Tap dance is a style of theatrical dance characterized by precise, rhythmical patterns of foot movements and stamping on the floor. The main historical sources of tap dancing appear in the traditional clog dance of northern England, in the jigs, reels, and flings of Ireland and Scotland, and in the rhythmic foot stamping of African dances. This blend of dances is now known as "American tap dance."
In the late 19th century two distinct techniques emerged, buck-and-wing and soft-shoe. Buck-and-wing was active and fast and was danced in wooden-soled shoes; soft-shoe was relaxed, smooth, and danced in soft-soled shoes. By 1925 the two varieties had largely merged, and metal taps were attached to heels and toes to produce a more audible tap. The foot technique remained much the same; a great variety of leg movement was added to the footwork, and handclaps and body slapping were occasionally used. Other steps were added to tap, including: stop-time, waltz-clogg, and time-step. Tap dancing after 1940 developed even more complex footwork and incorporated many of the sophisticated elements of ballet and modern dance.
Talented dancers like Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and John Bubbles helped refine rhythem tap dance and Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly popularized the art in Hollywood. Also Honi Coles, the Nicholas Brothers and Gregory Hines are known as tap legends.
During the 1970s, tap was considered an art and entertainment on Broadway, film, and the concert stage. Several Broadway hits include: "Black and Blue," and "Jelly's Last Jam," and films such as "The Cotton Club," "Steppin Out," and "Tap." In 1989, Congress proclaimed May 25th, National Tap Dance day.
Thank you for visiting my site on Tap Dancing! I hope I have encouraged you to learn more about the art of tap and continue to view the links I have provided. I enjoyed creating this site and I hope it has influenced you to, "Dance through your life...with tap shoes on!"
If you would like to learn more about a favorite
composer of mine, click on this.
If you would like to learn more about an interesting
and favorite instrument of mine, click on this.
Links to Tap:
-The Tap Dance Home Page. This site gives you the most information you will use to find out about tap dancers, tap in films and on video's, the history of tap, tap steps, and the sounds of tap.
-The Tap Reference Page. This site gives a brief history of tap; as well as, a book and films on the dance.
-This site gives information on different tap steps.
-This sight gives a lot of information on the history of tap. It also includes terms, icons of the dance, and teachers.
-This site gives a lot of information about tap dancing and also tells a little about jazz.
-This site offers Tap Dance Graphics. It gives information about different stars of tap dance, and it also shows the basics of the art of tap.
-This site gives information on additional tap performers, and Masters and Tap Icons such as: Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.
-This site gives additional information on tap dancing in films.
-This site brings you to extra links on the history of tap dance in other countries such as: Germany, Israel, Switzerland, and Brazil.
