"Hands down my favorite tap class in the city. Diana creates such a great environment in the room and her varied technical warm-up is always just enough to get your blood flowing and brain working. Diana's extensive arsenal of tap exercises is truly incredible. Every single class she has something new that successfully tricks you up just a bit. I love it. You can always count on a great combination set to fab music to end the class. You know she's good because the combo always incorporates the skills previously worked on. She's the REAL DEAL people!!" -Ben Lanham (Cinderella 1st National Tour and West Side Story International Tour)
"Diana Brooks’ tap class is my absolute favorite tap class. She manages to make tappers of all levels and skill sets, Broadway style tappers and rhythm tappers alike, feel comfortable in class and challenged at the same time. She’s always coming up with exercises and combinations to force her students to push themselves outside of their comfort zone, technically and stylistically, and I always leave her class feeling like I have accomplished something and grown a step further as a tap dancer and a performer. I’ve never seen a teacher who cares so much about helping her students grow and rise to the challenge in each and every class and who infuses so much excitement for tap dancing into her classes, and you can see that reflected in her students. It’s an absolute blast, every class." -Alicia Newcom (Radio City Rockette and 42nd Street tour)
"Diana Brooks’ tap class is always one of my favorites because of the atmosphere she creates for the students. I always feel challenged beyond my comfort zone without being overwhelmed. She encourages her students to take risks and explore their abilities. The progressions and center combinations complement each other nicely and are very goal-oriented, making for a well-rounded and cohesive class. Her teaching style is relaxed, but engaging. I always leave her class feeling energized and accomplished." -Tanner Pflueger - Billy in Billy Elliot (West End & Broadway), Russian in Fiddler on the Roof (Muny), Lefou in Beauty and the Beast (MTWichita), Zacky Price in Big Fish (MTWichita), and Jess in Oklahoma (Muny)
"I took Rhythm Tap with Diana Brooks at Oklahoma City University as a Musical Theatre student - different school from the dance school. The environment she provided for her students was extremely judgment free and fun as well as challenging and rigourous. I have always had a knack for rhythm in music but Diana helped me hone that skill into my feet. The way she utilizes warm up, technique and repetition as well as combinations into an hour window is remarkable. Without her training, I would have never made it as a contender for the tap call for Book of Mormon. She is a kind and efficient teacher who surely can help anybody improve their dancing." -Colin Anderson (Book of Mormon tour and Sweeney Todd Off-Broadway)
ABOUT ME
Diana Brooks is a proud new resident of New York City. She has started teaching her own successful tap classes for adult beginners and professionals working in the business since moving to NYC. Previously, Diana was an Associate Professor of Dance at Oklahoma City University where she had the opportunity to train the next generation of Broadway performers. She spent most of her performing and teaching career in Chicago, IL, where she danced in tap companies such as Rhythm ISS…, BAM!, and M.A.D.D. Rhythms. She has had the opportunity to travel all around the United States with these tap companies, sharing the stage with such performers as Savion Glover, Tommy Tune, Lane Alexander and many more. As well as performing with tap companies, she also danced in several Musical Theatre productions and industrials, including Singin’ in the Rain, Babes in Toyland, the alternative hair show and a 1920s dance revue at the Black Orchid Supper Club. She has taught all over the Chicago-land area, including studios such as Lou Contes, Giordanos, and Joel Hall Dance. As well as a performer, master teacher and choreographer, she is also a judge for several dance competitions around the country.
What is class with Diana like?
Take a peek.
