CHAPEL HILL - On a recent sunny Saturday afternoon, the Ballet School of Chapel Hill is alive with activity as young dancers carrying tap shoes talk and laugh as they bound upstairs to Studio C.

The members of the the globe-trotting North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble (NYCTE) are heading for another energetic rehearsal. Studio C is where the hard work happens, the work that has made NCYTE (pronounced "insight") a youth dance ensemble of international renown.

The group practices every week from September through April. Recently NYCTE has been rehearsing for its season finale, "Good Vibrations," set to be performed this weekend at Durham's Carolina Theatre.

The company, directed by founder and artistic director Gene Medler, includes 36 dancers ranging in age from 8 to 18.

Luke Hickey, 12, has been a member of the dance company for five years.

"I saw the show 'STOMP' when I was six and told my parents I had to learn how to tap," he said.

When Luke hits the dance floor, his face glows with joy and his feet fly.

"It's the best feeling," he said. "I'm always dancing, and in the grocery store I'll hear something on the radio and start tapping and people just stare. Once you start you can't stop."

His younger sister Amanda and older brother Sam also tap in NCYTE. The ensemble features some of the finest young dancers in North Carolina.

Medler has devoted himself to the ensemble since founding it in 1983. NCYTE has given performances in Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Germany and Mexico.

"The company is like my extended family," he said. "Dancers will come in here at seven or eight years old, and I'll see them for the next 10 years."

Medler is a calming presence. As Studio C fills with dancers bursting with noise, he sits quietly by the sound system observing.

The more experienced dancers mentor the younger ones. Medler himself rarely wears his tap shoes during NCYTE rehearsal. As much as possible, he wants his young dancers to work things out for themselves.

Elizabeth Burke, 16, has been with NCYTE for 10 years. She started tapping at age 6 and now helps guide the younger dancers.

"Gene is amazing to work with," she said. "He is so calm, and with all of us hormonal teens. He really is patient. We have our moments where we'll get annoyed and storm out of the room, but Gene just takes it all in stride."

Michele Lynn, whose son, Kyle McConaughey, 12, is in his first year with the dance company, says Medler's devotion inspires the kids.

"NCYTE is considered one of, if not the, best youth tap companies in the country," she said. "Gene teaches the kids not only how to be incredible tap dancers but, just as important, he helps them learn how to work together, present themselves professionally and learn to lead and take responsibility."

Medler did not begin tapping until his late 20s. He was athletic, a fencer at UNC, but when he took some tap classes, something clicked. Eventually he hit upon the idea of launching a small dance studio.

"I had no idea it would be the career path it has been," he said. "Initially I started out with five boys and five girls. We were like a bad garage band that just said, 'Let's do it,' and had our first show."

Over time, that little group grew into NCYTE.

Medler's star alumni include Michelle Dorrance, who is in the New York company of "STOMP" and will perform in the "Good Vibrations" program. The performance will feature styles including Gumboot, sand dancing, buck and body percussion. The show is like "STOMP," "Riverdance," vaudeville, Fred Astaire and "Bring In Da' Noise, Bring in Da' Funk" all on one stage.

Back at Studio C, Medler watches the rehearsal with an unwavering focus. Midway through, when the dancers start to flag, he stops the music.

"Have fun, and let the audience know it," he says. "Cut loose and get down; even if you don't hit that particular step, the audience won't know if you're smiling and having a great time."

Just like that, the tension of trying to perfect steps and rhythms dissipates. The dancers laugh, Medler changes the music, and the room fills with a staccato "tap-tap-tap."

IF YOU GO

The North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble, seen here rehearsing, will perform "Good Vibrations" Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Carolina Theater, 309 W. Morgan St., Durham. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students. Tickets are available from NCYTE members; the Carolina Theater box office (560-3030); and The Ballet School of Chapel Hill, 1603 E. Franklin St. (942-1339).