Zachary Kelley has just been crowned one of the world’s top tap dancers.

The former Buckleyite recently traveled to Riesa, Germany for the opportunity to compete in the International Dance Organization’s World Tap Dance Championships last November as a part of Team USA.

“Everything went really, really great, and I’m super happy with how it went when I was over there,” Kelley recounted in an interview last week.

Kelley participated in three events — a formation group, a small men’s group, and the prestigious solo competition; he placed 11th in the world in the solo event, where he competed against 28 other countries, his small men’s group earned silver, and the formation group of 24 dancers — which performed to a medley of songs from the live-action “Aladdin” movie — took the gold.

“There were some crazy talented people,” he said of the solo competition. “Honestly, the whole Top 12, anyone could have been the world champion — they were just all so good.”

Now that the competition is over, Kelley plans to spend the holiday season with his family in Italy before putting his nose back to the grindstone.

“When I come back, I want to help train some kids and get more of my students onto Team USA and help them get to be world champions as well,” he continued. “I think it was such an amazing experience, and I want to be coaching and creating the best tap dancers in the world.”

Those who want to watch Team USA perform its group formation dance can head to www.facebook.com/AmericanTapCompany/videos/810944532690095/.