2024 Faculty
Nicole Hockenberry
Nicole B. Hockenberry, a PA native, has been tap dancing professionally for over 20 years. Nicole became a performing member of A&G Dance in 1991, under the Artistic Direction of Germaine Salsberg and Manhattan Tap in 1992, under the Artistic Direction of Heather Cornell.
​
As the founder and director of T.A.P. (1995-2006 & 2013-ongoing), Nicole has been asked to teach and perform with the New York Foundation for the Arts, the St. Louis Tap Festival, Soul to Sole (Austin, TX), Columbus Taps, Third Coast Rhythm Project (San Antonio, TX), Southeastern Tap Explosion (Atlanta, GA), Everything on Tap! (Dallas, TX), Traditions in Tap (New York City), Tap Jam (Albuquerque, NM), Chicago Human Rhythm Project, The Big Apple Tap Festival, SoFlo Tap Fest, The Rock City Tap Festival, Resonance Tap Experience and Tap City: The New York Tap Festival, among others.
​
Nicole’s choreography has been commissioned by tap companies throughout the country, including RPM (San Antonio, TX), Tap Ties (Allentown, PA), In Motion (Chester, NJ) and Austin Tap Ensemble (Austin, TX). Nicole joined Germaine Ingram, tap partner to La Vaughn Robinson, for performances in the Philadelphia DanceBoom! Series in 2005, held at the famous WILMA Theatre in Philadelphia, PA. Nicole was a founding member of the women's tap trio, The Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers, under the Artistic Direction of Shelley Oliver and the Musical Direction of David Leonhardt from 1997 – 2002. Nicole is a featured speaker and performer on behalf of Dr. James ‘Buster’ Brown, in the Doctors of Dance Documentary filmed in February 2002, at Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma
​
Nicole spent twelve years as an adjunct professor of Dance at Cedar Crest College (Allentown, PA) and three years as a Master Lecturer at the University of the Arts (Philadelphia, PA), teaching tap courses involving Musical Structure, Tap History and Improvisation as well as directing both the Cedar Crest and UArts Tap Ensembles. Currently, Nicole is a part-time Lecturer of Tap in the Dance Department of Muhlenberg College (Allentown, PA), an Adjunct of Tap Dance in the Music Department of Moravian University (Bethlehem, PA) and the artistic director of TAP – Teach All People, which hosts online zoom tap classes with private tap teacher training and specialized tap courses throughout the year. Nicole is the 2017 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the LVAIC Dance Consortium.
​
Nicole, along with her husband Mark and children Julia and Alan, make their home in Nazareth, Pennsylvania and are also the proud owners of Crafty Nicole, an online, custom design clay accessory business that services the international tap community with tap related items and custom, laser engraved tap boards.
Jay Fagan
Jay Fagan hails from Chicago and is amongst the most sought-after Tap Masters in the industry today. Entering his fourth decade of international dance experience, his mastery of rhythm tap has been performed, taught, and choreographed worldwide. He’s also known as one of the most fun teachers and entertaining performers of today.
​
Technically, he has been trained by the very best tap dancers in the business including, Lane Alexander, Gregory Hines, Henry LaTang, Sam Weber and Savion Glover. Jay has shared the stage with Dianne Walker, Lane Alexander, Acia Gray, Barbara Phillips, Sarah Savelli, Ayodele Casel, Derick Grant and so many more. His polished performances have been seen by the President of the United States, Kupio Dance Festival in Finland, Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, Canada Windsor Casino Showroom, Las Vegas’ Flamingo, Luxor and Suncoast Hotels, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Third Coast Rhythm Project, Soul To Sole Tap Festival, Scotland B.A.T.D, Germany, Mexico and many more.
​
Mr. Fagan was an artist in residence for two years at Oklahoma City University at the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management under the direction of Jo Rowan. He has taught all over the Chicago land area for over 30 years and is director of Jo’s Footwork (dance) Studio.
​
Beyond his master of tap, Jay has studied and teaches all mediums of dance. His choreographic works have consistently and always placed within all top-ranking national competitions. Jay has worked with Dance Educators of America, Dance Masters of America, Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, Dance Olympus, Starquest, Chicago Dance Connection, Texas Association of Teachers and Dance (which he is an honorary member), British Association of Teachers of Dancing (which he is an honorary member), Sheer Talent and many more.
​
A recipient of both the Presidential Scholar Award and the American Dance Award, Jay has danced with AM/FM Dance Company, Especially Tap Chicago, Sarah Savelli/Jay Fagan Project and Sibling Rivalry with his sister Connie Fagan.
All this could not be possible without his first dance teacher Jo Irbe (his second mother) who trained him from the start and showed him the love and wonderful life that dance really is. Thanks Jo!