Beloved Hillsborough Dance Teacher Is Back With A Twist

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — While Kathleen Academy of Dance may have closed after 50 years, "Miss Kathleen" Cirioli's love of dance did not stop with it.

A little over a year later, Cirioli is back and this time she is focusing on her true passion of tap dance with her newly opened business JustTAP! at her former, but smaller, studio at 411 Route 206 in Hillsborough.

"It will be just tap. It is what I am known for," said Cirioli. "I grew up dancing all forms of dance but tap just resonated with me for some reason."

Cirioli has been offering tap lessons for more than 40 years.

"Tap is the greatest thing ever," said Cirioli. "Whatever mood you are in going into a class you will come out feeling exuberated."

Cirioli opened Kathleen Academy of Dance in 1971. She survived the pandemic by offering Zoom classes and then outdoor classes. Read More: 3-Time Hillsborough Cancer Survivor, Fights To Keep Dance Alive

She continued with the virtual classes as an added precaution as she is a three-time cancer survivor and even had a lung removed in 2019.

However, after 50 years, she decided to close her academy in January 2021. Read More: After 50 Years, Beloved Hillsborough Dance Academy Is Closing

With no exit plan in mind, Cirioli continued with her JustTAP! business online. She started it as an online-only business in 1996.

"I would design and sell custom-made tap shoes for for professional tap dancers and serious students because nothing was available," said Cirioli.

Her website justtap.com sold anything and everything tap-related such as vidoes, books, t-shirts, and jewelry.

This prompted her to expand on this idea by opening a dance studio solely focused on tap dancing.

"In 2022 I expanded it from an online-only business to where we are today, once again teaching tap dance. I am pretty sure I am the only dance studio that I know of that only teaches tap, which is my passion. It is not the typical dance studio format, as dance studios are known for," said Cirioli.

Most studios focus on techniques, practices and recitals.

"We are more education based. I teach tap history," said Cirioli. "Tap is a unique American art form and people don't know about it... I want to keep tap dancing alive."

The studio, which offers classes along with the education aspect, has a following among teens and adults which Cirioli attributes to be the best aspect of tap — that anyone can do it.

"Tap dancing is something for all ages can all be together. Everybody supports each other. I love that generational thing about it," said Cirioli.

For more information visit justtap.com or acebook.com/justTAPnj.

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