ODC presents: Eddie Brown Tap Dance Symposium
August 6-9, 2026
ODC Dance Commons & ODC Theater
Celebrate the late tap dance legend Eddie Brown at ODC August 6-9, 2026. Created by Brown’s protege Babs Yohai along with Gabe & Mindy Copeland, The Eddie Brown Tap Dance Symposium offers tap classes for all levels embodying Brown’s signature rhythms and routines, a sneak preview of the Eddie Brown Documentary, and chance to engage with tap stars and stewards of Eddie’s teachings. The Symposium culminates in a showcase at ODC Theater with special guest Bill Irwin and live music from The Cottontails with Karina Deniké.
USE DISCOUNT CODE EB2026 FOR 10% OFF ALL PRICING BY July 7th.
Questions? Email frontdesk@odc.dance or call 415/863.6606
REGISTRATION OPTIONS
Advanced - “Drag Nasties”
For dancers ages 16 and up with 5 or more years of tap experience. Ready to learn material at a fast pace and should be comfortable with dancing up-tempo.
Intermediate - “Dig It”
For dancers ages 12 and up with 3 or more years of tap experience who are ready to learn Eddie Brown material at a moderate pace. Familiarity with thirds, cramp rolls and paddle and roll variations is strongly recommended.
Adv. Beginning - “Rascals”
For dancers with 1 or more years of tap experience. Pace will be slower and deeper so dancers can improve their technique, expression, and musicality by studying the masterful work of Eddie Brown.
ALL LEVEL (BEG / INT / ADV)
These all-level classes are open to everyone, from first-time tap dancers to seasoned performers. In Bill Irwin’s interpretation of Eddie Brown’s Irish Jig class, dancers of all experience levels will find something to enjoy. *These classes are included in the all-event Symposium Pass purchases (not day passes).
Bill Irwin's Irish Jig classes are also available separately from the Symposium Passes, but enrollment for all three classes is required (no drop-ins).
Workshop included with full Symposium pass holders.
Symposium Faculty
Babs Yohai is a tap dancer, teacher, producer, and arts advocate whose life’s work has been dedicated to preserving and advancing the legacy of American rhythm tap. A student and close artistic collaborator of legendary tap master Eddie Brown, Babs played a pivotal role in bringing Brown’s extraordinary talent and historic contributions into the public spotlight during a time when many great jazz tap artists had been overlooked. Their partnership evolved into both a creative and deeply personal artistic journey, with Yohai sharing the stage with Brown in performances, lectures, and workshops devoted to the preservation of Scientific Rhythm, Eddie’s signature style.
Babs was the founder, along with Gregory Hines, of “The Beat, Eddie Brown Center for the Arts”, in Berkeley, CA. The studio was created to celebrate Brown’s artistry and keep his legacy alive for future generations. Over a teaching career spanning more than 30 years, she has introduced countless students to the musicality, improvisation, and storytelling at the heart of tap dance. John Bubbles made her a proud member of the International Hoofers Club.
She brought rhythm tap to Italy teaching and performing for seven years with renowned jazz musicians such as Luca Flores and Piero Borri. At the Umbria Jazz in Perugia, she made a splash, creating nightly Jam sessions with world famous musicians.
Currently living in Oakland, she continues sharing “Scientific Rhythm” with the world. She is making a documentary, highlighting Eddie Brown, the man, the artist, and his close friendship with Babs.
Gabe Copeland has been a dance educator for over 20 years. He has performed nationally and internationally as a featured member of the Los Angeles based touring company Rhapsody in Taps. Other credits include ABC’s Gong Show, China’s Dream television show, soloist in KIN Dance Company’s Down Around Brown Town and soloist on an international tour with Caution: Men At Work Tap! He has also performed in many Southern California Civic Light Opera productions such as Cole, Crazy For You, and Rodgers & Hart: A Celebration. Most recently, Gabe performed in the critically acclaimed Jazz Tap Jam! Show for the Lively Arts Foundation honoring Gregory Hines and had the privilege of performing a piece originally choreographed by the tap legend himself.
Mindy Copeland As a dance educator since 1995, Mindy has also enjoyed a career in performance. As a member of the Los Angeles based touring company, Rhapsody in Taps, Mindy performed the choreography of Linda Sohl-Ellison, Gregory Hines, Fred Strickler, Sam Weber, Brenda Bufalino and Foster Johnson. She was a featured soloist in the international tour of Caution: Men At Work Tap! Mindy appeared in the short film, Tap Heat with choreography by Danny Daniels, and appeared in and choreographed for national and international television shows including the Jerry Lewis Telethon, China’s Dream Show, Spain’s Extremo Urbano, and ABC’s Gong Show. Other stage credits include, appearing with the legendary Chester Whitmore in A Tribute to Jeni Le Gon, and KIN Dance Company’s James Brown tribute show, Down Around Brown Town. Most recently, Mindy directed and performed in the critically acclaimed 2023 Jazz Tap Jam! Show for the Lively Arts Foundation.
The Copelands have shared the stage with tap legends Dianne Walker, Arthur Duncan, Fayard Nicholas and Bob Carroll and performed Begin the Beguine together in Swing Into Spring. They direct Tap Overload which has a collection of original tap dance film shorts on its YouTube channel and produced an original tap dance comedy show-Office Beat. The show received rave reviews and the official Hollywood Fringe Festival Award, Best of Physical theatre and Dance as well as the Robby Award for Best Choreography of LA Theatre in 2016.
Sheila Marsee Hofer was a co-founder of The Beat, Eddie Brown Center for The Arts, a non-profit dance studio in Berkeley, California. While she was soaking up all the Eddie Brown material she could find, she was teaching tap for 17 years at the Davis Arts Center in Davis, California. She was part of many performances around the Bay Area and worked side by side till the present with Eddie’s protege Babs Yohai.
Bill Irwin is an actor, director, writer, and clown. His original works include The Regard of Flight; Largely New York ; Fool Moon; Old Hats, The Happiness Lecture; and others. His theater credits include Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The Goat, Waiting for Godot, Endgame, Eureka Day and ON BECKETT, an evening of passages from Samuel Beckett’s work. On television Irwin can be seen in character roles from Mr. Noodle of Elmo’s World to Nate Haksell, serial killer on CSI, and more recently, BEAST IN ME. Film credits include Rachel Getting Married, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Eight Men Out, Stepping Out — and he is among the actors who are a part of Christopher Nolan’s ODYSSEY . Irwin gratefully acknowledges the awards and fellowships that have allowed him to explore the theater.
Gregg Geoffroy is a tap teacher, performer, and jazz pianist spanning over 30 years. He’s made the study, style analysis and preservation of Eddie Brown’s contributions paramount in his teaching.