Women of the Tap Renaissance

THURSDAY, November 13, 2025

1:00 PM

THE OUTDOOR ART CLUB MEMBER HDL PROGRAM

Click to view Video on YouTube

Click for pdf of links to YouTube videos referenced in this program.

Women of the Tap Renaissance

Cece Bechelli—founder and director of Happy Feet, a beloved dance school and Mill Valley institution since 1978—is passionate about the history of tap dance. Studying with many of the great masters from tap’s heyday inspired her to learn more about their stories. Tap dance history has traditionally focused on the male narrative, often undervaluing or omitting the myriad contributions of women tap dance artists. Cece’s master’s thesis, Women of the Tap Renaissance, focused on the unique period when female tap dance artists worked to reverse tap’s declining popularity by saving, transforming, reinvigorating and propelling tap into its future. Cece, who has enjoyed passing this knowledge along to her students at Happy Feet and San Francisco State University (where she has lectured in the School of Theatre and Dance for the past eight years), is excited to share their incredible stories with you!

Program Chair…..Kate McCormick