Letts City, population 8,400, might seem an unlikely tap dance destination. But since the Midwestern Tap Festival relocated here in 1997, this small Iowa community has punched above its weight in cultivating rhythm-step talent. Today, roughly 400 students take weekly tap classes within city limits—a remarkable concentration for a town of this size. Four distinct studios now serve dancers from preschoolers to retirees, each with its own philosophy and specialty.
Whether you're a curious beginner, a parent seeking youth instruction, or an adult returning to dance, here's what to know about Letts City's tap scene in 2024.
The Rhythmic Revolution Studio
212 Main Street, downtown
Founded 2008 by Carla Voss, former Riverdance ensemble member
The largest tap school in Letts City, The Rhythmic Revolution Studio trains 140 students weekly, ages 4 through adult. Voss built the curriculum around a fifty-fifty split: classic Broadway tap on one side, contemporary rhythm tap on the other.
The facility includes two sprung-floor studios and a 90-seat black-box theater where students perform in monthly showcases. Adult drop-in classes run $18; a 10-week youth session costs $240. Voss also hosts a summer intensive that draws out-of-town dancers from Des Moines and Cedar Rapids.
Contact: rhythmicrevolutionletts.com | 555-0142
Tap Innovators Academy
847 Millwork District, Warehouse Row
Founded 2016 by Marcus Chen and Darnell Freeman
Chen and Freeman, both with backgrounds in software design and percussive dance, run the most technically experimental program in Letts City. Their warehouse studio features motion-capture sensors and an interactive LED floor that visualizes tap rhythms in real time.
Students learn traditional technique but also choreograph sequences using proprietary software that maps footwork into animated patterns. The academy offers two tracks: a standard youth program (ages 10–18) and a pre-professional track for students considering dance-tech careers. Pre-professional students present capstone projects each spring at the Midwest Digital Arts Showcase. Drop-in classes are $22; semester tuition runs $580.
Contact: tapinnovators.org | 555-0198
The Silver Soles Studio
404 Elm Street, Northside
Founded 2014 by Patricia Okonkwo, age 67, who still teaches three classes weekly
The only Letts City studio devoted entirely to dancers 50 and older, The Silver Soles Studio keeps 45 regular members on its rolls. Okonkwo, a retired physical therapist, structures classes to prioritize balance, joint health, and social connection alongside rhythm.
The studio hosts a weekly "coffee and tap" social hour and organizes quarterly performances at senior centers across Johnson County. Members occasionally collaborate with The Rhythmic Revolution Studio for intergenerational showcases. Membership is $75 monthly for unlimited classes; newcomers can try two classes free.
Contact: silversolesletts.com | 555-0123
The Tapestry of Talent Center
155 Cultural Corridor, near the Letts City Public Library
Founded 2011 by husband-and-wife team Alejandro and Mei-Lin Reyes
This multidisciplinary center reflects Letts City's growing diversity through faculty and student body alike. Tap classes here emphasize live musical collaboration—students rehearse weekly with a rotating cast of local jazz and Latin musicians rather than recorded tracks.
The Reyeses program three tap levels for youth and two for adults, plus an open ensemble that performs at the annual Letts City Arts Festival. Cross-training is common; many Tapestry students also study West African dance or flamenco. Drop-in rate is $16; monthly unlimited access is $110.
Contact: tapestryoftalent.org | 555-0167
How to Choose—and What to Try Next
Letts City's tap studios cluster within a 10-minute drive of one another, and several instructors collaborate across school lines. If you're unsure where to start, most studios offer a single trial class at no or reduced cost.
For the latest schedules and workshop announcements, the Letts City Arts Council maintains a unified dance calendar at lettscityarts.org/dance. The 28th annual Midwestern Tap Festival returns to the Letts City Performing Arts Center on September 12–15, 2024, with master classes open to the public.
