Beverly Fletcher was a tap master teacher. She also worked with Dance Master of America and wrote their tap teaching syllabus. She also wrote a book called Tapworks, which is a dictionary and reference manual. She combined her expertise and knowledge as a dancer and teacher and is one of the only book I have read that talks about the two different forms of tap.

The book is filled with general information on tap history, as well as the impact tap dancing has had on dance as an art form. It includes standard abbreviations for steps and figures and a very comprehensive and accurate dictionary. She also give her thoughts on theatrical staging of dance, and theatrical terminology. The book ends with a glossary of styles and dances as well as specific types of tap dance steps.

I highly recommend the book, but wanted to pass along my sympathies to her family. She died at home next to her 2 daughters. I think she had been sick for awhile but someone told me it was cancer. That may be incorrect since I heard it second hand.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Beverly's name to:
Niagara Hospice
4675 Sunset Drive
Lockport, NY 14094
716 -439-4417

Her book "Tapworks: A Dictionary and Reference Manual" is absolutely outstanding. This book has been accepted by Dance Masters of America as its official reference manual. This is one of the first books I reach for when I have a question about tap dancing. The book is very comprehensive and well written.

do we know how old she was when she died

Yes, she was 81.

Here is the link to the obituary.

www.buffalonews.com . . .