Over Erica’s teaching career, she has been very privileged to have taught some very talented Tap students who have gone on to train professionally at various colleges including Performers, London Studio Centre, Itali Conti, Laines and Guildford School of Acting and who are now working professionally in the dance industry.
Over the past 7 years, Erica has been very fortunate to teach 8 very talented Tap students who have been a part of the renowned Tap Attack associate programme/training company and Team GB.
Nell Feltham – Age 14 & Jude Feltham – Age 17
Mainstage Performing Arts
Nell and Jude have both trained with Mainstage Performing Arts for many years and have a variety of incredible achievements under the guidance of Charlotte Lympany and now Erica Phillips. They both currently study the ISTD Tap Syllabus with Erica, Nell is currently working towards her Intermediate ISTD Tap Exam and Jude is studying towards his Advanced 1 ISTD Tap Exam alongside attending Dorset Foundation College.
Both Nell and Jude have been part of Tap Attack for many years and this year both Nell and Jude successfully re-auditioned for Tap Attack where they are both now part of their Training Company. Under the guidance of the Tap Attack faculty, both Nell and Jude have become World Tap Champions with some truly incredible results over the years. In 2023 they both had a record achievement bringing home 3 gold, a silver and a bronze medal for TEAM GB.
Nell – Junior Formation – 1st Place – GOLD MEDAL – WORLD TAP CHAMPIONS
Nell – Junior Group – 2nd Place – SILVER MEDAL
Nell – Junior 1 Duo – 3rd Place – BRONZE MEDAL
Nell – Junior 1 Female Solo – 7th Place
Jude – Junior Group – 1st Place – GOLD MEDAL – WORLD TAP CHAMPIONS
Jude – Junior Trior – 1st Place – GOLD MEDAL – WORLD TAP CHAMPIONS
Jude – Junior 2 Male Solo – 5th Place
Both Nell and Jude have successfully been chosen as part of Team GB for 2024 to perform at this year’s World Tap Championships in Prague in October. Jude will compete as an adult for the first time in 5 categories and Nell as a Junior in 3 categories. Erica is incredibly proud of their continued achievements and can not wait to watch them perform on this year’s world stage. To see them both in action and read more about their Tap journeys you can visit their Facebook page HERE.
Olivia Hunter – Age 14
Elevated Tap Company – Online Student
Photograph courtesy of Finan Photography
Olivia became an Elevated Tap Company student during the COVID pandemic and now trains weekly with online private lessons alongside taking local dance lessons Olivia is also part of Pheonix Dance Theatre Youth Academy.
Olivia successfully auditioned for Tap Attack at the age of 9 where she joined the Mid South East Associates. Olivia transferred to Tap Attacks North Associates after relocating with her family and has now been training with Tap Attack for 5 years. Olivia successfully re-auditioned for a 6th year and is now moving to a Senior North Associate. Olivia achieved an incredible Distinction with 95% in her ISTD Grade 5 Tap Exam in June 2023 and is currently working towards her Intermediate ISTD Vocational Tap Exam which she will take later this year.
Lottie Phillips – Age 11
Elevated Tap Company & Mainstage Performing Arts
Lottie has been an Elevated Tap Company student since it was founded during the COVID pandemic and currently attends Youth Tap Classes at Shaftesbury Arts Centre. Lottie started tap at the age of 4 and has been training with her mum, Erica for the past 7 years. Lottie also attends Mainstage Performing Arts alongside Nell and Jude where she is currently studying for her Grade 5 ISTD Tap Exam.
Lottie successfully auditioned for the South West Mini Associates at the age of 8 and has been training with Tap Attack for the past 2 years. This year Lottie has successfully re-auditioned for Tap Attack and has now joined the South West Junior Associates for the 2024/2025 year.
Alongside Lottie’s love for tap dancing, she is a proud member of Shaftesbury Youth Theatre and Shaftesbury Music and Drama group where her credits include:
‘Nativity The Musical’ Jan/Feb 2003 – St Bernadettes School Child – Shaftesbury Arts Centre
‘HONK’ May 2024- Chick/Duckling – MTI Junior Theatre Festival – Birmingham
AWARD WINNER 2024 – Best Musical & Harmonies
‘HONK’ July 2024- Froglet/Chick – Shaftesbury Fringe – Shaftesbury Arts Centre
WINNER – BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE 2024
Harry Phillips – Age 14
Harry is a keen Tapper, Actor, Singer and Musician. Harry has been tapping since the age of 4 and has studied with his mum Erica for the past 10 years. Harry is our Elevated Tap Company teaching assistant for our younger students at Shaefstbury Arts Centre.
This year Harry has successfully auditioned for a principal role in ‘Kipps’ The New Half a Sixpence Musical where he shall be playing the role of Buggins at Shaftesbury Arts Centre in July 2024, alongside acting, singing and dancing Harry has also been assisting with Tap Choreography and has learnt to play the Banjo for the finale! Harry has also been cast in his Youth Theatre production as a principal character in ‘HONK’ a new musical based on the Ugly Duckling. Harry performed the part of Greylag in Birmingham at the Junior Theatre Festival in May where they won an award for their music and harmonies. This summer you can watch the cast perform the full musical as part of the Shaftesbury Fringe in July at Shaftesbury Arts Centre.
Alongside Harry’s regular Tap Dance training with Elevated Tap Company, Harry also trained with Tap Attack for 5 years and worked his way through their associate programme from a Mini, Junior to a Mid 1 between the ages of 8 and 13. Harry had some incredible opportunities with Tap Attack over these years and in November 2021 Harry was invited to perform alongside Nell from Mainstage in a special Christmas Video being choreographed by Jessica Jo Marshall featuring 12 of Tap Attack’s younger dancers.
Tap Attack – 12 Days of Christmas
Choreography – Jessica-Jo Marshall
Video and editing – Quiet Media
Dancers – Nell, Freya, Ella-Jai, Harry, Poppy, Amelie, Lily, Gabe, Jazzy, Isla, Farrah and Ryley
Back in 2021 Harry successfully auditioned for the role of James in Conor Smith’s music video ‘Purple Skies’. Harry was also asked to create artwork and Lego models for the video shoot and one of his drawings was used as the album cover for Conor’s single.
‘Purple Skies’ by Conor Smith
Music Video Produced by Alex Bowdery of Playmotion Visuals
Actors: Harry Phillips, Henry Grant, Susan Grant & Jerome Swan
Harry is a proud member of Shaftesbury Youth Theatre and Shaftesbury Music and Drama group where his credits include:
‘Knock Knock’ July 2022 – Sam – Shaftesbury Fringe
‘Tales from the Dark’ Oct 2022 – Teen – Shaftesbury Arts Centre
‘Nativity The Musical’ Jan/Feb 2003 – Ollie – Shafestbury Arts Centre
‘GREASE’ July 2023- Ensemble – Shaftesbury Arts Centre
‘Magic Fairy In A Microwave’ July 2023- Dad – Shaftesbury Arts Centre
WINNER – BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE 2023
‘Peter Pan’ Pantomine Jan/Feb 2024 – John Darling – Shaftesbury Arts Centre
‘HONK’ May 2024- Greylag – MTI Junior Theatre Festival – Birmingham
AWARD WINNER 2024 – Best Musical & Harmonies
‘Kipps’ ‘the new half a sixpence musical’ July 2024 – Buggins – Shaftesbury Arts Centre
‘HONK’ July 2024- Greylag / Rooster – Shaftesbury Fringe – Shaftesbury Arts Centre
WINNER – BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE 2024
