We’re thrilled to share that Melissa Renner, founder of Active For Life Fitness, was featured in Cleveland Magazine for her groundbreaking work in making dance more accessible to all. The article, “Melissa Renner Invents New Ways to Practice Dance,” highlights how Melissa not only teaches seated dance classes like TAP TIME™, but also created a patent-pending tap shoe cover—a flexible silicone accessory that slides over any shoe, allowing participants to create rhythmic tap sounds from a seated position.
In the feature, Melissa shares how the inspiration for her invention came from working with older adults in assisted living who couldn’t safely wear traditional tap shoes. Her goal? To make movement joyful, easy, and inclusive—especially for individuals living with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other mobility limitations. The article also details her continued innovation, including the creation of a hand tap cover to further expand access to the benefits of music and movement. Read the full Cleveland Magazine article here.