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Hi Reader and Happy Solstice! ☀️😎

I'm Denise Caston-Clark, the founder/director of Motor City Tap Fest.

Here's where it all started:

😔 It was 2007 and I was at a low point in my life. In 2005, I was hit by bus and endured a traumatic brain injury, which put a stop to the career path I was on.

💪🏽 In early 2006, I was determined to get my life back on track. I returned to New York City, trying to figure out where I can fit in. Honestly it was too early, but brain injuries are so hard to measure. It's not like a broken arm, where you can take an X-Ray and objectively determine whether it's healed. I performed one more season as a Rockette, but I just wasn't emotionally ready for it. Looking back, I should've taken that season off.

💗 I was back and forth between Michigan and New York, trying to get back on my feet.

💡In spring of 2007, I flew back to MI, telling my parents I was in a terrible place and needed to come home for a few days. My mom sat down next to me and said, "What do you love to do?"

🙇🏻‍♀️ She knew that bringing a tap festival back to Detroit had been on my mind. I don't know all that happened to end the Detroit Tap Festival, but it was on my mind that Detroit should have one again.

👨🏻‍💼She took me to a law office and helped me to incorporate! She took out a loan so I could make it all happen.

📞 I called Prof. Robert Reed and said, "I'm doing a festival." I had some faculty members in mind, and he suggested some more. He gave me their phone numbers. He guided me and gave me contact info for renting flooring too.

🤷🏻‍♀️ Almost nobody knew who I was. I cold called most of them and said, "Hi I'm Denise. I got your number from Robert..." I cold emailed Gregg Russell (🙏🏼) and said, "Hi, my name is Denise and I would love to have you to teach at my festival."

🤯 I really didn't know what I was doing. But my mom gave me that push keep moving, to take me from a place of hopelessness to feeling like I had purpose. I've learned so much over the past 17 years, and hey I'm still learning!

🙌🏽 Motor City Tap Fest helped me make a vat of lemonade out of a truck full of lemons. And as cliché as it is, I do believe things happen for a reason, and that the universe puts me where I'm meant to be. So I hope you'll join me this summer in a fun 4 days of amazing classes, followed by our all-star faculty concert, Motor City Soles.

🕺🏻Motor City Tap Fest is July 31-August 4 at Tap Dance Detroit. We offer a uniquely customizable experience. You can take as many or as few classes as you want, and you can make any needed changes on the Tap Dance Detroit app up until the festival, with the exception of sold out classes.

As always, if you hit any roadblocks, call me! :)

Here are some helpful hints to make your registration process smooth:

• The most efficient way is via the Tap Dance Detroit app. You can manage your schedule here and make any changes. Don't create a new profile if you've been to MCTF before.
• Make sure there is only one account per dancer. For dancers under 18, sign up under the dancer's name, not the parent's. Only individuals who are participating in classes should have an account in their name. :)
• Step 1: Buy your class package. Step 2: Select your classes!

‎Tap Dance Detroit on the App Store

Tap Dance Detroit - Apps on Google Play

🙌🏽 Help us continue to bring you the best! Donate to Motor City Tap Fest to help us keep doing what we do and doing it better every year.

🤩 Get your tickets today to our all-star faculty concert, Motor City Soles, happening Sunday, August 4, at the historic Redford Theatre! It's the grand finale of our fabulous festival. :)

✅ Sign up to perform in the Participants Showcase at 7:30pm on Friday, August 2, at Berkley HS Performing Arts Center! All are welcome to perform for the MCTF faculty, peers and family in this fun and informal showcase. Spots are limited to grab yours today.

Other updates:

I am SO excited to announce that Miller & Ben Tap Shoes will be for sale at Motor City Tap Fest, July 31-August 4 at Tap Dance Detroit! JT from Tap Shoes Canada will be setting up tables of shoes, shoes and more shoes for dancers to check out, try on and most importantly, consult with the experts on the right size and shoe for them.

🎟 We're also raffling off a pair of Miller & Ben's, so you'll want to plan on getting yourself some raffle tickets. The winner will be announced at Motor City Soles, our all-star faculty concert on Sunday, August 4.

We can't wait to welcome you back to Motor City Tap Fest, one of the top tap dance destinations of the summer.

If you have any questions at all or if there's any way we can make your experience better, reply to this email, call or text me.

Denise ❤️

Denise Caston-Clark

Producer, Motor City Tap Fest

Motor City Tap Fest is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

denise@motorcitytapfest.com

917-687-4811