Nancy Bueschen

Teaneck, NJ
Company Member since January 2025

Nancy, a self-proclaimed “original ADHD kid,” started dancing at 2½. Her mom enrolled her in a tap and acrobatics class at a dance studio in Rahway, NJ, sparking her lifelong love. At five, she joined The Fred Kelly Dance Studio in Oradell, NJ, run by Gene Kelly’s brother, who was a renowned choreographer and instructor for stars like Sinatra and Travolta. Nancy trained with Fred for over 25 years, focusing on tap, though she also learned ballet, baton, acrobatics, and jazz. As preteens, Nancy and John Travolta shared the same tap class. “Fred was a wonderful teacher, and he danced much like Gene. I have a more physical way of dancing, and I attribute that to being taught by a man.”

Nancy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Caldwell College in New Jersey. She also taught tap at Fred’s studio and aerobic dancing for the Jackie Sorensen program in the ‘80s. Her favorite and most rewarding job (besides raising her children) was as a Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) on an acute care unit. A Psychiatric Technician is a frontline staff member who provides direct care, monitoring, and emotional support to patients in mental health crises. Once her children were grown, she started tap dancing again and joined the Kathleen Academy of Dance in Hillsborough, NJ, owned by Kathleen Cirioli, founder of Just Tap and Dance for a Cure, a nonprofit organization that has helped hundreds of breast cancer patients in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Mercer, and Somerset counties in NJ with over one million dollars in donated funds.

In 2020, Nancy and her husband, Steve, moved from Montgomery Township, NJ, to Southport. They have been married for nearly forty-three years, have four children, and two grandchildren. They mostly travel to see family and attend events in the NJ, Ohio, and Boston areas, and they are on a National Park kick, having already visited several. She enjoys crafting, especially working with oyster shells. One rewarding project she completed was making place cards for her daughter's wedding using shells she gathered locally. Nancy is active in the community; she plays golf regularly, volunteers at the hospital, line dances, plays mahjong, swims, and is part of her church's women's group. She also volunteers with Little Pink Houses of Hope, an organization that sponsors retreats for women and families affected by breast cancer. After
moving, she joined two tap groups in Southport. Nancy says, "Tap dancing is in my blood!" I'm usually moving around, tapping my feet pretty much all the time, and often get comments on that!” She learned about Hi-Steppers from Teri Dixon but was initially hesitant to join, worried she wouldn't fit in. However, after encouragement from Teri, Lesly, and Vicki, she hasn't looked back since joining the troupe. Her favorite Hi-Stepper moment so far was being warmly welcomed into the group!! She immediately felt a "sisterhood" among the women! “Thank you, Teri!! And an extra thank you to Tina for welcoming me and encouraging me! Your energy is boundless and contagious, and it is just so much fun to come to tap on Fridays!!”