Richmond teenager Poppie Taylor is tapping her way to the world stage in Prague with New Zealand’s first tap-dancing team.
The 17-year-old Waimea College student has been selected to join other tap-dancers from around the country to head to the International Dance Organisation World Tap Dance Championships in October, where she will compete with the team as well as solo and duo routines.
Poppie has been dancing since she was three but was mesmerised by the sound and foot movement of the tap dancers, and by seven, she was creating her own noise.
“I haven’t stopped since. I’ve been told I’m very rhythmical, so finding ways of making noise is very satisfying.”
It’s all about the heel and toe and she has nine different pairs of shoes for the different tap-dancing styles, with shoes ‘tuned’ by altering the screws securing the metal plates to the shoes. Choreographing her own dance routines using the sounds and movements is her happiest place.
“My favourite would be tap solo because there’s so many ways of doing it. I’ve been teaching quite a lot this year and making tap routines and I want to keep choreographing.”
Prague will be just her first step globally, with a scholarship taking her to Sydney’s tap festival next year for a week of tap-dancing and workshops. Beyond that, she plans to head to New York to explore a tap-dancing career.
“I see myself exploring tap before going to university because I have more of a passion for it than anything else.”
Her mother, Vanessa Taylor, says Poppie’s inclusion in the New Zealand team has opened the door to the possibility of a career in tap-dancing.
“There was that reality check that tap-dancing and dancing in general was where she wanted to take her life after finishing Year 13. Who knows where in the world this is now going to land as she pursues her dream. I have the biggest admiration of how hard working she is.”
Both agree that Poppie’s number one fan is her 85-year-old nana, Polly Taylor, who has been there from the beginning, taking her to dance lessons since she was a preschooler and watching her progress to the world stage. Though she will not be joining the family to the competition in Prague, Poppie says her nana will be watching the live link from her home at Olive Estate Lifestyle Village.
Poppie’s training programme for the world championships involves working via video with her tutor in Auckland and her duo partner in Christchurch. Then there’s the fundraising for Prague with quiz nights, selling protein bars and an upcoming fundraiser at the Playhouse Café and Theatre Restaurant where she will be tapping her way around the stage.
Then it’s off to the Czech Republic with the New Zealand tap-dancing team which is still working on its name since it’s the first time it has headed overseas. So far, Poppie says, possibilities include Silver Taps and Black Taps.
