VICKI’S TAP PUPS
Turning a local dance class into a national phenomenon
Vicki G. Riordan leading one of her Advanced Classes
Partnered with my mom in 2006 to turn her $500 dance class into the largest adult tap program in the world. Led strategy, branding, and digital expansion while co-authoring a nationally published memoir and developing the brand into a media-ready movement.
What began as my mom’s $500 side hustle became the largest adult tap program in the world.
I partnered with her to turn a lifetime of talent into a national brand that helped thousands rediscover joy, movement, and purpose through dance and through each other. Intuitively, Vicki knew how to create a dance space that combined professional instruction and technique with a strong dose of fun. She always said, “I teach adults, not children. If these ladies aren't having fun, they are not going to come back.”
From Mortgage Money to Movement
In 1986, after my father stopped paying child support, my mom returned to teaching dance to earn an extra $500 a month to pay the mortgage. A natural-born teacher and performer, she had opened her first booming studio in 1964 in Steelton, PA, before giving it up to raise a family. When life changed, dance came back—and carried her through.
Over the next decade, she led adult dance programs rooted in 50s and 60s music, teaching more than 5,000 women. In 1997, she began teaching tap to a group of 20 to 35 adults. By 2006, she was approaching retirement from her full-time role at AFSCME Council 13. That’s when I stepped in.
I wrote her a three-page business strategy outlining how Tap Pups could become her second act and a national brand. She laughed and said, “Brian, I already have everyone in Harrisburg who wants to tap dance.” I said, “Let me do what I do, and you do what you do.”
Built to Scale. Built for Joy.
Together, we formalized her philosophy—Happiness Through Tap—redesigned the schedule, expanded to nearby towns, and opened a custom studio with a chandeliered lounge. Within two years, her student base grew to over 700 annually, with dancers ranging in age from 18 to 86.
We launched an e-commerce platform with on-demand lessons and DVDs, created the Tap Jam Board, and co-authored Encore Performance (Simon & Schuster). Our Spring Shows became legendary, drawing thousands. We were featured on CBS Sunday Morning and The Today Show. And we were in early development talks with Warner Bros. to bring her story to life in film and theater.
Beyond the studio, we supported the YWCA’s domestic violence shelter in Central PA, raising over $25,000 and assembling thousands of comfort bundles for women and children in crisis. It was never just about dance—it was about joy, community, and giving back.
The Power of Rhythm and Respect
Through this journey, we got to know each other not just as mother and son, but as adults. I always knew she was a cool mom—but I didn’t fully realize how smart and business-savvy she was. And while she had always supported me, she finally got to understand what I do for a living and who I had become.
That mutual recognition transformed our already strong bond into something even deeper. Most of us want to feel understood and respected by our parents as adults. I’m proud that we built a legacy rooted in rhythm, resilience, and real connection—and I was honored to be her partner in it.
My mom recently passed away. The mark she left is profound, and I’m grateful I got to help her reach her true potential—just as she would have done for me without hesitation.
Personal Takeaway
I helped my mom see the magnitude of what she built. She taught me that personal rhythm is one of life’s greatest sources of happiness. Once you find it, you can rely on it to get through the tough times, the joyful times, and everything in between — just like she did.
Let Me Dance…Again