Introduction To Tap Dance
Tap is an exciting rhythmical dance, which is (these days) performed wearing
shoes with metal plates affixed to the heel and toe section. Tap dancers use
their feet like drums to create a massive variety of patterns and rhythms. The
origins of Tap stem from the early 16-1800's with the mixing of the cultures of
Irish immigrants and the black Africans that were brought into America as
slaves. Over many decades the dance and music styles of these two cultures
continued to influence each other, and by 1910, Tap was formally recognised as a
dance style in its own right.
Tap Dance Styles
Hoofing
Hoofing is basically 'rhythm tap', which focuses on the sounds and the rhythm of the feet, which is more true to the original African American form. The 'Tap Dogs' (an Australian mens Tap group formed by Dein Perry) primarily follow this form, and are a great example of the intricacies, speed, and complicated rhythms that this style offers.
Classical Tap
Classical Tap developed as a result of the introduction of the 'silver screen' where dancers such as Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Gene Kelly became extremely popular. This style uses a lot of arm and upper body movements and incorporates a Jazz/Ballet/Ballroom look and feel to the dance. The style is still seen in many of todays broadway shows.
Street Tap
Tap dance has always followed the trend of the music of the day. As recently as within the last decade, a new form of tap has evolved to match the 'urban' music scene, and therefore can be described as a fusion of tap with hip-hop, funk and other modern styles.
Like everything, Tap Dance is ever evolving and we see the emergence of so many fantastic varieties and fusions!
I for one, am a massive fan of the Tap Dogs! The Tap Dogs were a group created by a very talented Australian dancer, Dein Perry, in around 1995 and it took off! If you don’t know them, I highly recommend you look them up on YouTube, or at least watch the movie “Bootmen”!