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Tony Coppola

@thedefianttapper

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🎼 Choreographer
🕺🏻 Performer
🥁 Percussionist
Founder of @coppola.rhythm.ensemble
DM for Inquiries for Private Drum or Dance lessons

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Breaking Traditional Stereotypes by @thedefianttapper

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22 days ago

Still smiling from this one! 🥁🎉

What better way to celebrate my birthday than with rhythm, movement, and an incredible room full of people willing to play, learn, and create together.

We kicked things off with some body percussion before bringing out the drums and percussion instruments for everyone to join in. Then the amazing Liezel took it from rhythm to movement, teaching hip hop choreography to my live percussion beats.

A huge thank you to Liezel for collaborating with me and bringing such great energy to the room and to everyone who came out, danced, played, and celebrated with me.

Feeling very grateful for another year of making music, making movement, and sharing it all with this community. ❤️🥁 THIS IS 80! by @thedefianttapper

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Happy 80th Birthday Tony! 🥳❤️🎂

What better way to celebrate than doing what you love most - percussion and dancing! 🥁🕺🏽

We were so lucky to celebrate @thedefianttapper birthday with a special collaboration with @laydeeliz ! Tony taught body percussion and played drums, while Liz taught hip-hop grooves. The energy was unreal! ✨

Tony, we are so blessed to have you as part of our dance community. You’re an inspiration to all of us! ❤️

#MDCLV #80AndDancing #MillenniumDanceComplex #millenniumdancecomplexlasvegas #vegasdancestudio taken in Las Vegas, Nevada by @thedefianttapper

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80 years young and still bringing the rhythm. 🕺🎶
Come celebrate my 80th birthday with me at Millennium Dance Complex Las Vegas. We’re dancing, making music, and having a good time. 🎂🔥

📅 Saturday, September 5th
⏰ 4:00–6:00 PM
🎵 Open-level Hip-Hop with Liezel Marie
🥁 Live percussion by yours truly

No better way to celebrate 80 than on the dance floor. Let’s make it a good one. 💪🏽🎉

Reserve your spot on Mindbody. Space is limited. 👊🏽 by @thedefianttapper

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2 months ago

Two truths and a lie 👀 Which one do you think is the lie?

Drop your answer in the comments ⬇️ taken in Las Vegas, Nevada by @thedefianttapper

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When movement meets percussion. 🥁 taken in Las Vegas, Nevada by @thedefianttapper

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Sometimes the opportunity you want starts with a job you think is “beneath you.”

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that you can’t be afraid to look a little foolish, start at the bottom, or do the job that gets you in the room.

I once needed to hire six dancers. Instead, I ended up hiring two dancers and four actors because some people weren’t willing to take on the opportunity when it didn’t look like the job they wanted.

You never know where a “small” opportunity might lead—or what you might learn along the way.

I share the full story in this week’s Substack, along with why being willing to look foolish can sometimes be the smartest thing you can do.

Read the full story via the link in my bio or in my Story. taken in Las Vegas, Nevada by @thedefianttapper

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Stepping outside your comfort zone looks different for everyone.

At the Dance Teacher Web Conference, I’ll be teaching, speaking, and sharing my thoughts on what it means to push past the familiar and keep challenging yourself.

For me, that challenge is getting back to performing more. After a lifetime of teaching, choreographing, and creating, I’m pushing myself to step back into the spotlight and perform again.

What’s something that’s outside your comfort zone right now? 👇 taken in Las Vegas, Nevada by @thedefianttapper

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