About Us
Making everything old new again
We're on a mission to take tap dance to the next level. Our goal is to help you produce highly skilled, passionate, world-class tap dancers with our easy to follow, engaging syllabus.
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What is Tap Mode?
Tap Mode is a brand new syllabus created by professional tap dancer, teacher, and studio owner Mitch Hicks. By design, Tap Mode aims to regenerate the love of tap dancing in your classroom. Tap is a fundamental dance style that deserves to have the popularity and hype of Hip Hop or Jazz classes. So why doesn’t it? With the Tap Mode Syllabus, we’re putting Tap in the spotlight. Our engaging 10-level syllabus will keep students progressing with challenging techniques while giving them the energy to feel current. All the exercises in our syllabus have been set to original tracks created alongside the team at Soundmoda to ensure the vibe in class pops off.
Tap Mode began as I needed to solidify my teaching methods to ensure a standard across my studios. I had tried syllabuses in the past that either bored the kids or drove me crazy, and I knew I could create something different. The further I moved into creating, the more I knew I had to go further and develop a complete syllabus I could share with fellow studio owners and teachers to help solve the problems so many of my peers had. “How do you retain students in your tap classes?” “How do you get your back lines as strong as the front?” “Do you know any good teachers? I can’t find anyone.”. Tap Mode aims to help studio owners reinvigorate their tap programs to have classes full of engaged students with teachers who are driven to deliver results.
Tap Mode is available to purchase from 1st December 2023. Phase one of learning materials will be available at this time, with the second phase coming to you by 15/1/24. Phase one learning materials will include all video tutorials, demonstrations and exercise-specific music for levels 1 - 5.
Any Studios who purchase their program by 31/12/23 will receive one free attendee to the January live teacher training.
Meet the Creator
Mitch Hicks
Mitch Hicks has been teaching tap for the past 20 years and is now launching Tap Mode, a progressive tap syllabus. Throughout his career as a performer, Mitch has specialised and taught tap from beginner to professional at most major Sydney schools and full-time courses.
Mitch's 20-year professional career has covered all aspects of the performing arts industry. At age 11, Mitchell originated the role of "young Peter Allen" in the original production of The Boy From Oz. He then played 'Sammy' in Jolson and 'Young Don' in Singin' in the Rain. In 2006, Mitchell performed alongside Hugh Jackman in The Boy From Oz, eight years after he was in the original cast. Mitch's other theatre credits include Hairspray, A Chorus Line, Hot Shoe Shuffle, Guys and Dolls, Dirty Dancing, Heathers and Aladdin. Mitch has toured the globe with Dein Perry's Tapdogs. He also worked on Happy Feet 2 as a motion capture performer and has danced behind artists such as Guy Sebastian, Marcia Hines, Tina Arena, Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Kylie Minogue.
Mitchell's Television Appearances include; The AACTA Awards, Australia's Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With The Stars, Australian Idol, The Logies, The Arias, The Footy Show, Sunrise, Australia's Next Top Model, Carols In The Domain and The Helpmann Awards. He has also choreographed for VOGUE Australia, AHA awards, ABC, Lend Lease & Hear Me Roar at the Opera House.
Mitch is now the proud director of Planetdance in Menai and All Starz in Peakhurst, which boasts over 1000 students between them.