework government and more, we want to do our part to mitigate the exposure to this virus. Although our gatherings are not near the limits for public events, we are in a space where people are close together.

We will not have classes beginning tomorrow, March 14 through the end of April. As this pandemic evolves, we will be monitoring what the CDC and our leaders communicate very closely. KOW takes the health of our community, our students, and the wider community very seriously.

In the coming days, KOW will make a plan on how to make up for missing so many weeks of classes. We will keep you up-to-date via email, our website and social media. If you have any questions, contact us at knockonwoodtap@gmail.com.

Please stay safe and stay tuned.

Knock On Wood Tap Studio mostly follows Montgomery County Schools for weather closings. HOWEVER, it is always best to check here on our website, on Facebook, and/or call the studio, as we will post same-day notices if the studio is closed.

Knock on Wood: DC's Non-Profit All-Tap Dance Studio from Cam Hasbrouck on Vimeo.

A terrific way to be "in the know" is to join KOW on Facebook. Become a "fan," and you'll find it simple to keep abreast of news, coming events, and all kinds of TapHappiness! Please stop by often, and you can also follow us on Instagram.