Tap Dance Classes

Tap dance is a form of dance that uses the shoes as an instrument of music. There are two forms of this dance: rhythm and Broadway. Rhythm style focuses more on the musicality of the dance. Broadway focuses on the dance. It is assumed that this type of dance is descended from Irish step dancing and African slave dances. The rise of this dance began in the middle of the 19th century with minstrel shows. These minstrel shows included Irish dancers that would put on black face and imitate Southern black slaves. While they imitated the movement of the slaves, they also brought in their own Irish heritage.

In the 20th century tap dancers started to dance for TV and film. At this time percussion became very important to the dance and this created a whole new style of dance. Many actors of the golden age of cinema were proficient dancers in this style. This style brought musicality to the forefront. Syncopation was very important. Improvisation is another element that was key to the art. Often improvisation was done a cappella so that the intricacies of the taps could be heard. Some dancers use powerful leg movements and create a louder more earthy sound. These are known as hoofers.

Fred Astaire had ballroom background and turn his tapping into a new look for the art of tap. Gene Kelly had a background in ballet and he brought an entirely different look to the dance. This later became the Broadway version of the form. Beginners often learn the Broadway style first. It is composed of steps like shuffle, flap, cramp roll, Maxi Ford, pullbacks, and the like. As the student becomes more advanced, steps are combined to create new steps along with more advanced steps.

The sound of tap is what often designates it stylistically. If one listens carefully, the rhythm of the dance can be clearly heard. If a change in rhythm is desired, a time step is used to bridge the gap. This is usually done by adding or taking away elements in a step. This form of dance is still quite popular although it has lost some of its momentum. Dance classes are available from most dance studios in these styles. Tap a cappella is a handy tool for teaching students to dance the steps correctly because if it is done incorrectly, it is immediately heard. This form of dance will continue to live on in its legacy.