Tap Dancing– is a form of dance characterized by a tapping sound that is created from metal plates that are attached to both the ball and heel of the dancer’s…
Tap dance was born in the United States during the 19th century, and today is popular all around the world. The name comes from the tapping sound made when the small metal plates on the dancer’s shoes touch a hard floor. This lively, rhythmic tapping makes the performer not just a dancer, but also a percussive musician.
The majority of hoofers, such as Sammy Davis Jr., Savion Glover, and Gregory Hines, are black dancers. Dancers like Fred Astaire provided a more ballroom look to tap dancing, while Gene Kelly used his extensive ballet training to make tap dancing incorporate all the parts of the choreographies. Tap dancing typically stars on the eighth beat, or between the eighth and the first count.
Elementary steps and basic rhythms are taught first, and then we move into more intricate patterns and rhythms. Both traditional and contemporary tap techniques are cover in the lesson plan.
The tap student will learn to make beautiful music with their feet 😉