Barcelona's Tap Dance Scene: A European Capital of Rhythm

Barcelona, known for its architecture and soccer, has emerged as a major hub for tap dance in Europe, despite the art form's American origins. The city's tap scene is centered around the Escola Luthier de Danza, founded in 2011 by Guillem Alonso and Alícia Alcalay. Alonso, who trained with legends like Brenda Bufalino in New York, returned to Barcelona to teach, fostering a new generation of dancers. The school offers over 50 weekly tap classes for adults and children, and its formació profesional is the only year-long intensive training program for tap dancers worldwide. Other institutions, such as the Escola Coco Comin's TAP Conservatory, led by Sharon Lavi, also contribute to the scene. The community is notably strong, with a WhatsApp group of over 145 dancers sharing resources. Author Gisela Noguero Gelmà has documented this community in her book 'El claqué a Barcelona: La història d'una comunitat.' The scene thrives despite Barcelona's housing crisis and anti-tourist sentiment, welcoming dancers from around the world. The article, written by Shiriel King Abramson, reflects on her personal experience moving to Barcelona to study tap, highlighting the city's vibrant and inclusive tap culture.