She tapped into T.V. and we’re certainly glad she did. Melinda Sullivan put the pedal to the ‘metal’ as a favored tap dancer on SYTYCD 2K10. But Melinda, yet another talented GFF, was voted off last week.

Beginning her tap career at an early age, Melinda was a star from the start. Sullivan is a recipient of the coveted Los Angeles Music Center “Spotlight Award” and her tapping talents can be seen in Cats and High School Musical.

Sullivan is currently digging her heals (or should we say tap shoes) into the acting stage, starring in the soap As the World Turns. (Oooh juicy.) So it’s not all that bad leaving the show.

After her SYTYCD flaps made their final ball change, we got a chance to ask this rising starlet our top four burning questions. Tune in below. This girl’s a smart cookie. Then, read further as we look back at Gregg Russell’s former remarks about tap on reality TV from our Ambassador Q n A this June.

How did you get into tapping?
I started at the age of four with a ballet/tap combo class at a local studio. I hated ballet, but loved tap. I loved making music with my feet and wearing the shoes with metal on the bottom. When I was nine, I was introduced to rhythm tap learning improv with jazz musicians and time signatures. I knew it was what I wanted to do. I felt like I was moving through space but also making sound. It was so very stimulating to me at that young age.

How did you meet Harold Cromer?
We were backstage in his dressing room and he was spitting out knowledge at the NYC Tap Festival. He’s worked with Billie Holiday, the Nicholas Brothers and Sammy Davis Jr. He’s all about being a complete entertainer. We’ve grown so close since then and he’s taught me so much. I’m so grateful for knowing him.

Even with knowing the stars like Harold, and being an amazingly talented tapper, you were in the bottom 3 for three straight weeks. What was your mindset last week?
They tell us backstage that anything can happen. You never know what the case will be with the voters. Either way, I was excited to bring tap to the world through SYTYCD so it’s all good. To date, I got the farthest a tapper has ever gotten on the show, and I’m proud to have represented the artform to viewers.

Tap hasn’t been successful on this show. Tell our GFF’s what you think about the disconnect between viewers and tappers?
First off, I hear you. I wanted to make tap dance more acceptable via this show. I used songs by James Brown and Alisha Keys because people know them and like them. On top of that, I gave them tap dance. Being a tap dancer, you are a musician. It can come off a bit obscure when someone’s making lots of sounds. It’s kinda like a drummer doing a solo. You don’t go to see a drummer, you go to see the band. The drum head is important and as a tapper, you have to have a nice wood floor to get that rich vibration you can feel... I think on a show like SYTYCD, you’re not dancing on a wood floor, so a lot of the sounds get lost. Tap is definitely a bit harder to wow the crowd on a show like this, but I’m hoping that through my performances, maybe casting directors will consider putting tap into more movies. It’s edgy and it’s fun. Tap can definitely be showcased in a music video, and its cool for the MTV generation.. and of course, for you, the next generation, gendance.

We hope to catch up with Sullivan again soon. Until then, we wish her the best and bring you former comments that relate to today’s BTS, from a Russell fan and the tap master himself, Gregg Russell.

 “Do you think tap is fully represented on shows like SYTYCD?” -GR fan

Great question to ask! It is a tricky situation to represent tap, as it is more of an individual dance, that requires a different set of skills and technique. Until recently, I feel the show hasn't figured out how to display it in a positive way on television. They did incorporated it with master guests, and tried last year with bringing in a choreographer.  I think in the next season or two, they will find a versatile dancer that can excel at all styles incredibly, and use tap as a trump card over everyone else. In fact, I've heard through some inside sources, that a couple of them are in Vegas now! Keep your fingers crossed and if not this year, maybe you can be the pioneer to show the country TAP!!!

For the full Q n A, click here.