Tap dance is a 19th-century dance style that originated in the United States. Tap dance began in black minstrel shows, but by the 1920s, it had gained popularity among both black and white audiences. Today, a variety of tap dance schools can be seen in action, and a variety of tap classes are available at many dance studios and schools.
Tap dancers wear shoes that have metal plates attached to them. The plates click against the dance floor as the dancer moves, making a distinctive tapping sound. By tapping, sliding, and clicking the metal plates with their feet, tappers can create a variety of percussive rhythms. Tap dancers perform either alone or with musical accompaniment, allowing spectators to enjoy both the dancer’s movements and the sound of the tapping. Some composers have even written works for tap dancers and orchestras, with the tap dancers acting as drummers and other percussionists.
Tap dance’s origins are a little hazy. Several cultures have dance traditions that are similar to tap dancing, such as clogging in the British Isles, which uses similar movements. Percussive dance traditions exist in some African cultures, which were undoubtedly brought to the United States on slave ships, and flamenco, a style of Spanish dance, includes a version of tap dancing known as zapateado. Tap dancing, whatever its origins, has become a quintessential American dance form.
Tappers frequently use syncopation in their performances, resulting in unexpected and lively rhythms. They enjoy improvisation as well, and they can perform solo or in groups. In traditional tap, the dancer’s entire body moves in sync with his or her feet, often in highly stylized movements. The style of tap dance known as Broadway tap is a highly formalized version of this style. Hoofers, on the other hand, prefer to concentrate solely on their feet’s movements while keeping their upper bodies still. Softshoe is a tap variation that does not use metal plates, resulting in a much quieter series of dance moves.
People who want to try tap dancing for themselves should be able to find tap classes or a private instructor in their area. Dance supply companies can order tap shoes, and some dance studios have small shops that stock basic supplies. People who have done clogging or step dancing before may find that they pick up tap quickly.