Tap Dance Guide
Tap dance is a percussive art form in which the dancer’s feet become musical instruments. Created from the fusion of African, Irish, and English step-dance traditions in nineteenth-century America, tap dance evolved into a uniquely American contribution to the performing arts. Modern tap encompasses multiple approaches ranging from rhythm-focused hoofing to theatrical Broadway choreography.
History of Tap Dance
The roots of tap dance lie in the encounter between African American and European American dance traditions. Enslaved Africans brought percussion-oriented dance traditions that emphasized polyrhythm and improvisation. Irish and English stepdance traditions contributed traveling steps, intricate footwork patterns, and upright posture. In the early nineteenth century, these traditions merged in the Five Points district of New York City, producing the first recognizable tap dance. By the late nineteenth century, dancers such as William Henry Lane and the Whitman Sisters had professionalized the form. The invention of metal taps attached to shoes allowed clearer sound production. The twentieth century saw tap reach its golden age in Hollywood musicals, with stars like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly bringing the form to global audiences. The post-war decline of the Hollywood musical led to a tap renaissance beginning in the 1970s, driven by dancers like Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, and Brenda Bufalino.
Basic Steps and Sounds
Tap dance uses four basic weight changes that produce the characteristic vocabulary of the form. A step places weight onto the ball of the foot with a clear, crisp sound. A stamp places weight onto the full foot with a heavier, bass-like tone. A toe tap touches the ball of the foot to the floor without taking weight. A heel tap touches the heel without taking weight. From these four actions, dancers build compound steps. The flap is a brush-step: the ball of the foot brushes across the floor before stepping. The shuffle is a brush-brush executed with the ball of the foot. The ball change transfers weight from one foot to the other with two sounds. The pullback creates a double sound as the foot pulls back to a hop. The cramp roll produces three or four rapid sounds as the dancer drops weight from balls to heels.
Rhythm Tap
Rhythm tap, also called hoofing, emphasizes the musical qualities of the dancing over its visual appearance. The dancer’s phrasings, dynamics, and accents create a percussive composition in real time. Rhythm tappers often perform without music or with minimal accompaniment, allowing the dancer to function as both musician and choreographer. Savion Glover, perhaps the most influential living tap dancer, exemplifies this approach. His style is grounded, heavy, and aggressively rhythmic, with shoulder-shrugging, chest-bouncing upper-body movement that signals the physical effort of sound production. Rhythm tap requires excellent time feel, dynamic control, and the ability to hear and execute complex rhythmic patterns.
Broadway Tap
Broadway tap prioritizes visual presentation alongside sound. Choreographed for proscenium stages, Broadway tap uses directional changes, arm movements, and traveling patterns that read clearly from the audience. The sound remains important but is balanced with the visual spectacle of the moving body. Choreographers like Gower Champion, Bob Fosse, and Michael Bennett created tap numbers for musicals such as 42nd Street, Dancin’, and Anything Goes that are as celebrated for their visual composition as for their sound. Broadway tap often incorporates props — canes, hats, chairs — and is danced in close formation with other performers. The style demands precise timing, clean sound execution, and strong performance presence.
Improvisation
Tap improvisation is the practice of creating movement spontaneously, often in response to live music or within a jam session context. Improvising taps develop an internal musical vocabulary — a library of steps and phrases that can be recalled, combined, and varied in the moment. Jam sessions, where dancers take turns in the center of a circle, are the social heart of the tap community. Improvisation requires not only technical command but also musical courage. Dancers must listen carefully to the music, respond with confidence, and have the willingness to make mistakes in the pursuit of creative expression.
Music and Tap
All tap dancers must develop sophisticated musicality. Tap is inherently polyrhythmic — the dancer can produce a different rhythm with each foot while also creating counter-rhythms against the music. Dancers study music theory, learn to identify time signatures, understand syncopation, and practice rhythmic call-and-response. Practicing with a metronome trains internal clock accuracy. Working with live musicians, particularly drummers and jazz pianists, teaches dancers to listen, react, and trade phrases in the manner of improvising jazz musicians.
Technique and Training
Tap technique requires years of dedicated practice. Beginners focus on clear, consistent sound — quality of sound matters more than speed or complexity. The leg and foot muscles must be conditioned to execute rapid, precise movements. Ankles develop strength, flexibility, and articulatory control. Rhythm exercises, often performed sitting or holding a barre, isolate the feet from the demands of balance. Across-the-floor exercises develop traveling steps and directional changes. Center combinations combine steps into choreographic phrases. Advanced dancers learn complex patterns such as the time step, which exists in hundreds of variations and forms the rhythmic signature of the form.
Preservation and Evolution
Tap dance has benefited from sustained preservation efforts. The American Tap Dance Foundation, founded in 1986 by Brenda Bufalino, Tony Waag, and Charles Goddertz, offers classes, workshops, and performances dedicated to the form. Gregory Hines established National Tap Dance Day, celebrated annually on May 25, the birthday of Bill Bojangles Robinson. Tap festivals in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, and other cities bring together dancers for master classes, jam sessions, and performances. At the same time, tap continues to evolve. Contemporary choreographers like Michelle Dorrance, Jason Samuels Smith, and Ayodele Casel incorporate elements of modern dance, hip-hop, and jazz into their work, while also challenging the racial and gender dynamics of the tap world. The boundaries between tap genres are increasingly porous, with rhythm tappers collaborating with dancers from other traditions and new works that integrate tap with theatre, music, and visual art. Tap dance remains deeply connected to American dance history, and contemporary tappers continue to draw inspiration from jazz dance and other rhythmic traditions. Understanding dance music and rhythm is fundamental to mastering the percussive artistry that defines the form.
Tap Shoes
The tap shoe is the dancer’s instrument. Traditional lace-up oxfords with leather soles and metal or plastic taps are the standard choice for Broadway and rhythm tap. The tap itself consists of a toe piece and a heel piece attached with screws. Dancers can adjust the tension of the screws to alter the sound. Split-sole tap shoes offer greater flexibility in the arch. Some contemporary designs incorporate a tap that covers the full sole, producing a brighter, thinner sound. The choice of shoe is deeply personal, with each dancer seeking the optimal combination of fit, sound, and feel.
Tap Dance and Education
Tap dance has found a home in dance education at all levels. Many university dance programs offer tap technique courses as part of their curriculum, and some offer tap pedagogy courses for future teachers. Tap is particularly valued in music education because it teaches rhythm, phrasing, and musical form through the body. School-based tap programs provide students with a physically active music education experience. Senior tap classes are popular in many communities, providing low-impact cardiovascular exercise and cognitive stimulation through rhythm learning. The tap community also maintains strong traditions of oral transmission — dancers learning from dancers in master classes, workshops, and jam sessions.
Tap and Social Media
Social media has given tap dance a new platform. Short-form video platforms allow tappers to share improvisations, choreography, and educational content with global audiences. Tap dancers have built significant followings, bringing the form to people who may never attend a live tap performance. The visibility has translated into increased class attendance, performance opportunities, and public awareness. Social media also connects the tap community across geography, allowing dancers to follow innovators, learn from different regional styles, and participate in online challenges and collaborations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is tap different from other dance styles? Tap dance is primarily a percussive art form in which the feet create musical sound. Unlike other dance styles, tap can exist without music — the dancer provides the rhythm and melody.
Is tap harder than ballet? Harder is subjective. Tap requires sophisticated rhythmic ability and isolated foot articulation. Ballet demands extreme flexibility and turnout. Both require years of dedicated practice.
Can I learn tap as an adult? Yes. Many studios offer adult tap classes at beginner and intermediate levels. Tap does not require the flexibility or turnout of ballet, making it more physically accessible for late beginners.
What should I look for in tap shoes? Quality tap shoes should fit snugly without pinching, provide adequate ankle support, and produce a clean, clear sound. Consult a dancewear specialist for proper fitting.
How do I practice tap at home? Practice on a portable tap board or wooden surface. Begin with basic steps and weight changes. Use a metronome to develop consistent timing. Record yourself to evaluate sound quality and clarity.