Knock On Wood Tap Studio

Tappers With Attitude (TWA), founded in 1991, is a unique and multicultural group of young dancers on the cutting edge of the Renaissance of tap dance. Founded by Washingtonians Yvonne Edwards and Renee Kreithen, and under the Artistic Direction of Victoria Moss, the dancers (whose ages are from 8 to 18) represent schools from Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

The company’s mission is to preserve and promote tap dance as a percussive art with an emphasis on the jazz tradition and to foster a new generation to carry on the art. The company has a rich repertory that includes choreography by Lane Alexander, Brenda Bufalino, Barbara Duffy, Josh Hilberman, Germaine Ingram, Robert Reed, Diane Walker, Baakari Wilder, and other local and national tap choreographers.

In addition to presenting works by nationally known tap artists, the company commissions new choreography by emerging tap choreographers, and by encouraging and assisting TWA dancers to choreograph for the group, nurturing the creation of new expressions and voices in tap.

TWA has performed throughout the area and on local and nationwide television. Highlights include: Wolf Trap Center for Performing Arts, Smithsonian Institution, Carter Baron Amphitheater, the Kennedy Center Open House and Am Jam Festival and most recently, appeared on national television at the Kennedy Center Honors in a tapping tribute to honoree Shirley Temple Black.

Tappers With Attitude is a recipient of the 1994 Cultural Alliance of Washington Business Volunteer for the Arts awards and has been awarded grants from WGMS 103.5 Performing Arts Fund, the Dallas-Coors Foundation for Performing Arts, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, Montgomery County Arts Council and the Philip Graham Fund.

Tappers With Attitude makes its home at the Knock on Wood Tap Studio in Silver Spring, Maryland. Knock on Wood Tap Studio offers tap classes to the public for ages 4 through adult, from beginner through advanced levels. Knock on Wood Tap Studio has three tap studios with state of the art sprung maple floors and is the only facility of its kind in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.