Iota Omicron-WPI Seven-Time World Tap Dancing Champion Meet Kayla Novack (Iota Omicron-WPI) , a junior studying environmental engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a seven-time world tap dancing champion. Yes, seven-time. Kayla first stepped into a dance studio at just three years old, training in styles ranging from jazz to ballet. But tap quickly claimed her heart. “It became my favorite style of dance,” she shares, “partially because it came naturally to me, but also because of the unique way it blends musicality with physical demand.” By third grade, Kayla was competing with her home studio. Determined to take her talent further, she auditioned for the American Tap Company in fourth grade and earned her place. She has remained on the team ever since. As part of Team USA under the United States Dance and Sport Competition Federation, Kayla has represented her country at the World Tap Championships five times and counting. “The decision to try out for this team changed my life in the best possible way,” she reflects. And the results speak for themselves. At just 11 years old, Kayla’s first appearance at the World Championships in 2016 earned her two gold medals and one silver. She added a bronze in 2019, an impressive four gold medals in 2023 and most recently, a gold and silver in 2025 at the championships in Prague, Czech Republic. But it’s her most recent gold that means the most. Her award-winning routine, Sapphire Swing, brought together seven dancers from high schools and colleges across the country, making rehearsals a challenge. “Practicing was nearly impossible,” Kayla explains. “We learned parts of the choreography over video calls, rehearsed separately at our own schools and trusted that somehow it would all come together.” As if that weren’t enough, Kayla performed throughout the week while battling the flu and intense jet lag. For many, it would have been the perfect storm for defeat. For Kayla, it was simply another challenge to overcome. “Every limit I thought I had, I had to learn to push past,” she says. “Winning was, without a doubt, one of the greatest moments of my life.” To make the victory even sweeter, Kayla shared the stage with her younger brother, Ethan, who’s also a competitive tap dancer. After years of competing in separate age divisions, the two finally performed side by side. For Kayla, it was so much more than another gold medal. “We have both worked so hard to get to where we are, and for the first time, we got to do it together,” she says. “It’s something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
Kayla (left) with some of her Iota Omicron sisters.
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