You may know former So You Think You Can Dance contestant and JJGirl Emma Hellenkamp as a young dancer who knows how to light up the stage and tap up a storm! Emma shines on and off of the stage with her bright personality and incredible talent. As she continues to grow as a dancer, Emma has learned so many lessons from working with tap legends across the country!

Check out what important lessons tap dancing has taught Emma below:

Never Get Discouraged.

Tap has taught me to always work my hardest and to never get discouraged.  When I find that I am having trouble getting a step, it is important for me to remain calm and work hard at it.  All of the great teachers I have had the chance to work with would always tell me that it takes time to perfect things. I know when I was on SYTYCD, I had to learn a tap routine very quickly and because of that I would get very stressed out.  But, I always knew that if I worked at it, I would eventually get it and that would help calm me down and help me stay focused.

The Importance of Musicality.

Tap has also taught me the importance of musicality and rhythm because when you are tapping you need to know how to sit into the pocket of the music. This is not something that came to me naturally when I started tapping.  When I worked with tap legend, Savion Glover, he taught me how to sit in the pocket and really listen to the music when I tap.  Listening is a very important skill to have in life.  Whether it is concentrating on music in order to achieve the best possible tap routine, being a good listener for your friends, concentrating on the moment or being present, listening is a great skill to have.  My experience in tap has really helped me to do a better job as a listener.

Appreciate The Style.

Tap has also taught me to appreciate the art form and others who perform it because without the inspiration of others, I would not be the dancer I am today. Some inspirations of mine are Gaby Diaz, Anthony Morigerato, Travis Wall, Robert Roldan, and Jenna Johnson.  I have come to admire their work ethic, dedication to dance, and how they handle themselves around their peers.  I have been very lucky to work with professional, caring people, who have taken the time to show me the right way to do things.  I will continue to try my best to model their examples as I continue my career as a dancer.