LUT
ALEXANDRE
TAP DANCE
TEDDY
JORDAN
What is Tap Dance?
"The syncopated beat of jazz, you create rhythm with your feet, your body dances, your mind becomes light. Tap dancing can be done not only to jazz but to all kinds of music: Latin, boogie, pop, hip-hop, classical, you name it!"
Tap dance originated from a fusion of dances from different cultures, primarily Irish and African dance. It emerged during slavery when Irish immigrants and African slaves met. It became a dance form in the New York slums, later discovered and integrated into the world of shows and films. Think of Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Ginger Rogers, and the numerous stars of the musical world.
In the past decade, tap dance has experienced a revival, thanks to incredible stars like Gregory Hines, Jason Janas, Victor Cuno, Peter Kuit, and many others. This has given tap dance a new vibe and a contemporary style. It's a discipline that brings joy!
*Beginning tap students at Shoonya Dance Centre enjoy complimentary access to tap dance shoes for the entire first year.
Tap dance classes at Shoonya Dance Centre are organized in collaboration with Tapdance Promotion.
Where Can I Find Tap Dance Shoes?
Tap dance shoes have metal taps on the front and back. You can add taps to existing shoes if the sole is suitable and the shoes are in good condition, but fit may be an issue. Taps cost around 24 euros, plus installation. A better option is to buy new tap shoes in Ghent at Larabesko, Kon. Astridlaan 167. Good shoes with attached taps start at 80 euros, while the best, Bloch-Jason Samuel shoes cost 185 euros.
Check with your teacher before your purchase.
SEMESTER 1: SEP 2025 - FEB 2026
MONDAY
TAP DANCE
Level 3+ with Lut
MONDAY 18:00 - 19:10
Studio Ananta 1 (Ground floor)
€216/ €190 for students (-25j)
80% Social Discount UiTPAS
16 sessions
Language: EN/NL
Age group: 12+
TAP DANCE
Level 1 with Jordan
MONDAY 19:20 - 20:30
Studio Ananta 1 (Ground floor)
€216/ €190 for students (-25j)
80% Social Discount UiTPAS
16 sessions
Language: EN/NL
Age group: 12+
WEDNESDAY
TAP DANCE
Level 2 with Teddy
WEDNESDAY 18:30 - 19:40
Studio Ananta 1 (Ground floor)
€216/ €190 for students (-25j)
80% Social Discount UiTPAS
16 sessions
Language: EN/NL
Age group: 12+
TAP DANCE
Level 3 with Teddy
MONDAY 19:45 - 20:55
Studio Ananta 2 (Ground floor)
€216/ €190 for students (-25j)
80% Social Discount UiTPAS
16 sessions
Language: EN/NL
Age group: 12+
TAP DANCE
Level 1 with Teddy
WEDNESDAY 21:00 - 22:10
Studio Ananta 1 (Ground floor)
€216/ €190 for students (-25j)
80% Social Discount UiTPAS
16 sessions
Language: EN/NL
Age group: 12+
THURSDAY
TAP DANCE
Level 4 with Alexandre
THURSDAY 18:30 - 19:40
Studio Ananta 1 (Ground floor)
€216/ €190 for students (-25j)
80% Social Discount UiTPAS
16 sessions
Language: EN/NL
Age group: 12+
TAP DANCE
Level 5 with Alexandre
THURSDAY 19:45 - 20:55
Studio Ananta 1 (Ground floor)
€216/ €190 for students (-25j)
80% Social Discount UiTPAS
16 sessions
Language: EN/NL
Age group: 12+
TAP DANCE
Level 6 with Alexandre
THURSDAY 21:00 - 22:10
Studio Ananta 2 (Ground floor)
€216/ €190 for students (-25j)
80% Social Discount UiTPAS
16 sessions
Language: EN/NL
Age group: 12+
FEB - JUN 2025
-
MONDAY
-
WEDNESDAY with Teddy
-
THURSDAY with Alexandre
TAPDANCE PROMOTION
apdance Promotion is an initiative under the wing of non-profit vzw Onfijlbaar, dedicated to organizing tap dance courses, workshops, and performances. Led by the experienced Lut Vermeulen and her colleagues, the organization brings the rhythm, joy, and artistry of tap dance to dancers of all levels.
LUT
Lut Vermeulen studied physical education at the Rijksnormaalschool in Ghent. After her education, she devoted herself to tap dance. Following a five-year training in Belgium, the Netherlands, England, but mainly in Paris and New York, she started a career as a tap dancer and tap dance teacher.
She has contributed to dance, theater, and TV productions, including collaborations with the Ballet van Vlaanderen, Theater Antigone, and the BRT production Baraka.
In 1996, she created her first dance production, "Tap wherever you go," a unique adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland." This was followed by "Hit the Floor" for Ntgent, "Feet on Fire" at Scala, "Time to Tap" at CC Evergem, and "Let's Tap" at CC Evergem.
She taught at the Ballet Van Vlaanderen, Conservatorium Gent, and Stuc Leuven, and is now a permanent instructor at Tapdance Promotion and Dansateljee Dendermonde.
Tap dance remains her great passion!
ALEXANDRE
Alexandre started tap dancing with Lut when he was around 6 or 7 years old, and it became his first love right away, which it still is. He took lessons with Lut for many years, and later with Myriam Kuliasko from the Chantal Tinke Dance Studio. Alexandre joined "La tapisserie joyeuse," an improvisational tap dance group. They performed at Vooruit, Minard, Kinky Star, Charlatan, and even made the film "7 miles to the edge." After a few years of silence, Alexandre picked up tap dancing again with Lut.
He attended Lut's master's class and filled in for her during her surgery. It was then that Alexandre decided to fully commit and underwent a professional training for one year at the renowned "Luthier Dance School" in Barcelona. After that year, he started as a permanent instructor with Lut, as well as in Antwerp and Brussels.
Alexandre loves street performances, but he has also been on stage in Russia, Spain, with big bands, and as a soloist in Tapdance Promotion shows. He loves swing, improvisation, performing, and inspiring people. Rhythm and dance are something truly beautiful to him!
TEDDY
Teddy was obsessed with hip-hop and tap dance as a young child.
When he arrived in Belgium, he received a series of tap dance lessons as a birthday gift at Tapdance Promotion in Ghent.
After the first lesson, he regretted not starting earlier! Dancing is fun, but tap dance has become his true passion!! When people think of tap dance, they usually think of Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Ginger Rogers, and they are fantastic tap dancers. Teddy is even more drawn to tap dancers who have brought innovation, with Savion Glover being his top choice. The Rhythm Tap style is truly his thing.
Teddy has attended workshops with Jason Janas, Sara Reich, Michelle Dorrance, Jason Samuel Smith, and many other renowned dancers who have a highly rhythmic style.
After 10 passionate years as a student under Alex and Lut, he has been our regular substitute for years, and he is now starting as a permanent staff member at Tapdance Promotion.
His philosophy about tap dance: Tap, clap, slide, sing while you dance! Use your body, smile... enjoy! You will often hear him say that!
JORDAN
Jordan Souvandjiev, born in 1969 in Bulgaria, spent 15 years of his youth immersed in Bulgarian folk dance. In 1991, he moved to Belgium, where he has been living and working ever since. Twelve years ago, he began studying tap dance under Lut Vermeulen in Sint-Gillis Dendermonde. Over the years, he has participated in numerous workshops and masterclasses in Ghent, Antwerp, and Liège, learning from renowned artists like Josh Hilberman, Brenda Buffalino, Kurt Albert, Jason Janas, Sebastian Weber, Derick Grant, Joelle Ribant, and Laia Mollins. Between 2019 and 2023, he taught beginner tap dance classes at Dansateljee/Flow in Sint-Gillis Dendermonde.