The World Championship of Tap is a prestigious event hosted by the non-profit International Dance Organization (IDO). Representing Xavier College Preparatory on Team USA was sophomore Charlotte Beabeau who has been in dance since she was two and has loved it for the past 14 years.
The competition hosts 28 countries from six different continents, and this includes the United States. This year, the event took place in Prague, Czechia from October 23-27.
According to the director of Tap’d Out and a coach of Team USA, Zach Kelley, preparation for this event had been in the works for approximately nine months.
“It was eight-plus hours of practice at a time, with champion coaches, including myself, flying in to train these dancers to be at the competition level needed for this event,” Kelley said.
Since the team consisted of members from all over the country, it could only meet for two weekends a month during which they practiced diligently to prepare for the competition.
For Beabeau, the audition process was an irregular one. Over the summer, months after the rest of the team had been formed, Beabeau was called by Kelley who asked her to join Team USA.
Kelley knew Beabeau from her time at Tap’d Out where she has been a member for the last three years. He explained to her there was an extra spot on the team that no one at auditions was fit to fill, a spot she enthusiastically claimed as her own.
Beabeau’s dance teacher of the last seven years, Aunzane Hayes, worked closely with her to ensure she was caught up with the other members of the team.
“We prepared with strenuous hours in and outside of the studio,” said Hayes who never doubted that Beabeau would be a great addition to the team, “When Charlotte is given a challenge, she rises to the occasion.”
Kelley noted specifically that Beabeau stuck out to him with her attention to detail and drive, something Hayes also credits her for. He said, “She showed care and willingness to work with complete strangers, which is an important quality to have as a team member.”
Despite her willingness, Beabeau was still worried about joining the team so late as everyone had already gotten the chance to know each other. However, Beabeau said she was taken in immediately by her teammates and has formed new lasting friendships.
“Working with Charlotte and the team was really inspiring and incredible. We created a great sense of trust with myself and the coaching staff as they prepared for this event,” Kelley said.
Beabeau describes the environment of the competition as incredibly sociable despite everyone’s desire to win. She said, “It was great to meet so many different people from so many different countries. Everyone was so friendly.”
Competing in the World Championship of Tap had always been a dream of Beabeau’s. “It’s like the Olympics of tap. If you do tap you know what it is,” she said. “I had heard about the competition but never thought I would get the chance to go.”
Hayes believes that Beabeau has always had it in her to compete in this competition because of her true love of dance and ability to stand out. “I always tell my dancer you’re only better than the best version of yourself and she has taken that and ran with it since day one,” Hayes said.
Beabeau competed in the tap dance formation junior division as a part of Team USA. Their number titled “The Man” placed seventh, ranking highly among the 22 other competing dances.
“Every single one of our dancers left this event thinking it was the coolest experience they have ever had as a dancer. We aren’t competing against the local dance studio down the street. We were competing against Japan, the Czech Republic, Germany, Ukraine and more,” Kelley said.
