CHRIS CUMMINS/The Kansas City Star The number was called “Tappin' Through the Summer.” And that's exactly what 72 children did with the help of the Emily A. Silverman Memorial Fund, which enabled them to take 16 free tap dancing lessons. Performing at a recital this week at St. Louis Church in Kansas City were Victoria Coleman and Briana Overly (right).

Emily Silverman

Emily A. Silverman dreamed of teaching at a dance studio that would accept everybody, regardless of their abilities.

But in March 2003, Emily died in an automobile accident. She was 19.

Today her parents are trying to keep her dancing dreams alive through the Emily A. Silverman Memorial Fund. Her parents say the fund this year has donated 233 pairs of shoes and costumes to aspiring dancers of all ages in the Kansas City area.

This summer the fund sponsored “Em's Spotlight,” which offered free dance classes and a recital for children who normally would not have the opportunity to dance. Future projects may include grants and tuition for needy dance students.

“Turning Emily's passion for dance into opportunities for others,” is the fund's motto, said Emily's mother, Vicki Silverman.

Emily started dancing when she was only 3 at the Betty Tillotson Studio of Dance in Kansas City.

By the time she was 9, Emily had developed obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the movements of dance took on special meaning.

“Dance really became important for her,” Silverman said. “That (the dance studio) was just a safe haven for Emily.”

By the time she was 12, Emily was teaching younger students tap, ballet and jazz. For three semesters she majored in education at Park University in hopes of becoming a dance instructor. In January 2003, she transferred to Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo., with the intention of minoring in dance.

But two months later, Emily was driving to class when she lost control of her vehicle as she tried to avoid hitting a coyote. Her car went into a ravine and struck a metal pole. She died of severe head injuries.

While writing Emily's obituary, the Silverman family came up with the idea of creating a fund in her honor. Instead of flowers at the funeral, they asked for donations to promote dance. Relatives and friends gave money. Then companies offered shoes and costumes.

“People are just donating things left and right,” Silverman said.

In June, the fund began offering dance lessons at a summer camp at St. Louis Church in Kansas City. About 66 children participated in the church's basement on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. A friend of Emily's, Kate Cofran, taught the classes.

“A lot of the kids didn't know what a recital was” when the camp started, said Emily's father, Paul Silverman.

Children who wanted to continue dancing got to keep their shoes. When they outgrow them, they can exchange them for a larger pair.

Tuesday's recital at the church featured six dance routines.

Vicki Silverman made 69 costumes with help from family and friends. Companies donated their services by taking photographs and videotaping the recital for parents.

Although watching the rehearsals and the recital was emotional for Emily's parents, they said it helped them deal with their grief. “For me, a lot of what we're doing is really hard,” Paul Silverman said. “We'd much rather have Emily here.”

To reach Maricella Miranda, call (816) 234-5909 or send e-mail to mmiranda@kcstar.com.