Meet Taylor Alcorn | Tap Dance Company Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Taylor Alcorn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Taylor, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from Cypress, Texas, which is a suburb of Houston. I grew up with dance being the center of my world – my mom put me in dance classes at the age of three, and I haven’t stopped since. However, the environment I grew up in wasn’t always positive. Teamwork wasn’t valued, and people would do whatever they could to get ahead of one another.

When I got serious about tap dancing, I craved to learn more – not just technique, but also the history and roots of the art form. As big as Houston is, it was really difficult to find a tap class that covered all the bases. My mom would drive me to Austin most weekends to train with Tapestry Dance Company so I could get the education I was looking for. That experience motivated me to create something different here in Houston. I wanted to give tap dancers a place to learn, grow, and thrive without having to travel so far away.

Experiencing all of that shaped so much of who I am today. I created The Rhythm Project to bring tap dancers together who not only love the artform but also genuinely love and support each other. What makes this team unique is the family feel we have created – you can feel it in our practices and when you watch our dancers on stage. My upbringing taught me exactly the type of coach I didn’t want to be. It motivated me to become the best version of myself for my dancers so that I can push them to become the best versions of themselves.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am most proud of the growth I’ve had with The Rhythm Project. I started at a studio that didn’t really have a consistent tap teacher. The studio owner, who watched me grow up in the competition dance world, brought me in and gave me a chance. She allowed me to take over the tap program and run with it, and she encouraged me to make it into a business – which is now called The Rhythm Project.

In just four short years, we have had so much success. We’ve received several first-place titles, performed on the Hobby Center stage, and competed at World of Dance. I am also currently in the running for Choreographer of the Year. So many amazing blessings have come from The Rhythm Project, and I am so grateful.

It wasn’t easy making this program happen. Tap dance is often looked down on in the dance world because it’s a very difficult form of dance that many turn away from. Not only did I have to teach my students tap steps, but I had to teach them how to love the artform itself. Tap dance is so rich in history, and it deserves to keep growing and getting the recognition it deserves. That has always been my goal.

I overcame these challenges by simply showing up every single week, encouraging my students, and being there for them as a coach and a teacher. The relationships and trust we built kept them coming back, and I’ve been able to watch them get better and better every week. The most exciting part of my job is seeing my students grow – watching them from their first class to their last time on stage is such an amazing feeling. I even have several alumni who I’ve had the joy of watching grow into beautiful performers and people.

What I want the world to know about me and The Rhythm Project is that this is a place where tap dancers will flourish and find their forever friends. We work hard, and it’s a challenge, but you will never leave a practice or competition feeling less than. The dance competition world is fierce and exhausting, but we are stronger together.

The biggest lessons I’ve learned are to stay true to yourself, be consistent, and never underestimate the power of showing up for others. That is what builds something meaningful and lasting.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting for a week, I would want to show them the absolute best of Houston!

Day 1:
We’d start with brunch at Tiny Boxwoods for their amazing pastries and beautiful garden vibe. Then we’d spend the afternoon exploring The Museum of Fine Arts Houston.

Day 2:
We’d shop around CityCentre in Memorial City – it has the best mix of stores and a fun atmosphere. For lunch, we’d eat at Songkran Thai Kitchen in Uptown Park. Their Thai food is incredible, especially the curries and noodle dishes.

Day 3:
We’d spend the morning at the Houston Zoo, grab lunch at Local Foods, and then head to The Galleria for some serious shopping and people-watching.

Day 4:
We’d have a relaxing morning walking around Buffalo Bayou Park. In the evening, we’d go see a show at The Hobby Center.

Day 5:
We’d take a day trip down to Galveston, walk along the beach, visit the historic Strand for cute shops, and grab seafood at Katie’s Seafood House before heading back to Houston.

Day 6:
We’d do a mural tour around Houston to see some of the coolest street art, then eat at The Pit Room for amazing Texas BBQ. At night, we’d check out White Oak Music Hall if there’s a good concert playing.

Houston has so many fun and interesting places with such a diverse food scene.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Huge shout out to Tony Merriwether. Tony is the tap dancer who took me under his wing and truly showed me my love for this amazing art form. He taught me so much about the history of tap dance and gave me opportunities I will never forget. Tony was the creator of True Sound Rhythm Project, a professional tap company I was blessed to be a part of during my college years. He even allowed me to perform with my little sister – an experience I’ll cherish forever.

Tony taught me what it takes to run a tap company and all the steps behind the scenes to make it happen. I truly couldn’t have created The Rhythm Project without his guidance and support. I’m forever thankful for his mentorship, his passion for tap, and everything he’s poured into me as a dancer, teacher, and person.

I also want to give a huge shout out to the Tap Kids program. Tap Kids was a tap intensive in Burlington, Vermont that brought in some of the world’s best tap teachers to train the top 50 tap dancers from the United States and Canada. Being part of Tap Kids immersed me into the tap world and expanded my skills beyond measure. I made lifelong friends and connections there that I am so thankful to have today. That experience shaped me into the dancer I am and gave me an even deeper love and appreciation for this art form.

I’m so grateful for every teacher, mentor, and program that helped me get to where I am today.

Instagram: @the.rhythmproject

Image Credits
Captured by Michy Photography- Michy Ordonez

Emotional Accord Photography- Kim Holt