Shelby Kaufman

Shelby Kaufman (she/her), Michigan native, has been trained in a variety of dance styles since the age of 5. After moving to New York she began dancing as a member of Brenda Bufalino’s ‘New’ American Tap Dance Orchestra, and Germaine Salsberg’s Les Femmes.  She has assisted and frequently guest taught for Salsberg at Broadway Dance Center, The American Tap Dance Foundation, LIU Brooklyn, and CAP 21, and has been on faculty at many New York City studios and at festivals like D.C. Tap Fest, Rock City Tap Fest, and multiple Motor City Tap Fests as well. Shelby frequently teaches workshops and classes around the country and has posted over 100 TAP-torial teaching videos on her YouTube channel. In addition to teaching, Shelby founded and currently runs two companies of her own; ‘Mazel Toes,’ comprised of professional Jewish hoofers in New York, and GLYDE, based in Michigan. She acts as the Artistic Director and Choreographer for both companies.

Off-Broadway, Shelby assisted Gail Pennington Crutchfield on the choreography of Freckleface the Musical, and acted as the SDC observer for six-time Emmy nominated choreographer Mandy Moore on Nobody Loves You at Second Stage. She was also Crutchfield’s associate choreographer on Peter PAN-tomime and Peter Rabbit The Musical. Shelby frequently assisted the late tap legend Dr. Harold 'Stumpy' Cromer both in choreography and master classes, and was the assistant to NBC SMASH's Emmy Award winning and Tony nominated choreographer, Joshua Bergasse, for his musical theatre choreography showcase at City Center Studios. Additionally, Shelby's choreography has been featured multiple times in the annual Tap City Main Event, New York City Tap Extravaganza, and Motor City Soles, as well as Tappy Holidays, Band of Gypsies, The Choreographer’s Canvas, and the first Young Choreographer’s Festival. 

Shelby has made television appearances tap dancing on both Sesame Street and The Steve Harvey Show, and will appear in the upcoming feature film, A Bread Factory Part 2, currently in post-production. Shelby’s choreography will be seen in the film as well. Other notable venues include the Apollo Theatre, Lincoln Center, Jacob's Pillow, Symphony Space, The George Street Playhouse, and Detroit Orchestra Hall.