Hello Paul and welcome to TSP from me too.
It all sounds very positive and great to hear you've started your sewing experience with knit fabrics too! If you want to talk lycra with anyone, head straight over to the dance section
(The Show Must Go On) as unsurprisingly it's very much our thing - plenty of experience of sewing lycra there! You'll be very welcome without your tap shoes!
We've also been discussing an Activewear pattern book elsewhere but it's looking a little uncertain whether we'll agree on a positive or negative conclusion in the end.