Do you live tap dance? Do you breathe
tap dance? Do you dream tap dance? Then this page is for you...
Over 200 tappers' questions have been answered by top-level pros from the
national tap dance company's cast, right
here!
In addition to the answers
provided in the general FAQ section, you can ASK THE MASTERS using the simple form
below. We'd love to hear your questions. We will pass them on to the National
Tap Ensemble cast and they will
answer themselves. Cool! Please keep in mind that it may take a while as they are very busy and
they spend a lot of time on the road. Count on an update every other month or so, and...
count on them to "tell it like it is."
Please note that for the visitor's convenience we have kept it "all in one
place" but this page will take a while to load...
What is a master class? This question has to be one of the biggest sources of
misunderstanding and disappointment for tap students. So let's get things
straight! Simply put, a master class is a class TAUGHT by a MASTER
TEACHER.
Therefore:
- You do not need to BE a master to take a master class! As a matter of fact, the NTE
faculty teaches master classes at all 7 levels, even for total beginners at
level 1. But
one needs to be a master teacher in order to TEACH a master class. "Master
class" is actually a short for "master's class."
- To be able to teach a good master class, a teacher must have a considerable amount of experience.
So when you hear that a 20 year old dancer who is performing in a show or a
movie is teaching a "master class," beware! Performing is a
vastly different thing
from teaching and some well-known performers are actually very poor teachers!
Likewise, there are some great teachers with little or no professional
performing experience.
How do I know what my level really
is?
At the request of many
students and teachers we have moved the answer to this question to a separate
page, where the national tap dance company's Professional Tap Dance
Level Scale is now available to all as a FREE public service. Enjoy, but
please use it in a Copasetic way!
How do I know or how can I determine if a floor is right for tap dance? Click here for honest,
unbiased
answers by topnotch pros.
Where do I find a good tap teacher" or "where
do I find such and such model or size of tap shoes? Because of the national
company's mission and status, it would NOT be appropriate for NTE to give
advice about which dance studio to go to. However, if you are interested in a
list of tap teachers who have received proper training and certification, you
will find it here. As to tap shoes and
taps, a very common mistake is for amateur tappers to believe that because
such and such a professional uses brand/model X, by buying this shoe they will
tap just like that pro. Nothing could be further from the truth! A particular
model of shoe or tap does NOT make a good tap dancer out of anyone (never put
the cart before the horse...)
ASK THE MASTERS
Important
GUIDELINES & tips
The Questions Form
is just below this section. Please follow
these guidelines if you'd like to get your question
answered!
- Read this entire page FIRST to see if your question or topic of interest has
already been discussed.
Sometimes people think alike, and they have the same kind of questions. You will
find below answers to over 200 questions we have received. Take a good look to see if yours is
already among them. Even if it isn't, you might find some interesting stuff in the other
ones!
- Not all questions can or will be answered. For example, our performers would not know
how to (nor would they have the time to) answer such questions as "Where do I find Irish Tap
classes in the Chicago area(!!?)", "Are there any good tap dancing schools in
Atlanta?", "What does a master class cost?", etc. Neither should they! In
other words, answers are given personally but are meant to be provided as a free service to the tap
dance community worldwide. Please don't be
selfish, and use common
sense.
- Vague and general questions such as "can you tell me about the history of tap"
cannot be answered here (this is a web page, not a
book!) Thank you for being as specific as possible.
- Some people have been sending questions that were so poorly worded that no one could
understand them (and no, these were not foreign tappers!) Make sure your question makes sense!
- Answers to such questions as "How do I do a triple
time step?" "Do you have any suggestions for improving the "up in the air steps" such as Wings,
etc." or "How do you do a Bombershay?"
can and should only be given on the dance floor, NOT
here.
The Internet is a convenient communication medium, but
there are things it can't even begin to do. The complex,
human, wonderful interaction that happens during the
learning process between a tap student and her/his
teacher is one of these things. Simply put, tap dance,
which originated in Africa as an oral tradition, should
remain that way. It can't - and simply shouldn't be
- "taught on
the Internet."
- Our cast members are more than willing to dedicate
(many) hours of their busy schedule to sharing what they
know with tap dancers worldwide on this page.
However, please have the courtesy and fairness
not to ask them such questions as "I am doing a research
paper on the influence of tap on American musicals. Any
information you can give me would be of great help" or
"I am doing a report on tap dancing. I have been looking
for information about it like: the history, how it
influenced society, and how it has changed through the
years. Nothing personal here,
but doing your school or university project is not
their job!
-
You are welcome to use
information provided on this and other web pages, as
long as you do it in an ethical manner. In particular,
you MUST give the appropriate credits and ask permission
first. Please see the
"COPYRIGHT, ETC." section of the Let's
Be Copasetic! page for guidelines.
- Questions that are too general, yet may be of interest to all tappers may be
answered in the FAQ section above.
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My question is:
Q & A (QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS)
From: Ian Howe, age 12, Seattle, WA,
USA "I would like to teach, got any suggestions?" Ian, it's great to see someone your age who is already interested in teaching.
Teaching is not easy. It requires a lot of training, the ability to work under pressures
of all kinds (of course, you may not notice this since most teachers are pretty good at
hiding those pressures) and, most importantly, a deep love for sharing with other
people. But teaching is also incredibly rewarding. We think It's one of the best things we
human beings can do. Becoming a teacher is a calling, it's a little bit like becoming a
priest or a doctor, there is a little voice somewhere in us that keeps saying "this
is what I want to do, I have to do this" and that little voice gets louder,
and louder, until we finally JUST DO IT!
But how do you get into it? Our suggestion would be to first observe the teachers
you are learning from right now (all your teachers, not just in dance) and see how
they go about teaching something, anything. After a while you might even be able to figure
out what they will teach next (that's a fun game.) After class, you may also want to
ask them any question you have about teaching. Many teachers are really tickled to find
young people interested in what they do and they might even give you a few tips! Then, try
to grab any opportunity to teach things you know in tap or in any other field to people
around you - siblings, buddies, maybe even your grandma! Don't "show off."
Instead, show them what you know and try to do it in a sharing way. If they can replicate
what you demonstrated, even in a small way, then you've taught them something! Next, ask
your dance teachers if and when you can start becoming an assistant teacher, which is one
of the best ways of learning about this wonderful profession.
From: Pat Cloutier, Dublin, NH, USA "Is there a standard shim sham break?"
Inasmuch as there is a "standard" Shim Sham Shimmy, the answer is yes. However,
keep in mind that while the Shim Sham started in the 1920's with Willie Bryant and Leonard
Reed (at least "officially") there have been many versions of this great Classic (the "tapper's
anthem") since. Of course we have never stopped performing this great dance
but it's rewarding for us to see so many dancers being interested in it again. For
example, the "Shim Sham Craze" repertoire course that is taught at our annual National Tap Seminar
or at the ATDI Conference is often full. That course teaches 4 to 5
versions of the Shim Sham. At last count we have 14 versions of it in the
company's repertoire.
From:
Nicole De Leon, Fountain Valley, CA, USA "Can you suggest tap companies that offer scholarships?"
Your question is a bit vague, Nicole. There are zillions of kinds of scholarships out
there and you don't say what you are really looking for. It's hard to know what other
companies offer but we can tell you that each year many participants in our National Tap Seminar enter a writing/drawing
contest and a few win a scholarship for the following year. It's one of the ways the
national company likes to encourage the development of the "whole tap dancer."
You see, we tappers KNOW that we're as smart as any other profession but the old
"tappers have happy feet and empty brains" cliché is still alive and well and
we're determined to knock it down! Each year NTE gives over $1,000 in scholarships for
that one contest alone. We also occasionally offer scholarships for special programs, when
funding permits.
From:
RJL, age 16, Salinas, CA, USA
"I'm a really an advanced tapper but I have trouble with my pickups. Do you
have any suggestions on a good way to improve?"
Mmmh! No offense RJ (notice that we did not print your whole last name, since the
point here is to try to help people, not to embarrass them...) but, in our book, pickups
are skills that must be mastered by level 3 or 4 (we often start our students on these
skills at level 2), which is far below an "advanced" level. That being said,
it's quite possible that your teacher(s) did not teach them to you properly, since their
own teachers did not teach them properly, since... you follow? Don't feel bad, and don't
blame your teachers. This is unfortunately a VERY common story. We're working on
training
and certifying a new crop of teachers who among many other things will know how to handle
this type of challenge, but it's going to take a while. In the meantime, we hope to have the
pleasure to help you in person one of these days. And, just in case anyone asks, no, we
cannot teach you - or anyone else, for that matter - how to do pickups or improve your
skills "on the Internet" or by email. Even a 3-page description of how to
do a pickup would be completely useless without the
teacher being present to explain and correct you...
From: Jen Lopes, age 19, N. Dighton, MA, USA "What is the difference between a slam and a stomp?"
There is none! (cool, we love these easy questions...) It all depends on what terminology
your teacher uses. The most important thing for you is to be able to identify the
sound/motion/step and to perform it correctly. The names may vary but there aren't that
many to know, so it's actually no big deal.
From: L. Jamesson, age 19, Tremont, IL, USA "Can you recommend any sites that include various tap combinations and
exercises to teach in classes?"
Sorry, Lindsay, but we don't think that getting your material from a web site (or from a
book) is a very good idea... That could easily be counterproductive, or even worse. We've
been in this business a long time so we know better. There are SO MANY exercises and
combinations that you can and should learn from more experienced teachers (you will always
find good teachers, if you're willing to put some effort into it) and there are SO MANY
MORE that you can come up with yourself. C'mon, you CAN do it!
From: Mariana Barreiros, age 21, Sao Paulo, Brazil "I started to tap two years ago at the age of 19 and I really love it. I'm a
good student and I want to be a professional. Do you think it's too late?"
Definitely not, Mariana! Aside from raw talent, it all depends on how much love, HARD work
and personal dedication you are willing/able to put into it. We would suggest that you
take as many classes as you can, practice all the time and, most importantly,
study from master teachers (example here) if at all possible. Good luck!
From: Katie Heinemann, age 15, Hopkins, MN, USA "What type of tap is better or more beneficial: stomp style tap or Broadway
style tap?"
As a repertory company, NTE performs at least half a dozen distinct styles (including
these two) and we think that one is not necessarily "better" than the other. In
this case, there simply is more emphasis on the visual aspects in the Broadway style and
more emphasis on the aural aspects in what you call "stomp style." In
terms of learning how to tap, we would recommend that you try to learn many
different styles and more, importantly, the associated repertoire, if you ever decide to
be really serious about it (i.e. to become a professional).
From: Joy Lockhart, age 16, New Castle, IN, USA
"Why are all the girls in the scrapbook pic.
wearing low-heeled taps?"
Now that tappers have rediscovered that tap is MUSIC (it actually started
as a music tradition, way before it became known as tap dance) EVERYONE
wears these kind of shoes, since they give a far greater tonal range than high-heeled
ones. And by the way, BOTH men and women look great in oxford-type shoes (low heels).
Thank goodness, society is finally moving away from that old and sexist "high heels =
lady" cliché. We think it's about time!
From: Tara Williams, age 21, Whitesboro, NY, USA "I just recently opened my own studios in upstate N.Y. Any pointers on
running a successful studio?"
You're awfully young but you must be awfully brave, too. Anyway, congratulations! We could
write about 20 pages of advice and pointers for you, but it all boils down to this: if
this is your dream, your calling, FOLLOW IT and you WILL find the strength to make
everything work (you'll need it, too...) Go, girl!
From: Jesse Flint, age 16, Denver, CO, USA "I need help deciding how to get started tap dancing. Do you know of any
places I can find books or movies/tapes regarding tap dancing basics?"
Books or movies are ABOUT tap (i.e. they may inspire you to tap dance) but they can NOT
teach you HOW TO tap (see question 4). Tap is the continuation of ancient, oral African
traditions that emphasize DIRECT, INTERACTIVE AND MULTI-DIMENSIONAL "TRANSMISSION OF
INFORMATION" from teacher to student. There is so much going on in the
teaching/learning process (which has to do with far more than just steps) that taking away the
teacher would be like trying to drive a car without its engine! If you were in some remote
country where you are the only tapper, then books or videos would be a meager, yet
valuable resource, but we happen to know that there are quite a few good teachers around
your area. You should have no trouble finding one you like.
From: Rue Keeli, age 13, Chesterton, Indiana, USA "Which shoe do you suggest for int.-adv. dancers?" From: Jennifer Craig, age 19, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
"I have recently switched from heels to flat oxfords, and they make my feet
ache. What would you recommend I do?"
These are just two of the many questions we are getting about tap shoes. So here is a
quick primer for Rue, Jennifer and all of ya' tap nuts out there.
1) Regardless of your level, get some good quality, oxford-type shoes (low and wide heel,
also simply called "men's shoes", see question #9) that are entirely
made of leather. Stay away from cheap shoes made of plastic or composites, they cost less
but do not last long. Avoid shoes with heels made out of one plastic bloc (be careful,
these are usually designed to look exactly like leather heels and the imitation is
sometimes so good that it's hard to tell the difference) since the screws used to hold
your taps will quickly come loose (if you use longer screws, which is a good idea for heel
taps, things will get even worse as these plastic heels are actually hollow inside, so the
screws have nothing to hold on to).
2) Put on some taps that have NO hard or sharp edges, such as Teletones and the like. Make
sure that the taps fit the outside edges of your shoes (both front and back), which will
allow you to use both the outside edge (for wings, scrapes, etc.) and the inside edge (for
knocks, flams, etc.) Remember that using taps with sharp edges can easily cause
irreparable damage to floors and is potentially very dangerous to yourself and other
dancers around. Throw away the so-called "sound boards" that come with some
brands of taps. Some manufacturers want you to believe that these cheap cardboard-type
plates will make you sound better, which is just a joke. These black plates have another
downside, they take up some of the space the screws' thread need to attach the taps
properly (particularly with Capezio, which has gotten into the bad habit of selling taps
with screws that are too short for several years now) and as a result the screws come
loose far too quickly. This is made even worse by dancers who like to "tune"
their taps by loosening them (tip: loosening your taps will make you a louder tapper, not
necessarily a better one...)
Do you need to go to a shoe shop to have the taps affixed? That's a tough one, since most
shoe repair shops are untrained and have no idea how to do the job right. And when they
rely on the scarce "directions" included in the box, it's often even worse.
Although putting the taps on yourself might be a bit intimidating at first, we tend to
think that it's such an easy, common-sense kind of job that anyone can do it. All
you need is a small size awl (to poke a starting hole about two millimeters or 1/16 of one
inch into the sole) and a #0 or #1 size Phillips screwdriver. Again, just remember to make
sure that the taps fit the outside edges of your soles, which is the most important thing.
3) WEAR your shoes to break them in. It always amazes us how many people complain that
their shoes are not broken in after just a few hours, sometimes a few minutes of wearing
them. You've got to wear your shoes and FEEL SOME PAIN, babe! Even in these high-tech
times, there is no way around that. Think of your shoes as someone you get to know a
little bit more every day. At first things might be a bit rough, particularly with
well-made leather shoes, and your feet will ache a little. The trick here is to wear the
shoes every day - preferably before you put the taps on - just until they start being too
uncomfortable. Do not try to wear them for 2 or 5 hours the first day or you
might get blisters right away, listen to your
body! Eventually your shoes will be like old friends and they will feel like slippers. How
long will this take? Anywhere from 20 to 100 hours, depending on a variety of factors
(it's not unusual for us to really start liking a new pair of shoes after 40 to
50 shows). One more thing: most people don't realize that feet can go up or down by one
full size within half a day and sometimes just a few hours, so the next time your have a
hard time getting into your shoes, don't curse them, just get on the floor and put your
feet up for ten minutes, that will take at least some of the swelling away...
Do you have to buy brand new and expensive leather shoes? Not necessarily. With
patience and a bit of luck you might find excellent shoes that fit you just right and cost
a few dollars at a thrift shop or consignment store. These shoes are often already
"broken in" and even if they are a bit worn out, chances are that they are far
better built than the vast majority of leather shoes sold on the market today and will
last quite a long time. You might even spend a few more bucks and get them re-soled just
like you want them!
Finally, remember that the tap shoe is only half of your "instrument." The floor
is the other half and we're sorry to say that there is NO way even the best tap shoe can
sound good on one of these awful Marley/Harlequin/linoleum-type floors. These are not only
the most efficient sound-killing floors, they are also among the most
dangerous ones for
tappers' joints and muscles.
From: Claus Henseler, age 33,
Nuernberg, Germany "I need information about Steven Condo. Are there any notes about his
training methods?"
His name was actually Steve Condos. He was an incredible master tapper and an
even greater human being. We are not aware of any "notes," but several people
teach his "rudiments" or material derived from them among our cast, most notably
Cassandra Baker. Sam Webber from the Jazz Tap Ensemble is another excellent example. Steve
made a videotape of some of his rudiments, which used to be sold by his widow.
However, we were told by several people who were trying to acquire that tape that they
were unsuccessful in locating Ms. Condos. If someone does find her, we will make sure to
let you know, Claus.
From: Alissa McBride, age 17, Evergreen, CO, USA "I'm advanced, but have difficulty transferring the rhythm from my teacher to
my own feet. Any ideas on how to pick up on the rhythm better?"
Mmmmh... Are you hearing your teacher's rhythms clearly in the first place? You
may want to start listening to all kinds of different music and just tap to them. That
should help you find the groove and feel the rhythms better. Also, make sure you use
our TDLS (levels table) and try to see what your level really is, particularly in the
musicianship area.
From: Junior Laniyan, age 16, London, England "I'm a credited jazz tapper. Due to the lack of tappers visiting this country
I feel that in order to improve my craft I need to visit the STATES. Any advice?"
First, it sounds like you have the right idea. Most of us in the national tap company's
cast learned our craft from the legends of tap themselves, and we know that such
experiences are just irreplaceable. Nowadays it seems that many people want to learn their
craft the easy and quick way by using videos (not much different from those "learn
how to tap in 10 lessons" books that started popping up in the 1920's) or even by
posting messages on the Internet (!!!) and we command you for knowing better! Now, where
to go? It depends on many things, but generally, we'd recommend concentrating attending
intensive workshops or seminars versus staying for weeks or months in a big city like Los
Angeles or New York, where life is distracting, very expensive, sometimes dangerous, and
the quality of teaching is rarely at top level. Make sure that whatever workshop you
attend gives students time (and studio space) to practice everyday. Learning without
practicing is like trying to breathe without oxygen, you would just be wasting time. Oh,
and Junior, just out of curiosity, what is a "credited" jazz tapper?
Please let us know!
From: Maryse Eckert, age 32, Iselin, NJ, USA "What is the best way to teach single and double pull backs?"
See question #4. The answer given is even more true when it comes to teaching
teachers! Incidentally, there are several ways of going about teaching pickups and our Teacher Training Program covers this subject in-depth, among many
others. Sorry, Maryse, but this type of question simply cannot be answered properly
without demonstrating the stuff!
From:
Johanne Goulet, age 38, Quebec, CANADA "I just want to know what a BOMBERSHAY is and why it was named like that ?"
This step goes sideways and is often confused with variations on the Suzy Q. It can be
performed with a swing/triplet feel and looks quite good when done by a chorus line. This
is a very old step that most likely started way before dancers started putting taps on
their shoes. You might find different explanations, spellings and "definitions"
in various tap dictionaries (including some really wacky ones), but the plain truth is
this: We know what the step is, but the word "bombershay" itself means
absolutely nothing. It was probably made up by a hoofer who was doo-wopping or scatting
his/her steps, as was often the case in the early days of tap.
From: Sami Kress, age 9, Apex, NC, USA "How long does it usually take to get to professional?"
There is no straight-cut answer to that question, Sami. What we can tell you is that you
want to become a serious, full-time professional, you have to acquire a good general
education (just like a doctor, a teacher or any other educated professional) AND be
willing to learn for many years and practice for thousands and thousands of hours.
From: Kristen Yelton, age 16, Saint Louis, MO, USA "I have a passion for tapping and I feel that I possess a great talent. How do I
start to open up my exposure and a possible career?"
See questions 7,15 and 18.
From: Dominique Kelley, age 16, Bridgeport, CT, USA "Where can I find tap footage on Buster Brown, Jimmy Slyde, and Lon Chaney? I
am in Noise/Funk and I can't seem to find anything on them."
First, we'd like to congratulate you on seeking to learn from our elders, Dominique
(assuming that it's the reason why you are looking for footage, of course.) Over the past
few years we have been hearing one horror story after another about young performers who
made it into a Noise or Dogs cast and started thinking and acting as if
they knew it all, so it's refreshing to see someone who's not getting ahead of
himself/herself. To answer your question, there are relatively few good documentaries out
there (check out Paul Corr's listings at http://www.tapdance.org/tap/tapvids.htm).
But the best thing you can do is to learn from these guys while they're still around. You
will learn far more in person, sometimes by just hangin' out!
From: Patricia Goulding, age 61, Pittsburgh, PA, USA "Could you please give me a clear definition of a paradiddle?"
A paradiddle is a drumming pattern that is also often used as an exercise. There are
countless paradiddles, but the basic - or single - paradiddle is played on the snare drum
(or any other drum) as follows: Right Left Right Right or L R L L (or of course
R L R R.) Tappers' own versions
of these rhythms are called "Paddle and Rolls." Not coincidentally, both rhythms
and names sound almost identical in tap and in drumming.
From: Rashunda Smith, age 19, Austin, TX, USA "I am quite a natural tap dancer and I have taken many master classes and performed
with many greats...can you suggest any place for me to go to get my big break?" It depends on what your goals are. If you are just looking for shows, your career
will consists of short hops from audition to show to auditions, etc. so you've got to put
everything into learning how to audition first. If you are looking to be in a company, you
will find far more stable employment (usually) but it's also far more difficult to get in.
At least that's true for the national company... To find more on how we operate, go to http://www.usatap.org/openjobs.htm
From: Carolyn Wahl, age 18, Cleveland, OH, USA "Is there a directory of quality teachers anywhere? I'm from Cleveland and am
having a hard time finding a good teacher."
Your situation is unfortunately very common. The hard truth is that there is a serious
shortage of qualified tap teachers out there. While there have been serious training
programs in ballet for decades, there was none in tap until 1998, at least not by our
standards. The good news is that the national company has now started providing adequate
training and certification (see http://www.usatap.org/TTP.htm).
See this page for a
listing of graduates.
From: Robbie Fernandez, age 20, Willimantic, CT, USA
"I am 20 yrs old and have been tapping for only a few months. Have any pros
ever started so late in life? If not what chances do I have?"
Yes, there are quite a few in the business who started in their late teens or
early twenties. So it's not too late, Robbie! (see question 19 for other tips and advice)
From: Robert Williams, age 16, New York, NY, USA "What does the word "composography" mean?" Composography is a word Chris Baker coined in
1992 after many years of being somewhat frustrated by such words as "choreography" or
"steps," which only describes a very limited aspect of the
creative process involved in tap. Composography actually refers to both the process
and the result of creating a percussive dance piece. The terms
"composography" (from "composition" and "choreography") and
"composographer" actually apply to all kinds of percussive dance traditions and
cultures, from the obvious ones - tap or flamenco - to the perhaps less obvious ones, such
as certain styles of Indian, African, Gypsy or South-American folk styles. A
composographer can be regarded either as a choreographer who uses whole or part of the
body as a percussive instrument or as a composer who uses the body to express and
translate the music. In essence, a composographer is to tap dance what a choreographer is
to ballet or modern dance... In a somewhat simplistic way, composography could be described
as: tap choreography.
From: Sarah Echel, age 18, Ayden, NC, USA
"What type of things would you suggest for me to put in my portfolio that
could make my portfolio stand out?"
We would include a complete resume, a biography, several pictures (including real
action pictures, showing you dancing, in addition to the "studio type" posed shots if
possible,) and most importantly a video tape showing you performing in as many works as
possible. A short letter indicating why you are interested in joining a show or company
might also go a long way toward getting the job. About the resume, make sure it's
specific. There is nothing worse than those one-page, bulleted lists with shows or movie
titles but no dates, locations and reference information. Likewise, make sure you indicate
how much or how long you studied with whatever teachers you list in your resume.
From: Sally Hull, age 34, Bozeman, MT, USA
"I am interested in finding a good book on tap history
(i.e. who named that
step, where did it come from, famous tap dancers, etc.) What book(s) do you suggest?"
The best book so far is still Jazz Dance (subtitle: The Story of
American Vernacular Dance) written by Marshall and Jean Stearns in the sixties.
Although this book contains priceless interviews and information, keep in mind that
Marshall Stearns was a scholar, not a dancer or musician, so his understanding of jazz
music and tap dancing is sometimes very limited and some of his
"interpretations" are way off (very much like those of many dance critics who
know nothing about music and write about tap.) Also, Stearns was white and many of the black dancers he interviewed
only told him part of their story (some would not talk to him at all.) But
there's no doubt that he and his wife had a great passion for our American
vernacular traditions. Their book has tremendous value and is still the
reference..
From: Audrey Campbell, age 18, Buhl, ID, USA
"How can I learn more without moving to New York or LA? Can I?"
You bet! There is a tremendous amount of hype associated with these two cities,
both of which are extremely polluted, somewhat dangerous and very expensive to live in.
Unfortunately, even in the USA, the birthplace of tap, there is no city that
offers one good training center for young dancers to go to and receive some great
training, like you can find in ballet or modern dance. The truth is, it doesn't matter
where you go, as long as you work with great teachers (and by the way, very few
of them live or work in NYC or LA...) So go out there, take as many classes and intensive workshops
as you can, and more importantly, practice, practice, practice!
From: Alann Worley, age 37, Parker, CO, USA
"Is there more than one way to do a "wing time step?"
Yes, yes, yes! There are many wing time steps, and many ways of doing them. If
you ever get a chance, take one of our Time Steps or Specialty Time Steps
courses at the National Tap Seminar or intensive NTE
workshops. You will not only learn these steps, but
also their history, going back over a century.
From: Teri Hollander, age 31, Los Angeles, CA, USA
"I taught tap in VA and moved to CA. Are there any trade magazines that
advertise for teachers?"
Yes, most of the main dance publications have such ads (go to the nearest
newsstand to find them) but more and more people seem to turn to the Internet for job
listings. Try the Cool Links page for more info.
From: Meghan Hanson, age 14, Omaha, NE, USA "Can you recommend any good places to get information about "Peg
Leg" Bates? I am doing a project and can not seem to find anything written about him?"
There is a chapter on him in the book Tap! The greatest tap dance stars and their
stories. Also, check out the PBS documentary The Dancing Man: Peg Leg Bates.
From: Jonathan Gaby, age 18, Frankfort, KY, USA "I would like to know if my newly bough Capezio Teletones are a good buy, and
what I could do to improve them. This is from Question #12. Thank you."
As mentioned in answer #12, Teletones are OK taps. Their sound is not great but at least it's
predictable. Their best feature is the rounded edges. There isn't much one can do to
"improve" them, since they are made of aluminum alloy (which, oddly enough,
breaks easily if you try to "work it" or bend it) in one piece in a high pressure mold.
From: Beth Peele, age 25, Raleigh, NC, USA "I am a tap teacher and I'm wondering if you have any syllabus for what steps
should be mastered at each level. I would love to purchase one if it is available." Yes, we do but although we could make a lot of money selling it, we prefer to
share it directly with others as we conduct a variety of educational programs. The best known of
these programs is the Teacher Training and Certification Program, where syllabuses are
studied and discussed quite a bit. At the start we teach teachers our
"fundamentals" syllabus, but we quickly move to show them how to build their OWN
syllabus, which every good teacher should be able to do. Perhaps we'll see you there one
day. And hey, we come down to your neck of the woods quite a bit, so join the
Tap Network if you
want to' be in on the fun!
From: Jennie Inch, age 53, Friday Harbor, WA, USA "What do you consider a "tap spring"?"
It's what happens when tap dancers come out after the chilly Winter season and warm up for
a nice, hot Summer... Just KIDDING, Jennie! Actually, this term is not used much, except
in England (it feels British, doesn't it? Say sprrrring!) This step produces one sound
or two sounds (with the
front tap) and can be done by jumping on the foot you're on (= "hop") or on the
other foot (="leap".)
From: Lee LaCasse, age 43, White Bear Lake , MN, USA "I have been teaching dance for 30 years and have been certified with high
honors by DEA, am I considered qualified by your organization."
Be a bit more specific, help us understand your question and we'll be happy to answer it.
Here are four quick questions for you, Lee. In what environment have you been
teaching and what student population(s) and
levels have you been teaching? What exactly are these "high honors" and how does
one qualify for them? What do you mean by "qualified"? To do what? Write
the staff with
the specifics and we'll tackle
your question as soon as they get that to us. [note from editor: Ms. LaCasse
hasn't written back.]
From: Emily Stowe, age 20, Dry Fork, VA, USA
"Is there any way to use a clip-on microphone to hear the taps better when
competing?"
Yes, but it's expensive, not very practical and definitely fragile. A better approach is
to put your foot down and REFUSE to give your money to any competition organization that
fails to provide tappers with a resonant, resilient, hardwood stage floor. Stay away from
such ridiculous and dangerous sound-killing floors as Marley, Harlequin, vinyl of any
kind, parquet (the "hotel kind"), plastic, "tap mats" and the like.
JUST SAY NO!
From: Mark Eriksen, age 22, Calgary, Canada "Is it possible for NTE to accept Canadians into the company? As a member of
the troupe are you paid a salary? If you can say, how much?"
It's how much experience and talent one has that counts, not where you come from, if
you're a man or a woman, what you look like, etc. And OF COURSE we are paid, buddy! How
much depends on experience, level of performance in the field, professionalism, among
other factors. It's just like in any other (honest) profession, if you want to get to the
top of the ladder you gotta' start at the bottom...
From:
Audrey Vesota, age 15, Ann Arbor, MI, USA "My dance studio defines its style of tap as "classical". I was wondering if the execution of steps varies between classical and rhythm tap?"
Your studio could really mean many different things by "classical"
so we can't address that directly but we think the operative word here is
actually "execution" and that's why we decided to pick your
question. It gives us a chance to remind people that indeed, the WAY one
executes a step (the way it looks, the way it sounds, if it's "in
character" or not, etc.) is key to performing in a particular style. A
skilled, versatile performer can and should be able to perform the exact
same step in several different styles.
From: Ian Howe, age
13, Seattle, WA,
USA
"I have been breaking dance tap shoes left and right, is there any tap shoes out there that would provide good support, sounds and stability for me?" Some of us use high quality men's shoes (Church's, Bally, etc.) to which
we affix taps ourselves. That way the taps are positioned exactly where we
want them and they sound the way we want them to sound. More importantly,
there is not a single brand or model of "tap" shoes out there that
even approaches the quality of these shoes. Heck, some have lasted over five
hundred (yep, 500!) shows. These types of shoes may be expensive but you can always resell
them to other tappers if your feet grow fast.
From:
Aaron Wallo, age 16, Sterling, VA,
USA "Is it normal to have never met another male tapper at my level? Now that you do this full time is it still fun? All the time?"
Yes, your situation is pretty much "normal." There are probably
ten to twenty female tappers for one male on average in dance studios
out there, and that's true both here and abroad. More and more guys are
studying tap but things won't change right away on a large scale. In the
meantime, we'd suggest that you get around, do workshops, master classes,
etc. and if you meet some guys who have the same interest, maybe then you
could decide to hang out together once a week and practice together?
As to your other question, most of us have been doing this professionally
for a long time (an average of about 30 years between dancers and
musicians, over 70 year on the stage for our oldest cast member!) and yes, there are
some incredibly rewarding moments that you would probably call
"fun." Of course there are also times when things can be difficult
or tiring. But as our Music Director likes to say, we keep on "paying'
em dues!"
From:
Angela Mains, age 30, Clemmons, NC,
USA "How do I practice and train to change my
'Broadway' style of tapping to more of a 'hoofing' style?" Many tappers have been going through this and for most people
what's really needed is a change of mindset. The key is to listen.
Listen to your teacher's feet. Listen to music as often as you can and
"run steps in your head." Most of all, listen to your own feet and
try to make them sound like a musical instrument. The change in
"style" will follow naturally.
From:
Dustin DeRolph, age 24, Los Angeles, CA,
USA "Since there are no good tap surfaces in my home, I would like to buy a surface/platform to practice on. Can you suggest a good material?"
Any hardwood platform will do (oak, maple, etc.) The shape doesn't really
matter (planks, tongue and groove boards, parquet, etc.) but make sure you
raise the platform at least 2 inches (about 5 centimeters for all of you in
the metric world...) so that you can get a good range of sounds out of it.
Also, have a look here.
From:
Michelle Prell, age 17, St.Petersburg, FL,
USA "Is there any certain exercise that you would
recommend to help strengthen my ankles so that I can master single wings?"
Sorry, Michelle, we can't answer this question without first seeing you in
person do these wings. We can tell you however that wings don't require any
particular "strength." You may have your whole body weight resting
on the wrong part of the foot. Try to practice double wings
("two-footed wings") again with almost all your weight on the ball
of the foot and see if that helps!
From:
Adriane Freitas Moreira, age 21, Viamao Rio Grande do Sul, BRAZIL "My dreams is to be a tap
teacher? Got any suggestion?"
Please take a little time to read the answers already provided on this web
page! Hopefully #1, #6, #11, #34 and #36 will help.
From:
Jermaine Mendez, age 25, Brooklyn, NY,
USA "What do I do to continue my learning. No one teaches the style (
ex. Mr. Bubba Gaines) that my teacher teaches and she's retiring."
Losing a beloved teacher is always hard, whatever the reason. We're not sure
how/when your teacher learned from Bubba, Jermaine, but we know for sure
that over the years he has inspired many, many people, including plenty of
teachers. Take a good look around and you might just find another one!
From:
Michelle Gilbert, age 24, Richmond, CA,
USA "Is contemporary tapping (for lack of a better name) necessarily "wrong" or is it just different? I.E. Tap dogs VS. Sammy Davis Jr." It's actually not that
different. Most steps are the same, but done to today's music. Both styles
*can* be great, depending on how they are presented
and who performs... As Duke Ellington used to say when asked if jazz is better or
different, "there is good music, and there is bad music." (this is
a rough quote, but you get the idea...) The same goes for tap.
From:
Lori Sansing, age 38, Bakersfield, CA,
USA
"My daughter, Michelle (13) loves tap. She would like to teach some day. I take her to different cities & teachers for different styles. Am I on the right track?"
Couldn't be better. Go, tap mom!
From:
Elizabeth Owen, age 47, Houston, TX,
USA "Is there a tap group for dancers over 50 years of age?"
There are plenty! Actually, when we perform or teach master classes on tour
we often run into entire "gangs" of tappers well into their
sixties and seventies. Most of these folks are in great shape (physically and
mentally, that's the magic of tap!) fun, and many can really dance! We just
love meeting them and working with them.
From:
Vickie Diebold, age 40, Charlotte, MI, USA "I live near Lansing, Michigan. Do you ever do workshops or seminars in my area?" We will if you invite us! Seriously, Vickie, the best suggestion
we can give you is to join the Tap Network.
Whether you are in a position to "make things happen" in Charlotte
when we are scheduled to be in that area or you are
simply interested in attending a workshop or classes organized by others,
our staff will automatically notify you. It's a really great way for people
to stay in touch with the company, and for us to get to know them!
From:
Ronald Pearson, age 60, Livonia, MI, USA
"Do you have any information on Tommy Sutton who authored "Tap along with
Tommy?" Unfortunately Mr. Sutton passed
away several years ago.
From:
Allison Beeksma, age 12, Ontario, CANADA "I have been competing in tap. I am doing a solo this year for the first time. Do you have any songs that you
could suggest that would be suitable for my age?" Your own taste in music is what
matters most here, and since there are thousands of great songs out there,
we would just suggest that you pick one that YOU really like so that it
shows when you dance to it. Also, make
sure your choreography and style reflect your OWN age. Many competitions
allow or even encourage "sleazy" moves and styles in jazz and tap
for girls your age, which is as ridiculous as it is disturbing.
From:
Joanne Murphy, age 46, Boston, MA, USA "What do you think of someone my age trying out for a dance part on
Broadway? I have been dancing for 3 years and I think I have talent." What do we think?
Well, show business can be very tough business but
heck, why not? Go for it, Joanne!
From:
Stephanie Jewell, age 14, Lake Arrowhead, CA, USA "What should my tap group include in a competition
piece. Should we use music or have our feet be the music. Our group is about at the level of 4-5?" Good question! Having your feet BE
the music might give you an edge, especially since many studios and
competitions offer inappropriate dance floors for tap (see question #37) and
use very loud music that makes things even worse! If your choreographer can
come up with some cool material, you might just win! But will the judges
appreciate? It's well known that the vast majority of competition judges out
there don't know much about tap, if anything. But that's a whole other
question...
From:
Kristin Bertagnole, age 19, Arlington, VA, USA "I want to tap professionally, but I have a long way to go in the learning process. Seminars are not enough, can
you lead me to more resources?" The most important thing is to
practice, practice, practice. Also, get advice from master teachers whenever
you can, and grab any opportunity to study with them. If you are really
dedicated, some of our cast members might be willing to coach you,
especially since you live in the Washington, DC area. Contact our
office
and they will put you in touch with us.
From:
Colleen Hampton, age 15, McMillan, MI, USA "I am doing a report on the history of tap dancing in America, in the pre-1900's era. Where can I find info. on
the internet on this topic? Thanks!"
We would suggest doing a search using a good search engine such as Google.com
(cool and very fast!) but frankly that is an iffy proposition because there
is so much online information on this subject that is
NOT reliable (some sites have info that is actually
completely incorrect.) Have you spoken to your school
librarian? Also, check the many books referenced on the Resources
page.
From:
Maud Guenno, age 20, Brest, FRANCE "I think I'm a rather good tapper but I can't improvise. What should I do?"
You're not alone! Improvising is probably the ultimate in tap. Try to
"let your feet go" when you listen to ANY type of music, whether
you are wearing tap shoes or anything else. Try to loosen up. The less you
involve your head, the better! Also, attend an improvisation course if at
all possible. If you get a chance, come and study with us, we'll help you!
From:
Jennifer Benson, age 26, Minneapolis, MN, USA "How would you
convince a non-tap studio to allow tapper on their wooden floors? I have no place to
practice!!!"
This is unfortunately a fairly common problem, which is in part due to the
studio's ignorance and part due to the fact that for generations many
tappers have ruined floors by not using their shoes and taps as they should.
Properly screwed on taps (tight, NOT "loose" or so-called
"tuned" taps) do NOT damage hardwood floors! Try to educate
these people, be patient, but hey, if they don't budge, go spend your money
elsewhere!
From:
Heather Anderson, age 24, Irvine, CA, USA "Do any tap dancers put metal taps on the heels of their regular street shoes? I have them on most of my shoes
and boots. Love the sound they make!"
And WE' d love to see the faces of the people around you! This is pretty
cool...
In the (very) old days, some tappers would use the same shoes for street and
dance, simply because they were too poor to have two pairs! Other than that
we don't know of many tappers who do this, except YOU, of course. Keep it
up!
From:
Leanne McKenzie, age 14, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA "Any pointers as to how
I can tap more down into the ground instead of up on my toes?"
Yep! Take a few sand bags and attach them around your waist. Think we're
kidding? Well, we are, at least in part. Actually, Eleanor Powell, one of
the greatest tap dancers ever, had the same problem when she started out and
the legendary Willie Covan made her use the sand bags until she was able to
"get down" a bit. The rest is history... But back to you, try to
bend your knees a little more when you tap (almost like in demi-plie.)
In any case, this is a problem that any good teacher should be able to help
you with.
From:
Jennie Bennett, age 15, Prescott,
AZ, USA "I am pretty new at
tap dancing. I've dance it on and off and I have found that my problem is getting all the
steps mixed up. Do you have any advice for me?"
Tap looks easy and it IS very easy to get into it,
no matter what your age or gender (we've even heard
that some DOGS are tap dancing!!! Just kidding...)
but it is a very complex form to master, quite
possibly the most complex form of dance since one
must develop both dance and music skills... Your
problem is very common. One way of working on this
is to try to remember the steps not as steps but
as words and/or phrases, just like when you
were learning how to speak (if you can remember 13
to 14
years back. Yikes!) You can build from there
and you might find that things get less and less
mixed up with time.
From:
Jacquelyn Clark, age 16, Fresno, CA, USA "They say I'm not feminine enough but I grew up idolizing MALE hoofers so how do I start looking less like
"Savion" and a little more like a "lady" when I hit?" They say!!!?
Who said that?
Anyway, the REAL question is: who cares?! Be yourself, girl!
When people finally start listening to tap
BEFORE looking at the tapper, we'll all be a
lot better off, won't we?
From:
Lilian Caraus, age 28, Chisinau, MOLDOVA "Hello!
Which tap show are most interesting? ( like performance,
professional level, show idea.) Sorry for bad english. thank
you." First of
all, Lilian, please don't apologize about your
English. It sure is a heck of a lot better than our
Moldovian... Anyhow, which show is the most
interesting is really a matter of personal
preferences. Even among our cast there are many
different opinions. Over the past ten years or so,
there has been a number of good Broadway-type shows,
like Black and Blue, Bring in Da' Noise, Tap Dogs or Stomp.
These are the ones most people think about simply
because they are the ones they hear about. These
shows are big commercial machines with enormous
advertising budgets but they are not necessarily the
best tap shows, although they can be very
entertaining. On the other hand, there are some
hugely talented, dedicated professional tap dancers
working solo or in companies like Jazz Tap Ensemble,
Manhattan Tap and of course National Tap Ensemble,
who have been putting on some phenomenal shows for
years and years with hardly any significant coverage
in the main press. Many of these shows feature
wonderful ideas and the quality of the works is a
high as it gets. We sure hope you'll get a chance to
see and hear them some day!
From:
Shawna Holl, age 16, Hammonton, NJ, USA "What
exactly is a tap?"
A tap is a piece of molded metal (or metal alloy)
that is attached to the bottom of a shoe with short
screws to help the tap dancer produce a variety of
sounds when he/she strikes the wooden floor. Each
shoe has two taps: one attached to the toe area, and
the other one to the heel. The ball of the sole
(center area) remains "tapless" to allow
for balance and speed.
From:
Noma Villegas, age 16, Deming, NM, USA "I am doing a research paper on professional tap dancing. I need to know how much performers get paid.
However, I understand if this question is too
personal?"
OK, here's your answer (now picture this: the whole
cast - dancers and musicians - is standing straight
up and yelling in the most perfect unison you've
ever heard): NOT ENOUGH!
From:
Karen Torimaru, age 41, Culver City, CA, USA "What should I look for in a tap teacher for my son? He is 6, loves to dance, but is overweight. He wants to
try tap but is afraid he won't be able to do it?"
Look for someone who will not base his/her judgment on your son's looks. A good teacher will build upon the positives (your son's interest for tap and willingness to try) instead of dwelling on anything else. Besides, kids are kids and they grow awfully fast. Who knows, your son might be a 6 foot tall beanstalk in just a few years! More importantly, once you AND your son have found a teacher you trust, let the TEACHER do the work. Be supportive but don't get too "involved" in the tap classes. Instead, schedule a meeting with the teacher every other month or so to discuss your son's progress.
From:
Tonya Lewman, age 33, Alliance, NE, USA "Do you know of a source where I could find a tap coloring book for my 6 year old daughter?" Unfortunately
we haven't been able to find anything but there
might be someone out there who knows where to find
such a book. Tappers, can we call upon you to let us
know? Please email the company staff
if you do!
From:
Becca Workman, age 16, Hot Springs, AR, USA "I have only
taken 1 year of tap in my lifetime and I want to take
it again. How do I get started?" Although
most people in this situation are older than you
are, this is a question we get more and more as tap
is experiencing a veritable explosion. All over the
world, people want to tap, or they want to get back
into it. There is no miracle answer here. Do your
homework, research local dance studios, talk to
other students and, most importantly, talk to the
teachers you'd like to try out BEFORE you get in
class with them (don't rely on what the front desk
person tells you, good or bad, always try to be
fair-minded and to make up your own mind). Also,
don't judge a studio or a teacher after only
one class. Stick with it for at least one month, or
better yet, one semester.
From:
Aaron Sharff, age 15, Cornish, NH, USA
"Are there any good "teach-yourself" books for
tap dancing?"
We don't
believe that a book can teach anyone how to tap.
That being said, some books might help as
they offer good methods or good ideas for those who
have the discipline to practice at home. Recent
books by Anita Feldman and Acia Gray are good
examples. See the Resources
Page for a direct and convenient links to these
books at
Amazon.com.
From:
Terrie Gottstein, age 49, Anchorage, AK, USA "Is Peg Leg Bates still alive? If he is, where does he live? If he is not, when did he die?" Peg Leg Bates
was one of our great American treasures, a man of immense
talent and tremendous willpower. Unfortunately, he
passed away on December 6, 1998 at the age of 91.
He lived most of his life in the Catskill Mountains
(upstate New York) where he owned and managed the Peg Leg Bates Country Club
but died in Fountain Inn, South Carolina, where he
was actually born. He lived a long and most inspiring life!
From: Sara
Nash, age 19, Gainesville, FL, USA "I am
taking Broadway tap but would like to order an instructional video on the older hoofer-style tap. Do you
have any suggestions? Thanks."
Sorry, Sara, we haven't seen a good one yet!
If anyone has produced one that they think fits the
bill, send us a copy and we'll be glad to take a
look (company address and all that good stuff can be
found on the contact page.)
From: Lisa
La Touche, age 18, Calgary, Alberta, CANADA "I am very passionate about tap dancing and am aiming to one day join a tap company. What do you
suggest being that I'm not from the US? How did you guys get started in a professional setting?"
Don't let your nationality be a hurdle. Yes, tap is
American and yes, our country is "where things
happen" in tap, but the world is opening up,
people can now travel very easily (think of how
things were only 50 years ago!) and communicate even
more easily. What truly matters is the fact that you
have the PASSION. Follow your dreams!
As to the second question, each one us, musician or
dancer, got started in a different way and in a
different setting. Giving you the details would take
a book (or two, or three!) but more importantly, we feel that
it is what we have in COMMON that counts.
From: Monica
Gibson, age 24, Baltimore, MD, USA "I studied tap at an early age, but we never learned the different styles of tap. and I
don't know the name of the style I am looking to study again. Do these unique styles have names, and if so,
what are the more popular ones?"
Yeah, there are a few "popular" ones, but
it's hard to talk about that without opening a big
ol' can of worms... Nowadays there are mainly two
styles that people talk about:
- "Broadway" Tap, also called Show Tap,
started in the 1920's/1930's and emphasizes the
"visual" aspect of the dance, so much so
that for decades teachers, students and performers kind of
forgot that tap was also supposed to make some
sound!
- Jazz Tap, an evolution of the early styles of tap
that developed during the second half of the 19th
century, emphasizes the "sound" aspect of
the dance. Just like jazz music, it is a direct
product of slavery and therefore comes straight out
of Africa (although it obviously evolved here, which
is why our country is the "official
birthplace" of tap.) In Jazz Tap, the dancer
uses his/her tap shoes just like a musician uses any
other percussive instrument. Note that some people
also call this style "Rhythm Tap," which
we think is just about as redundant as it gets! Tap IS rhythm, so no matter
what kind of style one does (and we do many!) saying
"Rhythm Tap" is like saying "moving
movement" or "musical music" or
"liquid water."
Of course, there are many other styles such as for
example the early
"buck dancing" ones, the Nicholas
Brothers' "classical tap," Paul Draper's
"ballet tap," Eddie Brown's
"scientific rhythm," etc. Keep in mind
that some terms, such as "hoofing," have
always been used very loosely and mean different
things to different people.
From: Belle
Peterson, age 16, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA Styles of tap are so different from studio to studio. Any tips on how I could brief myself before I
set foot in a different class with a different teacher?"
We're not exactly sure what you mean by
"briefing" yourself but the best advice we
can give you is to try different classes with both
an open mind and an open ear. Do stick to a
teacher's classes for at least a month before making
up your mind about it and remember that you can
always walk away. It's your money!
From: Annette
Pardini, age 41, Montrose, CO, USA "What materials are used to make taps and how do they affect the sound?"
Nowadays most taps are made of aluminum alloys (see
also questions #12 and #33 above) In the old days,
most dancers used wooden soles (clog-type) or wooden
taps, which actually sound better, but tend to break
easily.
From: Leo
Buszz, age 12, Delhi, Ontario, CANADA
"To
become a good tap dancer, would you have to be totally dedicated and practice every day?"
Right on, Leo! Tap dancing is no different from
anything else. We'll tell you exactly what our
mentors, the legendary pioneers of tap, used to tell
us: Practice, practice, practice! As one of our
dancers always say, "Don't leave your tap shoes
all alone in that closet. Have a little talk with
them every day or better yet, make a little music
together every day."
From: Wei-Hua
Chiang, age 35, Taipei, TAIWAN "I have been learning tap dance for 3 years in Taiwan.
Next summer I want to learn more about tap dance.
Where should I go?"
Try to find a dance school with a good tap program
in Australia, which is much closer than the USA for
you. If you can come to the U.S., join us for the
annual National Tap Seminar.
You will learn a ton of stuff good and meet tap
enthusiasts such as yourself from all around the
world. We always have such a great time with our
students!
From: Bruce
Goolsby, age 37, Phoenix, AZ, USA "I read where you said the Marley/Harlequin floors are not the best for sound. What type of floor would
you recommend? Also, for beginning tap dancers (children) what type of shoe would you recommend?"
That's an understatement, Bruce. Vinyl-based floor
covering are actually about as bad as it gets. A
resilient, resonant hardwood floor is what's
needed for tap
(see question #43) As for shoes, ideally children
should use a good quality, low-heel leather shoe,
even if they are beginners (see question #
12.)
From: Kelly
Wilcock, age 14, Las Vegas, NV, USA "I've been dancing since I was 2, I just did a solo, where it was ocapella(?) When I saw Tap Dogs, I got
interested in it. Do most (professional) tap dancers tap to music? or without? Do many dance companies prefer an
audition with/without music?"
A true professional tap dancer works very much like
a musician, more specifically like a drummer (you
just use tap shoes instead of drum sticks and
brushes). Consequently, we work BOTH with music and
"without" music. Note that we never really
work "without music" since even when one
of us performs an a cappella solo, he or she is
music a lot of foot music! As to your question about
auditions, we would think and hope that ALL tap
dance companies test potential professional dancers
for their ability to work with and without musical
accompaniment. For us this certainly is a very
minimum requirement.
From: Darby
Hoopes, age 15, La Canada, CA, USA "I love to tap and
I tap as much as possible and I want to start a career in tap. I was just wondering how u
got started?"
Each one of our cast members has a different story
and some could probably fill a book! But there are a
few common threads:
- We all LOVED tap, just like you do.
- Early in our careers, each one of us spent a
tremendous amount of time., energy, money and
dedication seeking the masters of the art. We
learned from them not just a huge repertoire of
rhythms, steps and dances, we also learned a lot
about life, show business, how to earn our peers'
respect, and so much more!
- We all "walked the talk," meaning that
we all made sacrifices and spent many,
many years getting better at what we do. As a matter
of fact, we're still working on it!
From: Mike
Wolk, age 47, Charleston, SC, USA "I'm a piano player and play solo every
Thursday featuring ragtime and traditional jazz. Can I put taps on my shoes, so that, while seated, I can
add rhythm to what's happening on the piano. What kind of taps and steps do you recommend?" What a
cool question! That's a great idea, although the
drummer might not agree... Any taps should do, just
avoid the cheap ones with sharp edges and the
so-called "jingle taps." As far as steps
go, you'll obviously be limited by the fact that you
won't be able to move much (although that never
stopped Little Richard!) but you can do a lot with
all sorts of crawls and heel-toe work.
Let
us know how it goes, won't you?
From: Cort
Gerlock, age 19, Lethbridge, Alberta, CANADA "What would a 19 year old guy who's been tapping for 12 years do to get noticed in a little city in Canada?" Well,
there's two ways of looking at your question, Cort.
If you mean getting noticed INSIDE Lethbridge, put
on your tap shoes or any other shoes (see Heather's
question #59 above) and do your thing. Tap your way
down the streets, up and down the stairs of the
local radio station, on top of the mayor's desk,
etc. That'll get you noticed!
If you mean getting noticed OUTSIDE Lethbridge, then
you've got to travel and work with the pros (see
#80.)
From: Karen
Piluzza, age 42, Ridgefield, CT, USA "I am a dance instructor.
I've been asked to explain the "San
Francisco" in my tap class. I am familiar with the
Detroit, Cincinnati...etc. but do not know of the "San Francisco". Can you help?" You've
got us here, Karen. Never heard of that one!
From: John
Hebert, age 24, Lafayette, LA, USA "I want to learn the many different "styles" of Tap. Is the Capezio 360 a shoe worth using for the many styles, Broadway,
Rhythm . .etc? Cause I hear the large size of the heel can hinder certain
movements?" Some
people consider the 360 a fine shoe but most agree
that the heel cup is very poorly designed. In spite
of years of complaints and in the best Capezio
tradition, nothing has changed so we'd advise you
not to go with that shoe, especially as a
multi-purpose tool.
From: Marissa
Horton, age 12, Washington, DC, USA "I have been studying tap for 9 years and would love to continue. I
do not want to continue at a "competition school". How can I find schools that
offer serious tap instruction without the competition stress?" It's
refreshing to see a young person who's thinking and
knows what she wants! Be careful in your quest though as lately
some schools have been replacing the word "competitions" with
"performance opportunities" or
"community performances" which as the same
cash cow for them (students don't get paid, the
school pockets the money.) So, ask around, talk to
people, check different places. If that shouldn't
work, see what we had to say to Kristin in question
#55 since you're
not so far away from us.
From: David
Phillips, age 17, Greensboro, NC, USA "What is the best type of notation to record tap dances? The ones I have found that have been complete are all based on
ballet?" The
best we've seen is the "Kahnotation," a
brilliant, concise system invented by the late
Stanley Kahn, a great teacher who used to live in
the San Francisco area. Unfortunately, his system
was never formally published and/or made widely
available. However, Sam Weber uses it regularly, so
if you ever get a chance to study with Sam, ask him
to show you how it works!
From: Anne
Jacynda, age 17, Hackettstown, NJ, USA "I teach a class of about 12 five and six year olds. Do you have any tips on what I can do to keep them interested and having fun?" Having fun
with the little devils? Easier said than done! Just
kidding. Actually, it's all about experience and
there's no "secret" but the key is to
propose activities that are truly relevant to their
level of development/understanding and to their
physical coordination. In other words, the main
thing NOT to do is to teach them a "dance
class" as though they were teens or adults.
Many people ended up hating quitting dance early
because of that, particularly in pre-ballet and
ballet. But, because it is also music, tap offers
many more possibilities than ballet. Just start with
simple rhythms and games, and see where it leads
you, and them!.
From: Daniel
Olsson, age 18, Peoria, IL, USA "What are your thoughts on tap sneakers? What style should they be restricted to, or how are their sounds compared to solid shoes?" Like
so many things, it depends on what you do with them
and what your background is.
Here are a few pluses: tap sneakers look very cool,
they are lightweight, they are super-comfortable
(many tappers with wide feet, bunions, etc. swear by
them)
Now for a few minuses: some people think they look
ugly, they offer little "integrity" (which
makes steps like toe stands much more difficult for
some people) and they look more like basket ball or
tennis gear than tap gear.
As you can see, one tapper's plus is another
tapper's minus!
Style-wise, we think that they're no problem, except
of course in terms of possible conflict with
costumes, staging, etc. Sound-wise, they definitely
offer a range that isn't as great as that of a
high-quality leather shoe, but keep in mind that our
needs as professionals are far more stringent than
those of most tappers. All in
all, sneakers are fun
and look good. They are a nice addition to the
"tapper's tool box" and we hope they're
here to stay.
From: John
Hebert, age 24, Lafayette, LA, USA
"Are Brenda Bufalino's "Woodpecker Tap Mats" worthy tapping surfaces?" These
kinds of mats will do in a pinch, but they have
severe limitations. For example, because they are
simply laid on the floor and not raised, they offer
little or no resonance. Also, many people find them
quite overpriced. See #43 for thoughts about a good, inexpensive tap
floor.
From: Trekedda
Williams, age 20, Natchitoches, LA, USA "Who is credited for the "shim
sham?" "Officially"
the dancing team of Willie Bryant and Leonard Reed -
who at this writing is well into his nineties and
thankfully still with us - gets the credit. Keep in
mind though that most of the steps that make the Shim
Sham Shimmy existed long before these two were born.
But we think they deserve a lot of credit for creating
a piece that's such a classic that we consider it the
"Tapper's Anthem."
From: Marcie
Spencer, age 15, Orting, WA, USA "I took tap lessons for about five years. If I start taking them again, should I
start in a beginner class?" That's
not a bad idea. I you go back to your old teacher,
she or he may suggest otherwise, though. But if you
start with a brand new teacher, taking a beginner
class as a way for the teacher of evaluating
where you are is an excellent idea!
From: Amanda Pawloski, age
16, Grand Rapids, MI, USA "What level tapper must you be to dance with the Rockettes? I've heard you have to be fairly good, but no
one can give me an exact level." Their
work is not "advanced" tap, in terms of
the footwork, which is very simple, BUT it requires tremendous precision,
an excellent sense of time and perfect discipline
(very much like the ensemble work in Riverdance and
the like.) All these qualities are sorely lacking in
many tappers nowadays so on balance, we would say
that a level 6 to 7 is probably needed. But of
course, it would be best to ask them
directly. Have them take a look at our professional
scale and let us know what they think!
From: Krishele
Lynch, age 15, Garden Grove, CA, USA "How
easy is it for you tappers to tap. I can't get the
rhythms right. Any info on tapping would be great. such as sites, books.
Thanks for your time"? Getting
started is a piece of cake. Unlike ballet, jazz and
other types of dance, tap can be started - and
enjoyed tremendously - at any age. We've had student
who put their first tap shoes on in their seventies
and eighties! So if they can do it, you can too.
Stick to it, and if things really don't get better,
try another teacher. As to the sites,
books, etc., plenty are
already listed right on this web site. You just need
to follow the links and surf a bit more!
From: Nil Ýpek
Hülagü, age 12, Ýzmir, TURKEY "In our
country, I can't buy tap shoes, because there is not a shop for buy
them. Where can I order them?" Thanks
for writing. It's very cool to find out that some
young people are interested in tap in your country.
Unless we've been misinformed, Turkey produces
good-quality, all-leather oxford-type shoes (see #12
above) so getting shoes shipped to you from the USA
or Europe would be a waste of your money. What
you need are taps... Do a simple search for
"taps" or "Teletone tap" using
for example http://www.google.com/
and you will come up with a ton of choices. It's up
to you and your parents to then decide which
merchant you will buy from. Hey, don't you just love
what the Internet can do for you?
From: Dawn
Gordon, age 15, Forest City, NC, USA "I was wandering do you make the
tap shoes split sole in the Pink and Silver instead of Black and White?" Yo,
Dawn! Where have you been? We don't make shoes, we
USE them! Wrong web site...
From: Robert
Reynders, age 17, Fresno, CA, USA "I was recently cast as Cosmo Brown in my High School's upcoming production of "Singin' in the Rain." I know that by the opening in
April I won't be near as good as Gene Kelly or Donald O'Connor, but do I have a chance at learning to tap in 3
months"? Yes,
you do, IF you make it your #1 priority. We've seen
that before. As to not being "near as
good" as Gene or Donald in a three-month span,
it's a bit of an understatement, don't you think?
What fools you is that making what we do LOOK easy
is part of our job as entertainers, and chances are
that even three years wouldn't suffice to
approach that level. Remember, like all of us who
are following in the pioneers' footsteps, Gene and
Donald worked at it all their lives!
From: Kyree Davis, age
17, Bel Air, MD, USA "I'm just
now starting to take dance classes at 17. I love dance
and really want to be a tap choreographer, is it too
late for other people like me who started dancing this
late to become professional dancers?" Definitely
not, Kyree. We've covered that before though, so be
sure to read the answers above, OK?
From: Cherrie
Marsh, age 32, Wappingers Falls, NY, USA "I have had two classes. I have done this before! On my first class my feet hurt just a little. This week I am really sore. My bottom hurts the
worst but so does my lower legs and feet! Is this normal, if so how long does it last? Is there anything
I can to to reduce this soreness next time?" A
little soreness for the first 4 to 8 weeks,
depending on the individual, is nothing to be
alarmed about. We're a little more concerned with
the symptoms you're describing after the second
week, though. Assuming that there is no problem with
your tap shoes, are you positively certain that you
are dancing on a resilient (sprung) wood floor? If
not, get out of there quick and find yourself a
school that treats its students' bodies with
respect!
From: Alana Puro, age
13, San Luis Obispo, CA, USA "How do you make new tap shoes less slippery on a recently redone wood floor? Grill brush didn't work. Someone suggested a small piece
of self stick sandpaper?" Hi,
Alana, nice to hear from you, young lady! You comin'
to the Seminar this year?
Anyway, back to your question. You don't say how the
floor was refinished. If it was refinished with
a polyurethane-type product, the
"speed" should not be too bad. If it is
really that fast (i.e. slippery), they might have
used wax, which is a big mistake for this type of
environment. So what can you do? There's no magic
bullet here. Wire brushes, as you noticed, don't
work (they can also mess up your soles) and
self-stick sandpaper would likely damage the floor
and/or cause injuries to you if it gets really stuck
in the floor. You could try to scrape the bottom of
the shoes lightly with sand paper #100 or
#150 before each class. Other than that, you might
try having a shoe repair shop glue some rubber
"cat paws" (no plastic!) under the ball of
the foot, but we generally don't like to recommend
these as they give the student a false sense of
security and they can sometimes be so sticky that
they can result in micro-injuries, or worse.
From: Valerie
Nuanes, age 39, Denver, CO, USA "Are there any brands of taps that are better than the o.k. Teletone taps? How thick should the soles of the shoes be? Any suggestions on
making the insides softer on the balls of the feet. Wearing thin soles and thick socks doesn't offer enough support for toe stands and
doesn't sound great. "? Let's
start with the taps. Some of us use a combination of
Teletones and Morgans (quite hard to find these
days) but in truth these taps aren't that different
from each other. The shoe itself makes actually a
much greater difference in sound than the taps, as
we have verified many, many times. Which brings us
to your second question... We use leather soles that
are anywhere from 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick. They not
only give us much better sound, but once your shoes
fit you well (20 hours or more of use), a thicker
sole will actually offer better protection for your
tootsies. Which brings us to your third and related
question... What we prefer is just the opposite: a
combination of (somewhat) thick soles, as explained
above and thin (cotton) socks. If that's not enough
for you as far as padding goes, there are many good
shock-absorbent inner-soles out there (Sorbothane,
Spenco, Dr. Scholl, etc.) Or try some of the
fantastic products that certain outdoor-oriented
stores like REI
sell for runners, hikers, etc.
From: John
Hebert, age 24, Lafayette, LA, USA "What tap shoe would you suggest for an "all-around" tap shoe, at any
price?" This
is a question people ask us all the time and
unfortunately there isn't a simple answer. It always
boils down to a compromise, but the closest answer we
could give you is to pick a very high quality shoe
brand and model that is made "like they used to
make them" (i.e. made with super high quality
leather and mounted with NO glue or very little) and
attach your favorite taps to the soles. This type of
shoes costs $300 and up a pair, unless you're lucky
to find a rare sale.
From: Nina
Lund, age 15, Hopewell Junction, NY, USA "I'm 15 years old and I've been tap dancing since I was 3. I used to be involved in competitions at my old studio but it closed down and I
can't find a good one. I think I have a natural ability to tap but it's hard to get anyone to notice. Any suggestions?
Thanks."
Yep! Come and work
with us. Catch some type of
intensive
workshop where we can have enough time to spend with
you and we'll be happy to let you know what we think
of your abilities. Honest!
From: D.
Angelica, age 18, Boston, MA, USA "I have been tapping for over 15 years now and
I want to further in it. everyone at my studio thinks
I should go professional even my instructor. I've taken the DMA classes and
I haven't learned anything, what classes should I take before
I get bored and want to give up my lifelong dream?"
Don't give up that dream or it might haunt you all
your life! We'll tell you the same thing we told
Nina. Come and work with us, or with anybody who is,
as we say in the business, "the real deal"
and we will tell you honestly where you are. Heck,
if WE hadn't sought the advice of the
masters/legends of tap when we were at the bottom of
the ladder, we sure wouldn't be where we are now!
From: Brian
Sanderson, age 26, Provo, UT, USA "Here at BYU they require that each dance major (ballet, modern, etc.) take a 200 level class in all areas of dance... all except for tap.
But, because of the heightened sense of rhythm that tap teaches, I think that tap should also be required for all dance majors. Any
thoughts?"
Don't get us started, Brian... It is a very sad
state of things when most AMERICAN colleges and
universities are so ignorant of our own culture, if
not flat out prejudiced sometimes (although one
could argue that ignorance is the mother of all
prejudices) that they fail to include such hugely
important, American-born traditions as tap dance or
jazz dance in their requisite studies. In terms of
history, ballet belongs to the Russians and the
French (and before them to the Italians) and it has
NOTHING to do with our culture whatsoever. Modern is
somewhat American but started way later than tap
anyway... Very much like most "classical"
musicians (read those who only play "classical
European") can't play jazz, most ballet and
modern dancers can't tap or jazz dance, at least not
at a high level. On the other
hand, many jazz musicians can play Bach, Mozart or
any other great Western European composer extremely
well (as brilliantly illustrated by the Marsalis
brothers, for example) and of course many of today's
top tap dancers can also be pretty darn good in
ballet or modern. Does this mean that ballet and
symphonic music are "inferior" to tap and
jazz? No, they're not. They are just different. But
anyone with real knowledge of these various fields
and a fair mind can only conclude that tap dance,
like jazz music, clearly requires higher and more
complete skills. When will America and American
universities wake up to that reality? The future
will tell. Meanwhile, we understand your
frustration. This type of backward, good-old-boys,
snotty mentality is getting really old indeed...
From: Tara
Jade, age 15, Victoria, AUSTRALIA "The history of tap, can you please send it to me! I love tap,
I go to lessons twice a week and really enjoy it and would like to know the
history as well. Thanx."
SEND it to you? How are we supposed to do that? By
mail? By email? Even if that were possible, you'd miss
out on the most important part of tap, Tara! Tap and
its history are based on oral traditions. As such,
they can only be experienced fully and truly by an
audience when they are PERFORMED LIVE. Perhaps one
day we will have technologies that allow us to do
that remotely and still immerse the audience in the
"real thing" (film and video are fun but
they don't begin to compare...) Meanwhile, you'll
have to do what we all did. Travel, go to workshops,
festivals, intensives, etc. and seek masters who can
teach you that history, those rhythms and those
steps by communicating with you directly, person to
person.
From: Alex
Ording, age 13, Columbus, OH, USA "Are there any higher riffs than 14 tap riffs?"
You bet! The standard riff has two counts or two
taps. Anything above that is a "combination
riff" and, theoretically at least, combo riffs
can be as long or complicated as one wants to make
them. Keep in
mind though that the number of taps in a riff is far
less important than the way one makes it sound and
look...
From: Raven
Cauthon, age 16, Exton, PA, USA "I am choreographing a solo tap number for myself, that is for a graduation project for school...I am stumped on what steps I should be
using to make my number look difficult, but good...
where is a good place to get challenging steps to make my number sparkle?"
Easy. You need to find "good ears and
eyes" to not only tell you which steps might
make your number "sparkle" but how to use
steps to accomplish your goal. Look for a teacher,
coach, choreographer, etc. who has what it
takes.
From: Sharon
Matthews, age 36, Addison, TX, USA "I am 36 yrs old and have been dancing since
I was 17 yrs old. I have been out of it for the past two years ( still practice!!),
I still have my figure and my moves, and vocabulary.
How do I go about ...cutting my teeth again? I eat, sleep, dream
it?"
In other words, you've still got the bug! For those
of you who might read this page just for fun and
have never tapped, tap dance carries a very high
risk of contracting a virus which has the very odd
characteristic of not threatening one's health but
actually enhancing it. What's more, this is lifelong
virus that won't quit, no matter what we go through.
We've all had babies, raised children, lost
loved-ones, etc. only to find out that those tap
shoes were STILL giving us this "why do always
keep me in this dark closet?" sad look and that
those rhythms were STILL making our feet wiggle and
make sounds. Now what do we do? Simple, Sharon. Quit
being so mean to your shoes. Put them on, they will
tell you where to go! Workshops, classes, seminars,
personal practice on the kitchen floor... Who cares?
Now THEY are happy and YOU are happy!
From: Marilyn
Jennings, age 51, Titusville, FL, USA "I once saw a diagram of a toe tap that showed all the different areas & sounds that one can
achieve from the toe tap. I think I remember it, but
would love to know where I can get a picture showing this. Thanks a bunch!" Beats
us, Marilyn! But here's the thing. It's
theoretically possible to have a drawing show the
various areas that can be hit on a toe tap, but how
could it possibly "show" what kind of
sounds would come out? Now, we could easily
demonstrate "live" how to get several
sounds out of each one of these tap areas (we do
that at workshops and seminars all the time) but we
don't have a clue how that could be done with a
drawing or diagram!
From: Peter
Sackett, age 17, Washington, DC, USA "I just took a full year of tap class at my school and I'm hooked. I bought some extra taps for my shoes just in case of problems. I got this funny
idea to put my extra taps on a pair of my normal shoes. How do I go about doing this or is it even a good idea or even possible?" Well
Peter we have covered this before, so you need to
read the answers above that pertain to tap shoes. As
you will see, putting taps on "normal"
shoes is not a "funny idea" at all. As a
matter of fact, several people in our cast and among
some other great dancers use ONLY
"regular" shoes simply because there isn't
a single brand of "dance" shoes that even
approaches the make, build and quality found among
the best "oxford-type" shoes that are sold
in high-quality shoe stores. That doesn't mean
of course that non-professional should go out there
and buy shoes that cost $300 to $500, we didn't say
that...
Now, assuming that your "normal" shoes have a
LEATHER sole that's
at least 1/4 inch thick, putting on the taps is very
easy. Place the tap snug against the front of the
sole, making sure that the tap's contour follows the
outside of the sole, poke SMALL holes with an awl in
the center of each screw hole, grab a Phillips
screwdriver (NEVER use flat head screws, throw' em
away if that's what came with the taps) and gently
drive the screw into the leather. Don't tighten the
screw too much or you will strip everything, which
can be fixed but is a real pain. Next, make sure
that you check your taps every 10 minutes when you
start using the shoes (just walkin' around the house
is best.) They should get a bit loose,
which is normal, so you want to tighten' em up
gently right away. It's very important that the head
of the screw NEVER, EVER sticks out! If it does, you
might get injured and you will certainly do some
damage to the floor.
From: Sarah
Romano, age 21, Rochester, NY, USA "I just started
teaching a preschool tap class at the local YMCA for children from3 to 5 years old, I'm having a hard time keeping their
attention, do you have any ideas I can use, or any games we can play that are tap related? Anything would be
helpful." This
is the kind of situation and question that is best
answered during the course of the Teacher
Training and Certification Program.
From: Fleur
Chapman, age 14, Auckland,
NEW ZEALAND "Is it true that the shuffle has been taken from
Spanish dancing? If so who was it done by? What other countries dance changed and
incorporated into American Tap?"
Don't
take this personally, Fleur, but your question had
us rolling on the floor laughing! OK, now let's get
serious for a minute. First, there is no such thing
as "American Tap" since Tap IS American
(that would be like saying "Japanese
Tokyo.")
Tap was born out of slavery right here, in the
Southern part of our country. Second, neither the
shuffle STEP nor the shuffle BEAT have anything to
do with Spanish culture. They are both descendants
of African traditions and they both evolved (into
the music and dance forms that we know today) right here, in the good ol' US of A.
From: Renee
Jones, age 11, Durham, NC,
USA "How are taps
shaped and put onto the shoes?"
Taps
are made out of an aluminum alloy that is poured
very hot (melting) into molds that have
"inside" a shape that will eventually give
the taps their outside dimensions and contours. The
molds are then gradually cooled and the taps pop
out. They are then cleaned and buffed before being
sold in bulk to various vendors who package them and
sell them in retail shops or on the Internet.
"Standard" taps are attached with short
screws that go right into the sole's leather. In the
old days some taps were attached with rivets or
nails but both methods are just pathetic and have
been abandoned by responsible dance supplies
companies.
From: Charles
West, age 59, El Paso, TX,
USA "Some books define STAMP as receiving weight and STOMP as not receiving weight. Other books reverse these definitions. Which is
more correct or most commonly used? Why can't we have standardized definitions of tap steps in this
country?"
The version that is
most commonly used - and is also common sense - is
STAMP = WITH WEIGHT. There are many ways to remember
that but an easy one is to think of a POSTAL
STAMP (i.e. you put some weight on it to stick it
down to the envelope.) As to your second question, well that's a big
ol' can of worms! Every so often, someone comes out
of nowhere and pretends to reinvent the wheel with
some "new" definitions or dictionary. Part
of the problem is that some tap books were or are
written by people who never had a chance - or never bothered
- to learn from
the pioneers. Others were written by people who
couldn't dance and therefore were never in a position to
understand tap's complexity and depth "from the
inside." The fact that we tap dancers are
notorious for not being able to agree on anything
doesn't help!
From: Sari
Beliak, age 17, Scottsdale, AZ,
USA "Is there any future for
me in tap dance? My parents claim that I can only provide for myself if I teach, rather than try to perform.
Can you help me prove them wrong?!?"
Your
folks have legitimate concerns, Sari (yeah, parents
can be overbearing, but always remember that if they
didn't care and love you they wouldn't have such
concerns...) but we don't think that you have to
necessarily prove them wrong. The bottom line is
this. To be PROFESSIONALLY successful in tap you
must get what we call "total tap
education" AND a good school/college education.
Just like in any other profession, that will involve
years and years of studies, heavy schedules,
sacrifices, and absolute dedication to your calling
(but, hey, you and your tap shoes will become the
best friends in the world! Plus, what other
profession could be half as fun?) There's no way
that at this age you could or should make a decision
between performing and teaching. IF you have the
talent and good, professional performing
opportunities arise, then keep your eyes open and go
for it. But remember that hardly anyone makes at
living at strictly performing tap today, even among
the the very top performers. So keep your focus on
teaching, and working on the long-term stuff. If you
don't, whatever "career" awaits you will
be very, very short. We can think of so many who've
done that...
From: Paul
Mintz, age 45, Reading, PA,
USA "My organization is putting together a production of "42nd Street." We want to be able to amplify the tapping so the whole
audience can hear it. Any suggestions for miking the stage?"
This
is a tough question since you're not providing any
info on the setting, stage build, flooring type,
etc. However, generally speaking you can use either
floor mics or overhead mics. Try to point them so
that they cover as much of the sound coming from the
taps as possible without interfering with live or
taped music that is played (that's always loads of
fun...) Good luck!
From: Laura
Poling, age 18, Morgantown, WV,
USA "Is it too late to start tapping at my age, and without any previous dance experience?"
Nope!
NEVER too late!
From: Jennifer
Jones, age 22, Point Richmond, CA,
USA "I
am searching for a place where I can really improve my
skills and get serious with my tap dancing, that will
offer a challenge or chance to intensively work on
improving my skills. Do you know of any serious places
(studios/individual teachers/ dance academy) in the
San Francisco area?"
First, as explained at the top of this page we simply
cannot make such recommendations. Here is what would
happen If we did:
1) We surely would end up offending someone who's not
been listed. We tour a lot, but we can't possibly know
every single place or tapper out there!
2) We would violate company policy. Aside from any
school, studio or organization that is collaborating
with us on a given educational program (always clearly
stated on the web site) and from the teachers it has
certified, the national
tap dance company is a truly independent organization
that is not endorsing, or is not affiliated with, any
dance studio. We do have ongoing partnerships with a
number of large professional organizations, but that's
another ballgame.
3) Some people or studios would inevitably
misuse or misrepresent what has been posted (we know
this from experience, most unfortunately.)
But back to your question. If you're truly serious
about getting to that next level, we'd recommend the
Steppin' Up program. Our
Director is the one doing the coaching, and we can
tell you from experience that it just doesn't get any
better than that.
From: Jeffrey
Bacigalupo, age 13, Gilbert, AZ,
USA "I
need TAP SHOES. I wear a size 13, at age 13, 5'9", 163
lb. I prefer the split soles and have been buying
Leo's, changing the taps to Capezios, but the taps are
no longer big enough to cover the shoe at this size.
Any ideas? Thanks so much for your help."
As
far as the shoes go, we've covered that extensively
above. The taps? Sorry, Jeff, but you're out of luck.
Short of having them hand made, you will not find taps
that fit your shoes. Believe it or not, this is
actually true for ALL shoes sizes 7 1/2 (men). Sad,
ain't it?
From: Diane
Sigala, age 45, Ridgecrest, CA,
USA "I
have seen dozens of variations on the Rhythm Time
Step. I have asked other dancers but no one has been
able to tell me, as yet, what it is that makes it The
Rhythm Time Step. Is it the syncopation? The
groundedness of it? What is it?"
Without hearing you and seeing you perform the step
you are describing, it is simply impossible to give
you an answer. If you are referring to the very early
time steps, we CAN tell you that there is no such
thing as "the" time step, since there were hundreds of
variations created over the years. However, if you're
interested in learning the earliest time steps known
(they go back over 100 years) as well as their history
who invented them, you should attend courses #302
(Time Steps Repertoire) at one of your intensive
events, next time you get a chance. If you don't
already get it, subscribe to the
Tap Bulletin and they will
let you know when and where the next intensive will be
held.
From: Linda
Hart, age 45, Mahon, Menorca, SPAIN "I
would like to know the name of a famous American solo
tap dancer who usually performed in wooden soled
shoes. Can you help? Thank you."
There were many, but the most famous one was Bill
Robinson, also known as Bojangles.
From: Patty
Welsh, age 23, Clinton, NJ,
USA "I've
been taking dance lessons for 18 years. Now I teach
tap and jazz, I love tap and I want to learn more
advanced level tap. Any suggestions on what I can do
to become a more adv. tap dancer so I can be a better
teacher?"
To
become a better dancer, one MUST be willing to travel
to go and learn from the masters, and then practice,
practice, practice. To become a great teacher,
consider applying to the Teacher
Training and Certification Program when you are
ready.
From: Allyn
Ginns, age 13, Elk Grove, CA, USA "I
recently heard about Kahnotation and I would really
like to be able to learn it. Do you have any
information on this?" This
notation system is indeed as good as written notation
gets. Unfortunately, Stanley Kahn passed away several
years ago and to the best of our knowledge his system
is not publicly and legally available for sale.
From: Lea Izzy,
age 22, Colton, CA, USA "I am trying to find heel taps that give me a better
sound than the ones I have now. I dance in K360s and
have teletone taps on them, but they are "cupped" so
that they make a very muffled sound unless I hit the
back of the heels. Could you recommend a brand that is
flatter and would give me a better sound?" There
are other taps such as Morgans (hard to find) that
might fit your description but be aware that a tap
that is "flatter" will actually give you a sound that
is MORE muffled, not less. Keep in mind that the sound
differences between two brands of taps are minimal at
best, since the shoe (and more importantly the way you
use it) is what really gives you most of your sound.
From: Chantal
Christofi, age 19, Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA "I am from South Africa and really would love to get
some experience in Tap Dancing by going to America,
which state do you think is easier to apply to?"
Coming here is the right thing to do, but we're not
sure we understand by "apply to." It's our
understanding that foreigners get their visas from the
Federal Government, not from a state. We'd suggest
that you contact the U.S. State Department offices or
American embassy for info on this.
From: Sue
Ordon, age 61, Pensacola, FL, USA "I am in a group of tapping ladies between the ages of
45 and 70. We would like to contact other tapping
groups to discuss different dance routines and
costumes. We would also like to know what dance steps
we could use to replace steps like wings, and some
turns we can no longer do gracefully at our age.
Thanks!" Hey
Sue you made our day. We just love to see senior
citizens get into the action! Anyway, we'd suggest
that each one of you joins the Tap Network if you
haven't already. We're told that Network members will
soon have tools to communicate with one another and
have exactly the kind of discussion you're describing.
Go "tapping ladies"!
From: Amber
Finley, age 17, Anderson, SC, USA "What does math have to do with dance in general
(and/or tap)? " A
lot. It's particularly true in tap, which like most
other types of music has a direct and obvious
connection with counts, subdivisions, etc.
From: Anna
Sumar, age 36, Kiev, UKRAINE "In our studio we have a floor made out of oak.
It doesn't have any finishing, which causes a lot of
dust in the air, even when the floor is wiped with a
wet sponge twice a day. Can you suggest what kind of
finishing could we use to minimize the dust?" Oak
is quite porous and wetting the floor will actually
increase the problem, especially when it's done this
often. The key is to apply the proper finish to your
floor. We'd recommend a light sanding, followed by the
application of a good quality sealant, followed by at
least two coats of polyurethane. Once you've done
that, a weekly cleaning with a slightly wet mop
is all you should need.
From: Charlton
Seaver, age 19, Hickory, NC, USA "CA and NY get it all. I would love to go take
the classes and gain experience but cant afford the
trips. What will it take for this region to get more
exposure? Come see us sometime, I mean we're hittin'
loud and having fun too." What
CA and NY get is most of the hype, not necessarily
most of the best work... We can't speak for other
companies, but we can tell you that the national
company is constantly bringing programs all across the
country, and even overseas. Hey, we'd love to come to
Hickory, Charlton, all you have to do is invite us!
It's actually pretty simple. Whoever is officially in
charge of your studio or group should take a few
minutes to join the Tap Network as a
Teacher. The next time we're
in your neck of the woods (we actually come down to NC
quite often) the staff will notify that person and
together they will be able to organize something, right
in your backyard!
From: Stephanie
O'Brien, age 23, Beacon, NY, USA "I have been taking tap dancing for about 13 yrs
and I want to switch dance studios. I don't know one
in my area that I would choose over the other. Could
you give me some ideas that would help me make a good
choice on choosing?" It
depends on what your expectations and your criteria
are. We'd love to answer your question more in detail
but you simply didn't provide us with enough info on
yourself to do that...
From: Charlton
Seaver, age 19, Hickory, NC, USA "Is it possible to attach taps with glue or some
form of adhesive without damaging the shoe or
affecting the quality of sound? My screws constantly
come loose, or the hole becomes enlarged and the
screws fall out. How can I fix this problem?" Man,
is that you again, Charlton?!
[Just kidding...] We get
this question at master classes and workshops all the
time. The answer is no. There is no glue that will
allow you to attach taps without screws and do the job
adequately. You simply need to remove the taps, go to
your local cobbler and have them scrape the sole and
glue on a new half sole (1/4 to 1/2 inch thick
depending on your preferences, ask for the highest
quality leather they have.) Then re-attach the
taps and don't over-tighten the screws (see answers
above.) For about 25 bucks you'll have a shoe in good
order and with better sound!
From: Heather
Gough, age 14, Okotoks, Alberta, CANADA "I have participated in many dance workshops that
usually cover all the dance disciplines, but I was
wondering if there are strictly "tap" workshops that
would have instructors who teach different styles of
tap-- i.e. rhythm, etc?" Wow,
Heather, you need to use that computer mouse and surf
more, girl! We teach these kinds of intensive
workshops all the time, and several can be found right
on this web site.
Here's one.
Another one.
And another one...
From: Teri
DeVries, age 18, Lone Tree, CO, USA "I
would like to Audition for a part in a Tap Dance
Troupe or ensemble. Do you have auditions coming up
for openings for next season? What should I do? Keep
searching and asking for facts? I'm sort of stuck.
Thank you" There
are only three large, truly professional tap dance
companies like ours in the world and less than a handful
of smaller ones that have any kind of year-round
activity (100 programs or more each season.) We would
be surprised if any of them had a "part" for you,
since parts are more likely to be found in shows that
run for a very limited time, such as Broadway-type
shows or musicals. A professional company requires a
commitment that is usually no less than one year. As
to auditions, we can't speak for other companies but
take a look at the jobs page
and you will see that we rarely use auditions.
Instead, we prefer to work with people for a while in
a setting that is much more positive and
instructive than an audition. At the moment our
company REQUIRES that people who are seriously
interested in a present or future position with NTE
attend the National Tap Seminar,
which is just perfect for that. You're actually very
lucky (compared to most people) since this year the NTS is
literally in your back yard!
From: Marquita
Watkins, age 18, Owings, MD, USA "Where is the best place to perform or be
spotted/recognized by you professional tappers/hoofers?
thanks for your time? " Right
here (hands down!)
From: Lauren
Kafka, age 22, Weston, FL, USA "I haven't tap danced in several years and
desperately want to get back into it. It is all I
think about. I don't know of any studios or any people
that can steer me in the right direction. I live in
South Florida and would appreciate any information.
Can you help me pursue my dream??? Thank you so
much!!!" Here
is the bad news. You're asking us a question that we
can't possibly answer, since none of us lives there
(even if we did, as explained at the top of this page
we don't think that recommending studios is something
we should do or want to do.)
Now for the good news. First, there are at least two
good teachers we can recommend in South
Florida. AGAIN, ANYONE LOOKING FOR A GOOD, CERTIFIED
TAP TEACHER CAN AND SHOULD CHECK
THIS PAGE. Second, the
Tap Network is a great place to
ask other tappers this very type of questions. There
are members in most states and in many countries, with
more and more joining every day from what we're told.
From: Samuel
Pica, age 52, Trenton, NJ, USA "What happen to jingles taps? and why are they
not use today?"
Jingle taps had a purpose 90 years ago when
professional tappers had to perform in halls or on
outdoor stages that had extremely poor acoustics and
with bands that played very loud... There was no
amplification whatsoever and someone who thought they
were very smart came up with the idea of cutting out
the middle of the tap and re-attaching it in a loose
way so that the tapper could make more noise. Trouble
is, noise is precisely all that these taps could ever
make, and there's a very big difference between noise
and music! These jingle taps are actually pretty
horrible, which is one of the main reason
knowledgeable tappers
don't use them anymore. Frankly Sam, we don't miss' em!
From: Jessica
Pierson, age 16, Wallingford, CT, USA "I have the exact same question as number 111
about teaching preschool students... but you didn't
really give an answer. Are there any games you could
suggest without signing up for the program? " Yep,
and as much as we're always willing to take a second
look at something we said, we totally stand by our
answer. How could you possibly expect us to teach you how
to teach kiddies on a web page?! Just "name a game"?
Have you thought about that Jessica? We hope you
understand that it's not very realistic. BUT we have a
scoop for you: there will be classes and presentations
at the American Tap
Dance Conference that will address exactly this
type of question, and much more. This is one event no
tap teacher or assistant teacher should miss!
From: Lydia
Fontenot, age 15, Lake Charles, LA, USA "I have been tap dancing since I was 3 years of
age. And I am the only very advanced tap dancer at my
dance studio. I have been helping teach tap for the
younger kids around the ages of 2 1/2 - 6 years old. I
even get to teach my own classes. How can I be a
better teacher do you have any suggestions?" You
must have missed the question above. If you're really
serious about this, then you've got to be
there. You will not
just learn a ton of things, you will meet many other
people just like you.
From: Kate
Watson, age 10, Newcastle, N.S.W, AUSTRALIA "When I do competition Tapdancing I get really
scared on the stage so do you have some tips so I wont
be scared?"
You bet we do!
1 - Practice your number so that you can do it "on
automatic pilot."
2 - Practice, practice, and practice again.
3 - Take a deeeeeeep breath, relax and get on that
stage.
4 - Before you start your number ask yourself if you
ENJOY tap. If you do, then the joy of performing will
take over the fear of performing (these two aren't
very good friends.)
5 - Tap your heart out and show' em what you can do!
From: Katie
Sedivec, age 17, Fox River Grove, IL, USA "I started a rhythm tap group at my high school a
couple months ago with forty kids currently involved.
Is there any way I could get your Ensemble to tour at
my school? I'm only a student, and to get further
info. The request form said I needed to be a teacher
or school administrator or something. Thanks " Forty
kids? That's great, Katie!
We've got news and bad news. The bad news is that
getting the whole Ensemble to a school is completely
unfeasible, for no other reason that it would be
completely out any school's budget range. Also, it's
highly unlikely that the school's performing facility
would have the technical specs. The good news is that
some of our tours involve only one or two of us, which
is much more affordable, and we would be more than
happy to "catch you on the way" to or from some other
engagements in your region. What you need to do is
fill out Form 2 here and
explain your situation in the box at the bottom of the
page.
Also, don't forget that the
ATDI Conference is
but a few hours away from where you live. We'd love to
see you guys there this Summer. There's gonna be some
great classes, plus the Fabulous Taps Contest. You've
GOT to enter that one!
From: Jess
Wing, age 16, Cincinnati, OH, USA "I recently did my tap solo at a dance
competition in columbus. After i got off stage i
collapsed into my friends arms and nearly fainted from
lack of breathing while onstage. Is there anything
that i can do to make sure i breathe while dancing?" This
is a question that the non-performer might find silly
but it happens to a lot of people. There's only one
remedy here, and it requires a lot a discipline. Good
rehearsal ethics demand that we pay as much attention
to correct breathing as we do to steps, rhythms and
choreography. Unfortunately, many people (both
students and teachers/directors) don't consider that
very important. The problem is that without enough
oxygen both our muscle cells AND our brain cells don't
function properly...
From: Dee Dee
Dunn, age 34, Pensacola, FL, USA "I am the teacher of the tapping ladies from
question 126. I'm 34, and my ideas etc... don't always
agree with their thinking. Our biggest problem is
finding costume companies that have costumes for older
adults, and all size ranges. Any suggestions?" First
what you're doing is pretty cool in our book...
Anyway, having generation-related differences is
completely normal. Tappers can not only bridge these
differences but use them to enrich one another (most
of the classes we teach are cross-generational and we
see that all the time, seeing kids passing some of
their boundless energy to adults and alders trade
steps with kids just gives us a huge kick!)
Sorry we can't help you much with the costume issue
since most of our costumes have been custom-designed
and custom-made. But our office staff says that they
are inundated with catalogs in the mail (with costumes
we don't need, go figure...) so there's plenty of
stuff out there. Why don't you simply do a
search on the web?
From: Vanessa
Crawford, age 13, Corunna, Ontario, CANADA "Does building up a shoe increase the sound of the
tap? Where you find Morgans? Thank you!"
Building up a shoe, IF done correctly by a competent
cobbler, will greatly enhance your overall sound (see
#100.) You see, the tap itself is only a (small)
fraction of the sound you get out of your feet. The
shoe is what makes most of the difference. As to
finding Morgans, well to the best of our knowledge
that company has long gone out of business, so finding
these taps is a matter of sheer luck (or bad luck,
some people hate these taps...)
From: Dee Dee
Dunn, age 34, Pensacola, FL, USA "What would you do if you had people in your class
that take your choreography to use in their own group
without asking or offering to pay you for the
choreography and they think they have the right to do
this?" We
can't tell you what to do (you don't wanna know...)
but generally speaking what these people are doing is
just plain wrong. It's unethical, it shows their lack
of creativity and it's the kind of irresponsible
behavior that has been holding the world of tap dance
way, way back. Hey, why should others respect us if
we're incapable of respecting ourselves?
From: Alan
Paterson, age 48, Berne, SWITZERLAND "Last July I bought a pair of the Bufalino tap shoes
made by Leo's. I STILL haven't been able to find taps
to fit. Capezio #1 and E.B.Smith Super are 7.5 cm at
the broadest part, but these shoes need 8.5 cm so that
the edge of the tap meets the edge of the shoe. Does
anyone in your group have such shoes and can help me?" Sorry
Alan, thanks to the mystifying, decades-old,
incompetent policies of the companies that make taps,
anyone with feet above a size 8 (men's size, about a
41 in your country) is out of luck... If we fit the
taps to the outside edge, we miss flams, clicks, etc.
If we fit the taps to the inside edge, we miss
scrapes, cross-clicks, etc. No matter how we look at
it we loose. This has made tappers angry for
generations...
From: Alan
Paterson, age 48, Berne, SWITZERLAND "I have recently purchased some of the descriptions of
Leon Collins' dances described using Joan Hill's
Tap-a-scat-a-matic notation. Now, with a bit of study,
one can understand some of the simpler steps but many
are mysteries. Is there a resource anywhere which
explains this notation in more detail?" This
question is kind of puzzling us. One of us seems to
remember that this notation system had some kind of
glossary that explains all the symbols and weird
little drawings. Perhaps that glossary was missing
from your copy? We'd suggest contacting the publisher
or Ms. Hill herself.
From: Chris
Large, age 15, Oshawa, Ontario, CANADA
"Can you tell me why we count in 8s more often then
musicians who count in 4s?" Well,
we don't know. But we're not sure we'd really like to
know the name of the idiot who started this fad
several decades ago. You see, assuming that you are
referring to 4/4 music - which is what most of the
Western world and therefore most dance studios use -
counting beyond 4 is totally inappropriate. Why?
Because there simply are no beats beyond the 4th one
in each measure! It's beyond comprehension that
something this wrong would have been adopted by
several generations of dance teachers, but it did
happen. Even though things are changing for the better
now, a lot of damage has been done. Many, many young
tappers are still incapable of dancing to live music
or getting past a few minutes of an audition, simply
because they weren't taught how to count...
Oh, and by the way, Chris, not to muddle the issue but
never forget that we tappers ARE musicians first...
and dancers second!
From: Elizabeth
Flagg, age 11, Boca Raton, FL, USA "Tapping
louder and sounding klunky or tapping softer but
clearer?" A good tapper
should be able to do BOTH, and, as our dear Buster
(Brown) used to say: "anywheres, anytimes!"
From: Kathryn
Sadler, age 11, Placentia, CA, USA "Dance
class is always boring what can I do to spice things
up?" Seems to us the
problem could be coming "from the outside", "from the
inside" or a combination of both. If the issue is
outside of you (i.e. with your teacher,) it's a simple
fix: try another dance school, or several. If the
problem is inside (i.e. if you get easily bored with
whatever you do) then you need to work on your
attitude.
Life doesn't have to be boring, if one is willing to
look around and appreciate what one sees. Keep in mind
that in our country the vast majority of
children your age have food in their mouth and a roof
over their head. Those are the sort of things we
easily take for granted. In some places we've been,
kids die of starvation or are simply sold for quick
money (yes, SOLD!) It's a safe bet that getting a
chance to perhaps get ONE dance lesson would feel like
a huge privilege for these kids...
From: Krystle
Kerger, age 18, Baltimore, MD, USA "i
never had a dance class in my life, is it to late to
start? I am into theater, but not having dance
experience has held me back. i would like to get an
associates degree in dance just so i can get bigger
parts in productions. can i please have your opinion?" Well some degrees
are easier to get than others, but our opinion is that
if you're starting from scratch you should drop
everything else and study dance very intensively for
at least a year, then have an outside, professional
source give you an independent evaluation. IF you have
come far enough to complete dance studies, then
proceed with your career plan.
From: Katie
Richards, age 14, Birmingham, MI, USA "How
do i care for my tap shoes? How do i keep the taps
nice?" For the shoes, be
sure to treat the upper part of the shoe like you
would any other leather shoe, by periodically applying
a high-quality leather cream or leather conditioner.
For the taps, aside from letting the screws come loose
the ONE thing never, ever to do is walking outside or
on any hard surface with your tap shoes on. Not only
is it dangerous since tap shoes are not designed for
this purpose, but it's a sure way of very quickly
ruining the taps. As mentioned above, they are made of
aluminum alloys that may look hard but in fact are
very soft.
From: Randy
Bianchi, age 48, Montgomery, TX, USA "A
recent response indicated that Marley floors or floor
by Harlequinn are not good for tap dancers. What is
the best type flooring for tap?" Take a look at FAQ
section at the top of this page, Randy. Sorry it took
us so long to get that up there.
From: Beth
Whorf, age 46, Atkinson, NH, USA "I have
a pair of K-360 capezio tap shoes, that don't make the
brushback sound on a shuffle pick-up. Besides
practice, anything a cobbler could do? My Brush heel
shuffle step is off also?" Well Beth you're
not gonna like the answer but we're not gonna lie to
you. This has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with
whatever tap shoes you are using. 95% of the time this
type of problem can be traced back to poor
fundamentals, or, in fairness to teachers, poor
understanding/execution of correct fundamentals.
Practice won't help if the skills - or lack thereof -
get in the way!
From: CJ
Dwinell, age 68, Yarmouth, MA, USA "I am
looking for a tap dance toe plate supplier. Not a
dancer, but am handicapped and use the plates to save
wearing out the toes of my shoes." CJ we're pretty
tickled that you're asking us but if we understand
your needs correctly we think that taps won't do the
best job for you. Most taps are made of alloys that
are way too soft for this type of use. Look instead
for toe "taps" that are made by manufacturers of snow
cleats or other anti-slip devices. Many of these are
made of steel, which should last much longer.
From: Shelby
Servis, age 11, Cape Coral, FL, USA "what
are some realy good tap shoes that aren't very
expensive?"
Piece of cake
Shelby!
1 - Read ALL the answers above that have to do with
tap shoes.
2 - Go to your local Salvation Army or any other
thrift/charity store and buy used shoes that match the
criteria we've described and... fit your feet. You
shouldn't spend more than about five bucks!
From: Suzanne
Petro, age 25, Berlin, MD, USA "I have
a student doing a tap solo and would like her to get
her tap shoes built up. We live in a small area and
I'm not sure that a repair man would know what I mean.
Is there anyway you could explain it in a way that I
could explain to him what I want done?" Most cobblers
should understand this: "I need you to put on a 1/4
inch half-sole with the best leather you've got."
Don't forget to remove the taps first, Suzanne!
We obviously don't know your shoe repair guy, but
we've heard many, many horror stories from people who
"thought" the cobbler knew what a tap shoe is and how
taps are supposed to be affixed...
From: April
Gaines, age 49, Arlington, TX, USA "My tap
shoes (Capezio K360's) are wearing out on the inside
where my big toe rubs the top. I need advice on how to
fix this. The store where I bought the shoes suggested
I wait until there is a hole and then have a cobbler
patch it. Is this correct? What is your advice? " Why not wait until
all the toes go straight through and then turn your
tap shoes into beach sandals, while they're at it?
Unbelievable... Over the years we've heard many stories
about the poor quality control on these (expensive)
shoes, but boy, it looks like it's matched by customer
service... Our advice would be to take your business
elsewhere.
From: Amanda
Drury, age 22, Antioch, TN, USA "I have
been tap dancing ever since I was four years old, now
that I am 22, I want to continue with tap, I took
classes in college and now want to know how I can get
involved?" The first thing
would be to look around and try as many local classes
as you can. Then, travel to workshops (weekend of
week-long intensives in the Summer) to study with
people like us who do this for a living.
Steppin' Up might be up your
alley too. Finally, don't forget to hook up with the
Tap Network!
From: Giulia
Gonçalves, age 14, Campinas, SP, BRAZIL "when i
got 16, i will make the exchange... i would like to
know which countries are more easy to find tap
classes, so i can't loose what i've already got"
Well Giulia our
guess is that you are talking about a cultural
exchange, right? If that's the case, then the USA,
which is the birthplace of tap, is where you will find
the widest choice of quality tap classes, just like
you would go to Spain for flamenco or to India for
Khatak.
From: Cennie
Moore, age 17, Portland, OR, USA "Ever
since I was one year old I loved to dance, sing, and
model but I could never afford to take any classes.
Tap is one of my favorite dances to do. I am a senior,
Do you think I should give up trying to be a tap
dancer? Is it too late for me to be trying to learn at
my age (I will be 18 this April)?"
One of the very
special things about tap is that it has very different
demands on the body than other dance traditions do.
For example, although it is always possible to find
exceptions, getting into ballet at your age isn't
something most of us dance professionals would not
recommend. But you can get into tap at just about any
age. There are even examples in the business of
first-rate tappers who started while well into their
teens, or even in their twenties. Go for it!
From: Michelle
Pajewski, age 10, Charlottesville, VA, USA "I love
to tap and present my ideas but my school only has one
performance a year. Do you know of any workshops as
well as ideas
for performing with other tapper's in my area. Thanks,
and tap on"
The best thing
to do would probably to join the more than one
thousand tappers who belong to the International Tap
Dance Network. Among many other things they will send
you email notices of workshops in the mid-Atlantic
area, which we do regularly. We're looking forward to
seeing you there!
From: Adam
Bernett, age 16, Montreal, Quebec, CANADA "I
would like to practice my improvationnal skills and
maybe coreograph something. Where can I find the kind
of jazz music hoofers use for hoofing?"
The jazz music
we dance to is played by our musicians... Short of
that, you should find some pretty good CDs
here, or by going to your
favorite CD vendor. Look for musicians and composers
whose music swings like Fletcher Henderson, Count
Basie, Duke Ellington, etc. Better yet, why don't you
ask local jazz musicians? There used to be some
wonderful jazz clubs with some very talented players
in Montreal, hopefully they're still there!
From: Sandy
Hanan, age 51, Hillsboro, OR, USA "My
husband & I, who are both absolute beginners, have
been taking a tap class for 2 months now. We are not
completely satisfied w/ our teacher. We have two
questions: (1) Can you refer us to a teacher in the
Portland, Oregon, area? (2) Is it best to take a
class, or take individual lessons? "
As a matter of
company policy - not to mention personal sanity - we
do not engage in recommending a particular teacher
(whatever we say would inevitably end up being used
the wrong way, we know of certain people in this
business who make a habit of quoting us as saying
things we have never even discussed!) However there is
a wonderful listing of teachers that have been
certified by the American Tap Dance Institute right on
this web site (click here.)
As to your second question, if time and money are
there it is best to take both group classes and
private or semi-private lessons. Try also to find more
than one teacher if at all possible.
From: Elna
Esterhuyse, age 43, Vredendal, SOUTH AFRICA "I have
been doing tapdancing for 6 years and now wish to give
classes, as we live in a small country town. How do I
go about to
get info?"
Well Elna you
don't say getting info about what... but we're going
to try to help anyway, because we suspect that you are
the classic case of someone who lives in a small town
and doesn't really know how to go about teaching tap
from scratch. If you have no experience at all about
teaching anything, we'd suggest that you first
seek the help and guidance of a local dance teacher
(tap or whatever you can get) to show you the absolute
basics. The best approach is to first observe a number
of classes and then ask if you can be an
assistant-teacher. we would definitely advise against
"making things up" on your own. We have seen too many
students being completely messed up by teachers who
didn't know what the heck they were doing. Also,
beware of people who tell you that you can just buy a
couple tap videos and learn how to tap dance that way.
A video alone does not make a tap dancer, and it
certainly does not make a tap teacher...
From: Kristina
Mullay, age 21, Wilkes-Barre, PA, USA "What
exactly does it mean when a step requires weight? I
wanted to also what the difference is between a step,
stamp, and
stomp. Can you also provide some examples of steps
that require weight."
Tricky question.
The real issue is how MUCH weight is involved in a
given step. To keep things as simple as possible, we'd
advise you to put your entire weight on one foot when
you are told that a step requires weight, especially
if you are a beginner (we will not get into
terminology here since we have no idea what your
teachers use or what your background is.) A more
advanced dancer can actually put only a certain amount
of weight down on a given step and change that at
will, which allows for modulation of sound quality and
volume as well as countless stylistic and
choreographic variations.
From: Linda
Rosenberg, age 49, New York, NY, USA "Where
did the Maxi Ford step come from?"
It bears the
name of the dancer who supposedly invented it. The
problem with this old tale is that even though it was
clearly a "specialty step" for Mr. Ford (i.e. he used
it a lot, and quite well) many, many dancers used it
before him, including some of the best tap dancers who
ever lived. But most were the black pioneers who
created most of tap, and at that time our country was
so profoundly ignorant, divided and prejudiced that
black artists pretty much didn't get credit for
anything.
From: Chris
Large, age 15, Oshawa, Ont, CANADA "You
are offering a class called "Crawl Craze" but I don't
even know what a crawl is! Could you give me the
definition of a crawl?"
Chris that class
should help you clear that up once and for all so
hopefully we'll meet you on the dance floor. As you
know we can't "demonstrate steps" in writing, and
demonstrating is really what we should do here. Crawls
are among the most fundamental steps in tap. There are
zillions of really cool crawl variations and
combinations. What they have in common is that most
allow you to travel sideways, very often on one foot.
With the more fun ones we do one rhythm on the
traveling foot and another rhythm on the free foot (in
music it's called counterpoint.)
From: Kate
Vorstadt, age 14, Dryden, NY, USA "I
bought some Awards high-heeled Tapshoes last year and
they are ripping in the back. I don't use them very
much either is
there anything I could do before I have to buy new
Shoes?"
Have you taken
these shoes to a good cobbler? That's what we would
do. But more importantly we'd recommend that you do
not use high-heeled shoes for tap.
From: Linda Joy, age 58, Vancouver, BC, CANADA "Do you
know of any tricks to help the older body perform the
more challenging steps with the ease of youth? I am
skipping rope and tapping on my mat as much as
possible but thought perhaps you may know a secret or
two. Thanks for anything advice you may be able to
give me."
Linda your
opening question first made us think that maybe we
should commercialize some kind of cream or such and
feature it in one of those crappy infomercials. We can
see that already: 45 minutes of testimonies by people
just like you, who aren't saying how much they got
paid but appear on camera with that all great
innocence and say things like: "The TapForEver cream
is just AMAZING. I applied it only twice on my legs
and I have NEVER tapped this good" or "I now do steps
I never thought I could do, even 40 years ago" or "I
had one application of TapForEver just before doing
that challenge with Savion Glover. He went double time
and I doubled up. The poor kid could be my grandson
but he got so embarrassed he just ran off the stage."
Alright, we'll stop right here... Truth be told, there
ain't no secret. Here is the bad news. Age eventually
robs all of us of of our faculties, that's just the
way it is. But there is plenty of good news! Here's a
short list:
1 ) Inactivity does more damage than actual age
(Muscles, ligaments, brain cells and bones are all
members of that exclusive "use it or loose it" club.)
Sounds to us like you've got the right idea here since
you already jump rope and practice like a nut. Keep it
up!
2 ) Our lifestyle, especially what we eat, is even
worse than inactivity. Although scores of huge
corporations spend billions of dollars each year to
advertise their toxic, dangerous products and make us
use them, it's been proven over and over that a simple
diet change from junk foods and soft drinks to those
delicious organic foods, for example, help us "stay
young" and in some cases reverse the effects of the
aging process. It's common sense anyway: if stuff like
processed meats and foods - with their countless
chemicals, antibiotics, hormones, etc - or tobacco
does NOT get inside our system in the first place,
then our system will have a much easier time staying
healthy and in shape...
3 ) As we age we may tap a little less fast, but it's
not unusual to see the quality of our tapping improve.
Sometimes less means more!
4 ) Throughout the history of tap there has been
master tappers anywhere from their forties to their
seventies who could out-dance ANYBODY... We'll never
forget the first time Buster Brown performed with the
company for example. We just killed ourselves doing
all that great stuff, anything from beautiful splits
and fancy moves to triple-time bebop footwork, cool
counterpoint, etc. then he stepped onto the
stage. Within a couple of minutes he had gotten
bigger applause than any of us before him...
From: Anna Reed, age 26, Oxnard, CA, USA "Do you
think it is important for those wishing to be
accomplished tap dancers to have some ballet
training?"
It's not an
absolute must but it can give you an edge when it
comes to being a well-rounded performer. The most
important thing is to find a GOOD ballet teacher,
especially when one starts early (there are still
scores of uneducated ballet teachers out there who do
such things as putting kids age five or six on
pointe...)
From: Mikko Vaisala, age 45, Turku, FINLAND "I got
pains to my back (i.e. ischias) and my right foot
paralyzed partly in a way that I cannot perform HOP or
STEP with my right toes. The Studio where I take
lessons has a very hard floor on solid concrete. Do
you think that these kind of problems could be avoided
if the floor structure would have been different ?"
Take a look at
this page, Mikko. As you can
see, concrete is a surface that should be absolutely
avoided for tap, and for any kind of dance or physical
activity for that matter. It's impossible for us to
say if that floor caused your problems in the first
place, but it's safe to say that they can only be a
seriously aggravating factor. All tappers should avoid
concrete and similar floors like the plague.
From: Tiffany Madden, age 13, Saginaw, MICA, USA "I'm
13 and have been dancing for about 5 years now and
would really like a career in tap or Jazz on Broadway.
Is there any other sports or exersises that I could do
to improve my dancing"
It's a little
difficult to say without having a chance to see you in
action and do a real assessment, but we'd suggest that
whatever else you do, try not to forget that aside
from the "usual stuff" there are two qualities that
professional dancers MUST have and yet are often
completely overlooked. The first one is some decent
endurance (we need that to survive those longs shows,
they can be brutal on your system!) and the second one
is strength. And we mean REAL STRENGTH, not the
hormone-fed, bulky-looking, steroid-enhanced fake
strength you see everyday on television in many
"sports" nowadays.
From: Summer Horton, age 23, Wasilla, AK, USA
"Assuming
I find a super-fabulous pair of shoes at Salvation
Army, how do I know what size taps to put on them?"
The most
important thing is that the taps follow closely the
contour of the sole, and if possible match it exactly.
It would probably be best for you to take the shoes to
the dance supplies store and try out the various sizes
of taps they have before purchasing one.
From: Stacey Alley, age 29, Jonesboro, AR, USA "I
have wonderful tap shoes that I've had for several
years now. No doubt they have a lot of life left in
them yet one of the hole's in stripped therefore the
screw WILL NOT stay in (by the way, I've tried the
match in the whole trick and it doesn't work). Any
suggestions?"
Yeah, the match
trick is at best a bandaid, in practice it rarely
works for more than a few minutes... Your only
realistic option is to take those shoes to the cobbler
and have a new half-sole put on (see related questions
above.)
From: Scott Frazier age 53, Spring Mills, PA, USA "I
am 53 years old, in reasonably good shape (I swim
nearly four miles a week) and am considering beginning
tap lessons. Am I too old?"
Scott, from what
surmise you ain't nothin' but a Spring chicken! NEVER
too old anyway... (aging is only truly a factor when it's
the mind that goes, don't you think?)
From: Randi Smith age 15, Orillia, CANADA "I
have been in clogging since I was three years old, but
recently I moved to Orillia and they do not have
clogging here but I saw Tap almost everywhere I have
looked and I was wondering if it would be hard for me
to switch from clogging to tap since they are so
similar?"
There are
similarities, but also some important differences. But
the switch should be a piece a cake, especially at
your age. Give it a try!
From: Kelsey Boulanger, age 13, Davis, CA, USA "I
have been doing tap for 4 years. I need to get new
shoes, but I don't know whether to get 1 inch heeled
shoes or 1 1/2 inch ones. I have 1 inch ones right
now. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks!"
Given that your
body is developing and is used to the one inchers we
can't see any reason for you to switch, Kelsey. Would
you eventually get used to a higher heel? Probably. Is
it a good idea? No.
From: Tiff Prendergast, age 20, Erie, IL, USA "What
do tap dancers wear? Do they wear tights?"
Most don't. We
certainly don't, although come to think of it, some of
us might look REALLY CUTE in tights! Or is that REALLY
RIDICULOUS? We can't decide...
One of the really great things about tap is that it
allows for a very large range of clothing styles. As long as
you can move and do your stuff, you're OK! Much. much
less restrictive than many other dance forms...
From: Sara Yousey, age 13, Croghan, NY, USA "Is
it possible that since I tapped for nine years, but
then stopped for a year, but now I miss it so I want
to go back, is it possible I will still be good?"
One year off is
nothing Sara. Even if you stopped for twenty years you
might be surprised at how much your body remembers,
even though you brain may think you've forgotten
everything. It's a very common thing that has happened
to tons of people in tap. Memory works in mysterious
ways!
From: Laura Fletcher, age 16, Hobart, Tasmania,
AUSTRALIA "Will
you be coming to Australia to do any shows or do you
have any videos available so i can see your work?"
If Australia
cares to invite us we'd love to come Laura!
Sorry, footage from our shows is not available for
sale. We do occasionally show some of it at major
intensives and the like though. There's been talks
about a documentary as well, but we do not have any
specifics as of yet about this project.
From: Christa Woodall, age 21, Provo, UT, USA "Hello!
Today I started my first tap class ever--YAY!!!!--but
I have flat feet and really poor balance, and I found
myself wobbling all over. I felt like such a goof! I
love dance and idolize Gene, Fred and the like, but
I'm worried that I won't cut it. Any suggestions to
get better balance?"
There is nothing
unusual in your first experience Christa. One often
feels like a goof starting anything new, not just tap!
Give it four to eight weeks and if by then you are
still experiencing the same "poor balance" talk to
your teacher. By the way, a GOOD teacher should
include in their class rhythms and steps that promote
and develop good balance, versus having their students
spend the majority of the class "on one foot", this is
especially important at the very beginner level (level
1.) Tap, like ballet or other dance forms has its
own, very specific "basic" or fundamental
posture/position and it is something many tap teachers
appear not to know anything about (Scary? Yes, we
know...) This is one of the very first things teachers
learn at the ATDI's Teacher
Training and Certification Program and it makes
an ENORMOUS difference in the student's progress and
in how much they enjoy tap. As to having "flat" feet,
this in and out of itself should not make much of a
difference, if any at all.
From: Chris Day, age 18, Atascadero, CA, USA "How
do I put my taps on me character shoes myself. I don't
want to have to get them professionally installed"
First things
first, we don't care much for "character" shoes, as
one of their main pitfalls is that the sole is too
thin, but assuming yours aren't and the little screws
won't go through and poke your footsies, here are a
few things to watch for when affixing "standard" taps
(the ones that come in a little box with screws and a
little black plate that matches the shape of the tap):
1) Be sure the taps you purchased are as tight a fit
for the size of the sole as possible. Ideally both toe
and heel tap should exactly match the contour of their
respective part of the sole.
2) Use the black "sound plate" to draw the tap's
contour exactly where it will be placed, then throw
the plates away (these are cheapies made of a
fiber/cardboard materials, and contrary to what some
manufacturers claim instead of enhancing your overall
sound they actually reduce it.)
3) Place the toe tap on the sole and use an awl to
make starter holes in each screw hole. Do NOT push it
down into the leather more than 1/8 inch or 3-5
millimeters.
4) Place the first screw in its hole and tighten it
GENTLY until you feel some resistance (the screw's
head should now be BELOW the surface of the tap.)
5) Repeat the above for each screw.
6) Put your shoes on and tap for a few minutes, then
check the screws. Tighten them a bit more, ever so
gently.
7) Repeat the above after 1/2 hour, then after 1 hour
of tapping.
ALWAYS check your screws before a class or rehearsal.
If you hear the pitch change as you do familiar steps,
chances are that one or more screws have gotten loose.
Tighten them immediately or the threads in the leather
will soften up and rip, which would result in your
having to get the sole replaced (not a huge expense,
but something that's easy to avoid.)
From: Colin Bourdiec, age 42, South Shields, UK "I
have been a hoofer since i was 12 and would love to
teach american tap, here in the UK, but cannot find an
examining board."
Well friend the
term "American tap" always cracks us up! It's like
saying Spanish matador" or "Japanese sushi" or "French
croissant" isn't it? But anyway, we are guessing that
what you are really referring to is a tap
certification program sanctioned by an American
organization. If you are looking for something that
has meaning and substance (as opposed to the quick
schemes that "certify" teachers after anywhere from
half a day to a single week of training) there is only
one in this country. It is quite comprehensive and was
developed in the 1990's by our company's
higher-education branch as a part of its educational
mission. There's actually a link right on this web
site's home page Colin, somehow you must have missed
it. Anyhow, here is the direct link.
From: Kirstin Hill, age 34, Woodstock, CT, USA "I
have a 7 year old daughter who does all three time
steps, double triple, pick-ups, double pick-ups,
draw-backs, cincinattis... all with great timing. How
unusual is this?"
Not bad, not
bad...
From: Mackenzie Hull, age 12, Little Rock, AR, USA "I
would like to attend an intensive several day tap
workshop this summer. Can you tell me where to look
for these workshops or recommend one for my age? Thank you."
Bring your
tappy face and happy feet and join us this Summer at
the big Tap Conference
Mackenzie! Ooops, sorry, we meant "happy face and
tappy feet." Oh never mind, your feet can be happy
too!
From: Melanie Johnson, age 45, Berlin, GERMANY "My
husband is an executive for a very large company and
because of his job we have been living anywhere from a
few months to a year or so in many foreign countries.
My daughter is an avid tapper and I got the tap bug
from her! I have a question about choosing a good
dance school when we arrive in a new location. In some
countries like Italy, France or even Germany, certain
dance schools do not not use the word "tap dance" but
all kinds of other weird words. Why is that and do you
think it is a red flag as far as what they teach?
While we have not had too much of a problem in Berlin,
we will be leaving Germany soon and I would really
love to have your opinion on this."
Melanie we have
performed and taught in many other countries and we
are quite aware of this. To understand what happened, you
have to go back to the end of world war II. Many of
our soldiers (GIs, Airmen, etc.) came from a
generation and culture where just about everyone could
do a little Lindy Hop and a little tap. After a
European region or country was liberated,there
typically was a huge amount of celebrating going on,
and the first thing people would do is play music and
dance. That's how many Europeans were exposed to swing
and tap dancing. Some learned a few tap steps from the
soldiers and caught the bug (like you did!) but after
our troupes left those people were pretty much on
their own. Now mind you, the GIs were happy to share a
few steps but they didn't care much about what things
were called, so after the GIs were gone, those
Europeans thought it was OK to translate the "tap"
part of "tap dance" into whatever their language was.
But what was at first a pretty harmless thing ended up
lasting several decades and is now pretty ridiculous,
especially
in this Internet age. If these studios or people were
to just interpret the "dance" part of the term in
their own language, such as for example tap danza, tap
danse or tap tanz it wouldn't be too bad. But quite
frankly it is difficult for us to take seriously
people who do not even know what the very name of what
they teach or perform is! Think about it, if your
daughter liked Flamenco instead of tap, would you pay
for classes at a studio that does not even know what
Flamenco is called, or calls it something else
altogether? Would you take your child to a studio that
has decided that for their jazz dance classes the word
"jazz" should be replaced by something else? At the
very least it doesn't inspire much confidence, and we
certainly understand your concern. We would stay away from such places.
From: Michelle Day, age 30, State College, PA, USA "Does
the National Tap Ensemble or anyone you are aware of
sponsor a "tap shoe swap" (i.e., turn in the shoes
you've grown out of and trade for a nominal fee for
another pair of used shoes)? If not the NTE, then in
New York City perhaps? Thank you."
This is
something we always encourage people to do, but to the
best of our knowledge it's usually done on a pretty
informal basis. For example, tappers use the bulletin
board that's available to them at our large events,
such as the ATDI annual
conference to post info about used shoes. People
who have good-quality shoes for sale at a reasonable
price usually sell them very quickly, simply because
the buyer can try the shoe on the spot during the free
practice time hours (you obviously can't do that with
newspaper or Internet ads.)
From: Mel Lewis, age 89, Los Angeles, CA, USA "Is
there any way one could get a writen copy of the
"Eddie Brown" routine?"
Eddie was one of
those masters who constantly improvised, which some
tappers love and others just loathe (it made it
extremely difficult to learn from him, as you can
imagine.) It also means that there is unfortunately no
such thing as "The" Eddie Brown Routine. During the
last few decades of his life he did teach something
which he sometimes referred to a "routine" but those
who truly knew him also knew that he changed it all
the time, so he never really taught it twice in exactly
the same way. He was indeed a genius improviser!
From: Brian Landberg, age 35, Tokyo, JAPAN "I
recently started tap dancing. I love it, but I can not
go to the dance studio every day. I want to practice
more, but wearing the shoes on asphalt would damage
the shoes/floor. So, how and where to practice
outdoors? A 2nd pair of shoes? Just use normal tapless
shoes for outdoor practice?"
The latter
Brian. If you really need or want to practice outdoors
the problem is that you are in a situation where
finding shoes that would absorb both the impact from
the steps and the lack of cushioning from the
"floor" AND produce good sounds is almost impossible.
So we'd recommend
1) sticking to surfaces that are not asphalt-like
(roads, concrete, etc.) you are right this would
destroy your shoes but more importantly injure you!
Pick for example decking areas that are made of wood
or wood-like materials, there are quite a few of those
in Japan.
2) not using sneakers (good cushioning but too sticky)
but rather ordinary "man's shoes" with a leather sole.
They are very close to a good standard tap shoe so
your balance and stance won't be affected too much and
you will still get some audible sounds out of those.
From: Allison Rowe, age 11, Houston, TX, USA "About
how many legal tap moves are there? Please name the
most common!!!!!! Do leather shoes make a different
sound than those plastic ones?"
LEGAL tap moves?
Allison this is too funny, you had us just rolling on
the floor! OK seriously now, we don't know of any such
thing... Tap is as creative as one wants to make it
and you just can't "count" all the possibilities.
While there is a small set of Fundamentals, which by
the way could never be called "moves" since they
involve a complex layer of posture, energy, sounds,
etc., throughout our history there have been many
masters who have redefined the genre, therefore what
is most common for one tapper might not be common at
all for another.
As to your second question, yes, as opposed to plastic
shoes, (good) leather tap shoes make sounds that are
considerably different - and considerably better. Just
don't use plastic shoes unless you absolutely have no
other choice!
From: Rifka Kirsten, age 17, KZN, SOUTH AFRICA "i
really want to learn how to tap but there are no
studios or classes in my area, and no suppliers of
shoes. my two questions are:
1)can i teach myself?
2)what type of shoes are required? leather soles, or
can you use safety boots with rubber soles and
do-it-yourself? (somewhat like the shoes in the film 'bootmen')."
Way to go Rifka!
Teaching
yourself is not easy but it's a lot better than not
tapping at all if you have "gotten the bug" which
obviously you have. As to the shoes, don't use rubber
boots, they are OK for South African Boot Dancing
(obviously) but they aren't suited to tap at all.
Shoes with leather soles are what you need. Also,
there might be something better we can do for you,
contact the company's front
office and tell them we sent you and answered your
question on the Tapper's Page.
From: Susan MacIsaac, age 40, Orillia, Ontario, CANADA "Capezio
CG09 shoes w/tunable Teletone II taps - taps keep
loosening so much they can't be reattached - or in
recent pr (third since Sept) toe tap cracks. Are there
better brands of taps/shoes(Oxford type)that you might
recommend? Thanx."
These shoes are
notorious for this. The so-called "tunable" concept
isn't necessarily bad but this particular model is
very poorly and cheaply made.
Sorry, company ethics prevent us from recommending
brands of shoes - company members use many different
brands anyway, many of which are NOT "dance brands" -
simply use the considerable amount of info that we
have already given on this page and elsewhere and pick
the brand and model that suits your needs best Susan.
From: Middy Garcia, age 59, Boynton Beach, FL, USA "What
exactly are riffles, trenches and pullbacks, and half
wings?"
Again, answering
such questions "on paper" makes absolutely no sense at
all. Come to a workshop, take a tap class, whatever,
and any good teacher can show you that.
We still get way too many of those questions folks!
From: Kasey Rabar, age 14, Kill Devil Hills, NC, USA "Who
invented the first tap shoe?" Whoever
invented the first "tap" shoe wasn't trying to tap at
all. They were Africans whose freedom, land, families
and even names had been robbed from them, who had been
shackled and taken to a strange land on a long, scary
voyage over the high seas of the Atlantic Ocean and
were eventually sold into slavery. Once even their
drums were taken away from them, they started "tapping
out" their ancient rhythms so as to keep the only
thing that still kept them in touch with their
identities and their homeland - the complex religious
and cultural traditions for which drumming is central
- alive. So that's the best answer we can give to your
question. Remember, even their names had been taken
away from them!
From: Linda Talbot, age 36, Pearland, TX, NC, USA "What
product can I use to get adhesive tape off my
daughter's tap shoes? We put masking tape on her tap
shoes to "glitter" them for her recital per her
teacher's instructions. Thank you?" Any paint
thinner or remover product should work. Alternatively,
try something along the lines of Goo Gone.
From: Oliver Ashford, age 20, Birmingham,
UNITED KINGDOM "In
your opinion, which taps do you prefer to use on your
shoes? Can you also let me know the difference between
Teletone taps and Duo tone taps? Finally, can you
point me in the right direction to obtaining some
Morgan Taps as I can't source anywhere to obtain
them." We use a
number of different taps, it's largely a matter of
personal preferences and remember, it isn't really that
important since most of the quality of the sound does
not come from the tap but from the shoe and
most taps are pretty much made of the same material.
We do not use Duo Tone taps as they must be attached
to the sole using nails. Moreover, the little wells
where the nail heads go aren't deep enough so it's
very difficult even for an experienced cobbler to
drive the nails down properly. Most of the time the
nail heads stick out or come off too easily,
endangering both the dancer and the floor (we have
seen floors being literally ravaged by these taps!)
Finally, all the cobblers we have shown these to over
the years complained that Capezio does not provide the
proper type of nails with the taps. Generally
speaking, using taps that are attached with nails
should be avoided. Screws easily get loose and can
cause a lot of problems but they are nowhere near as
bad a s nails!
As to Morgan taps, they are indeed hard to find these
days (no one makes them anymore) but frankly they do
not sound that much better than, say, Teletone
taps.
From: Michelle Verre, age 17, Smithtown, NY, USA "At
my dance studio we use the same name for a flap and a
slap. What is the difference between the two? Thanks
so much!!" In most tap
terminologies, including the one used by the
American Tap Dance Institute,
the only significant difference between the two is
that a flap is done with full weight on the flapping
leg whereas a slap is done with the "free leg" which
gives you more options when it comes to directions
i.e. to the side, the front, the back, etc. Keep in
mind it's all semantics though. What really matters is
HOW it's executed and therefore how it looks and
SOUNDS.
From: Laura Pennington, age 18, Lynchburg, VA, USA "
I recently moved to Virginia to attend a liberal arts
college. I have been tap dancing most of my life and
seriously underestimated how much I would miss tap.
The dance department here does not offer a tap class.
Do you have any suggestions for how I could or narrow
my search in tap dance opportunities?" Yeah, the
tap dance bug never leaves you, does it?
You could start by doing a web search, but don't
neglect to ask around, in person. Visit local studios,
etc. If all else fails, ask the college if they would
let you find a room with a wood floor and use it for
personal practice so that you may keep your chops on
the up and up. Also, you're not too far from us so
don't forget to join the Tap Network
if you want to know when we do workshops or master
classes in our headquarters area.
From: Stacey Butler, age 19, Cape Cod, MA, USA "Im
19 years old and I have been tapping since I was 5. I
am a college dance major and I want to perform further
in my life. I often find myself thinking that Im good
enough but not getting noticed. What is your
suggestion to getting into a company or where do i
start looking for tap jobs?" Frankly
we're a bit surprised that whatever college you attend
doesn't teach dance majors how to do that. Oh well.
From our perspective, we'd say if you are interested
in a company get serious about doing your homework
about that company and at the very least find out what
their preferences and requirements are. Even though
it's often a few mouse clicks away, you would not
believe the number of aspiring professionals and even
established ones who would like to work with us and
send an info packet to the front office but never even
bothered to read the critical info available 24/7
right here. Talk about
shooting yourself in the foot before you even get a
chance (not a good thing for a tapper!)
From: Aparna Tarakad, age 23, Pune,
Maharashtra, INDIA "Im
trained in Indian classical dance but have never
tapped before , how long will i take to learn the art
of tap dancing?" It depends
greatly on your ability/willingness to study, and on
the quality of instruction you avail yourself of.
Given that you already are a trained dancer, count on
a minimum of 4 to 5 years of studies based on at least
3 classes a week and of course with a topnotch
teacher.
From: Liberty Dickinson, age 58, Yorba
Linda, CA, USA "I
found a pair of tap shoes at a thrift store, but they
are missing one heel tap. Where can I find a
replacement in the Los Angeles or Orange County Ca
area? Thanks!" Well Liberty
if you look at the Contact Page you will see that the
national tap dance company is based on the EAST Coast
so we can't help you with exactly where to go, but
many dance studio shops and any decent dance supply
shop should carry taps. They always come in
pairs so you won't be able to buy just one but that
could be a good opportunity to have to brand spankin'
new heel taps!
From: Dawn Morin, age 36, Greenfield, MA, USA "what
is the differance between traditional tap &
contemporary tap?" We could
write a ten page essay on that but at the end of the
day there isn't that much difference and it really
boils down to semantics. Several of us in the cast
were fortunate enough to learn our craft from some of
the greatest tappers who ever lived, and when
we step on the stage and perform works that sometimes
span over 100 years of tap (from the "traditional" to
today's "contemporary" stuff) honestly it's hard to
tell the difference. The music may have changed but
the steps certainly haven't!
From: Sarah Whyte, age 35, Croydon, UNITED
KINGDOM "please
can you give advice on fixing teletone taps , should
they be loose ?" Definitely
not! Read some of the other answers on this subject
too.
From: Holly Hughes, age 19, Scranton, PA, USA "i
am going to contact some dance studios in my area
about taking some beginner's classes. i've been
interested in tap since i was a little kid and i'm
finally going to give it a try. what exactly will i
need for my first class and how much money should i
expect to spend on everything i will need to start
tapping? " First,
congratulations Holly! Most people never make good on
what they "always wanted to do" and while there are
more and more seniors who give in after they retired
(tap can be safely started at any age!) it's really
nice to also see someone your age just going for it.
Another great thing about tap is that the basic
requirements in terms of attire can be really minimal.
Usually any comfortable clothes which you probably
already own, will do. The most important thing is the
shoe. Read the posts above on that, there's lots of
good stuff. A decent pair of shoes with taps will run
you anywhere between $75 and about $150.
From: Deborah DeWalt, age 34, Minneapolis, MN,
USA "Just
got taps & shoes from a dance supply co.; after
reading your Q&As I'm concerned they're not the right
size. Heel taps meet less than 1" of the edge; toes
about 2". That's WAY
too far from the edges. Taps should closely MATCH the
edges of the shoes...
From: Kim Mulron, age 35, Granite Bay, CA, USA "We
have a male beginning tap dancer who has size 16 feet.
The largest sized Capezio tap does not cut it with his
large sized feet. Do you know where he might be able
to get some? -or- What should he do?" The only
solution we know of in this case is unfortunately
time-consuming and quite expensive: have a metal shop
make customized taps for him.
From: Ida MacIntyre, age 62, Ottawa,
Ontario, CANADA "I have
completed a weekly lesson session of 8-10 one-hour
lessons, one hour each, beginners. The other members
were entering their sixth session and learning a
routine. I'm not making a lot of progress. Any hope
for me? I need terminology. I really appreciate any
words to help." Ida, there's
always hope!!! This is tap, remember that you are
doing it for fun, and hopefully for good health.
Comparing yourself to the other students isn't a good
idea since even different children learn at vastly
different paces. We can't evaluatee the situation much
better from what we've got, but we can recommend that
you register for course #108 at the Spirit Of Tap
Conference this
Summer. It's in driving distance and there are many
other classes and events you could participate in, but
this course would most likely be perfect
for you.
From: Gena Jones, age 15, Humble, TX, USA "Why is
tap so popular ?" Because it's
the BEST!
From: Rach Udy, age 31, Provo, UT, USA "I had
back surgery six years ago. I've never danced before
but I want to study tap; I think my back could handle
the stresses (as I do back-strengthening exercises),
but I'm kind of nervous." Tap is
actually far less dangerous than many other physical
activities and if you do back exercises you are on the
right track BUT two things could get in your way:
1) Tapping on inappropriate floors (lots of help on
this subject here.)
2) Learning under a teacher who doesn't know such
basics as the Fundamental Posture (position) that we
must use in tap (it's quite different from other dance
traditions.) See post 209 for a course that would make
a GREAT, safe starter for you and will give you an
excellent yardstick for picking future tap classes at
home.
As always, be sure to consult a competent doctor (we
know from experience that many don't have a clue, or
their heads are just full of old clichés!) and use
common sense: LISTEN to what your body tells you and
don't push yourself.
From: Katie Potter, age 10, Des Plaines, IL, USA "In
what countries is tap dancing popular other than the
United States?" As we tour
and travel all over the world we have seen a huge
resurgence in tap's popularity. Have a look at the
main page for the International
Tap Dance Network, they have members in over 40
countries!
From: Brenna Banister, age 14, West Danville, VT, USA "I
am from a tiny town where Tap education isn't as
advanced as if I were in the city. I want to take a
workshop somewhere, but fear I'm not good enough. I'm
willing to work hard and learn, but is that enough?" Yes!
In fact, that's all that really matters.
Unfortunately, workshops, competitions, etc. promote
far too often the concept of "who's better than who"
as opposed to "let us help you better yourself" as NTE
does. We at the national company view tap education as
something that should provide an environment that is
both fun and nurturing, and we design our programs
accordingly.
And by the way, quality tap education has nothing to
do with it being in a city or not. There are many,
many studios in big cities that have extremely poor
tap dance programs.
From: Heidi Navarro, age 39, Visalia CA, USA "I
tapped 20 years ago. I have a 2 year old son who is
very interested in music. I started tapping for him,
he loves it. I got him some shoes. I am 80 pounds
overweight w/ a family history of arthritis. After
reading your pages, am I correct in thinking that I
should NOT be tapping for exercise at all?" Heidi we
were all scratching our heads trying to figure out
what could possibly have given you this impression. In
fact, quite the opposite, as long as you increase both
the time you tap and the frequency of the
exercise VERY progressively, and "listen to what your
body tells you." Also, make sure you always do a
gentle, easy warm up!
From: Heidi Navarro, age 39, Visalia CA, USA "All my
old shoes have "Morgan" taps. Where are Morgans now?" They have
long been off the market. A few places might still
have a it of old stock though.
From: DeAnna Hill, age 42, Virginia Beach, VA, USA "My
daughter is required to use Capezio CG09's but she's
between sizes. We've tried heel inserts, heel grips,
inserts + grips but the shoes still slip up off her
heels causing blisters. SHe wears socks to combat the
problem but won't be able to for the show. Any
suggestions?" Yes, but you
may not like it DeAnna. This model is, well, just a
plain-looking tap shoe, like so many others. There is
absolutely no way an audience would notice the
difference between this model/brand in a line of
dancers, and there is absolutely no valid reason we
can see why your child should be put through this.
Offer them to equip your kid with another,
better-fitting brand and if they refuse, take your
money to a place where the child comes first.
From: Larissa Lowry, age 17, Los Angeles, CA, USA What are jam
sessions and where can you go to attend one?
Jam session is a loose term that had long been used in
jazz music before it came to us. It describes a
situation where musicians and/or tap dancers take
turns improvising, trade steps, challenge each other,
or all of the above. While it had been used in a few
tap circles all along, like those who were made of old
masters such as the Harlem's Copasetics, it only
started being used by today's tap generation in the
mid 1990's. That was when roughly young people started
asking us about it ("we want to do what you guys do."
From: Abby Kessler, age 35, Washington, DC, USA I'm a complete
and total newbie to tap. What kind/thickness of socks
do you recommend with tap shoes? Also, are
there specific areas or muscle groups I should be
focusing on at the gym to get my body into better
tapping shape?
Socks can be a very personal choice but in general we
recommend using thin, cotton socks. Avoid
nylon/synthetic products, they tend to be quite poor
at absorbing perspiration and they often have a
tendency to "heat up" with friction, and as you may
know we tappers create a tremendous amount of friction
inside the shoe as we do those myriads of steps. For
those reasons they are a common cause of blisters or
of blister aggravation.
As to getting in better shape, we'd suggest a few
months of general conditioning (30 to 60 minutes per
session, 5 to 6 days per week) before starting to
think about specific muscle groups.
From: Sunny Smith, age 54, Sacramento, CA, USA How does one
audition fort his company? What are you looking for in
a tap dancer?
[Answered by staff, not cast]
Simply click on the link called "The Company" at the
top of the home page in your web browser, then on the
link called "Job Openings" or directly from
here.
From: William Downey, age 46, Austin, TX, USA What is the
origin of the term bombershay?
No one really knows, and you can be sure that those
who claim to know make it up, as is the case with a
number of other strange tap terms which, like this
one, most likely started with both pronunciation and
spelling that were very different...
Our take? Tain't worth worrying too much about this
stuff, folks, we get these questions all the time and
people get way too caught up in them. Just enjoy DOING
the steps (and this one has a bunch of variations can
be lots of fun!)
From: Rachel Spence, age 17, Chaddesden Derby,
UK What sort of
materials is a tap shoe made of?
There are many, many variations on this Rachel, but
for the sake of simplicity let us look at the
"standard" tap shoe. The upper and sole (the shoe) are
made of leather. As to the taps, as has been explained
before nowadays most are made of aluminum alloys
From: Courtney Butler, age 14, Calgary, Alberta,
CANADA What age is
considered respectable for teaching smaller children
(ages 4-6) ?
21, and on the condition that the teacher has received
proper training.
From: Vickie Arnwine, age 45, Bartlett, TN, USA I have an 11
year old daughter who takes, tap, jazz, ballet,
lyrical, classes and has ideas of being on broadway.
she is a good dancer and taps well. how do I as a
parent, give her an extra "umph!" in her performance;
stage
presence. I would love to open her up to some
professional instruction.
Your last sentence is on the right track Vickie. There
comes a time when a young person simply needs true
professional advice, especially when stage presence is
an issue since it's not something one should try to
"teach" if one hasn't gotten extensive personal
experience. We aren't aware of anyone out there in TN,
but keep looking, you never know. If you don't mind
traveling a bit up I-81 you could always see if your
daughter might be up to something like our
Steppin' Up professional coaching
program, it's not cheap but as with anything, you get
what you pay for!
From: Colette Wakefield, age 15, widnes-cheshire,
UK How do you
attach double taps to your shoes without the pins
poking into your foot & the screws coming loose from
your shoes?
Goodness gracious Colette! We're truly sorry to have
to tell you this but the honest answer is, you don't.
NEVER attach such dangerous, clunky, noisy junk to the
bottom of your tap shoes!
As far as we are concerned these things are not taps,
and they certainly should not be allowed in the market
place. This is NOT the 1930's!
From: Donald Beane, age 50, Wilton, MN, USA What
types of microphones are most commonly used to
reproduce tap dancing in a dance recital?
It depends on a great many factors Don, and the truth
is that it completely changes from one theater to the
next. We've used at least half a dozen completely
different mics with good results. The most important
thing is to use the services of a competent sound our
last sentence
From: Lauren Volenec, age 17, Ellsworth, WI, USA When you are
performing a tap solo, is there a trick that you can
use so that you will not run out of breath in the
middle of your performance?
Not so much a trick as good work ethics and discipline
during rehearsals. Ask yourself if you run out of
breath during simple practice. Most tappers don't
realize they do, so gaining this awareness is a good
first step. Next, practice your solo faster and faster
while concentrating on your breathing, and nothing
else. How's it going, forgot half of your steps yet?
You did? HA! Not so easy, is it? Don't worry Lauren,
we've all gone through this at one point or another.
Breathing is an essential part of dance that
unfortunately most tap teachers don't even mention, so
when you start performing it can really affect you.
But if you incorporate good, steady breathing during
practice you have a very good chance that it will
become second nature, and once on the stage your
breathing will be on "automatic pilot" which is why
you ultimately need.
Please keep in mind that even with the best
preparation, stage work can be full of last-minute
surprises that can throw you off, add considerable
stress, and sometimes even panic! What do we humans do
when this happens? We literally stop breathing... if
only for a few seconds, and then we run out of breath!
It's just part of show business, some get used to it,
some never do....
From: Bill Davis, age 37, Owego, NY, USA Who invented
the tap shoe?
We do know that the first tap shoes were built by
slaves on our Southern plantations. But they weren't
trying to "invent" anything, they were merely trying
to keep their tribal drumming traditions (a central
part of their faith) alive after their hand drums had
been banned. Unfortunately the name of the very first
man to do this was never recorded and has long been
forgotten. But keep in mind it wouldn't have been this
real name anyway since plantations owners had taken
everything away from their salves, their freedom,
their dignity, their names, and 99% of what we
consider today to be the most elementary human rights.
From: Paige Strickland, age 28, Lake City, SC, USA At what age is
it appropriate to teach children toe stands in tap?
According to the American Tap Dance
Institute it is critically important that the
child be at a developmental stage (bones, muscles,
joints, connective tissues, sense of balance etc.)
that is sufficient to withstand both the weight of the
entire body (unless one does fake stands which is
always possible and actually quite easy) and the
impact of the steps themselves in these rather
precarious positions. For most children this means an
age range from 9 to 11 years old (not far from what is
recommended for beginning pointe work in ballet.)
From: Meg Henckel, age 59, Kettering,, OH, USA I have a
hard-to-fit foot and need something to narrow the
shoe's heel without raising my foot and to change the
arch in order to keep a 1 1/2" leather character shoe
(for recital) from sliding around. I think I could do
it with thick felt and velcro. Any suggestions for
ways to alter the inside of tap shoes?
Meg your trick could work but it's bound to give you a
potentially unstable shoe which in turn could result
in twisted ankles or worse. The arch is where much of your weight and all of your balance
will be when doing certain tap steps so it's not a good place to mess with. May we
suggest that you look for a good shoemaker and just
ask him or her to make you the tap shoes you really
need. Those sorts of shoes last for ever and are a very
worthy investment.
From: David Martin, age 43, San Diego, CA,
USA My left leg is
short a(5/16 inch). If I put in a heel lift the
counter digs into my foot? Yes custom shoes are an
option if the cobbler has experience with lifts in tap
shoes. Or do I just get a set of thick leather sole
shoes and add to the sole (the extra weight will be
less noticeable in an already heavy shoe)?
David, we would normally give you the same answer we
gave Meg, that would be option #1 as you yourself
suggested. Option #2 with the thicker sole on the
short side "could" work but where we have a problem is
that it is entirely possible that your left is NOT
shorter, or not as much as you were told. How can we
say this? Because it's happened to two of us!
Incorrect spine alignment at an early age can easily
result in this syndrome. Try using a good inversion
table morning and evening for 2-3 months, also work on
your posture (a good yoga teacher could be a huge help
here, we'd recommend at least two classes a week) and
THEN have a competent person re-measure your legs. You
might be surprised!
From: Lauren Giles, age 19, Mission Viejo, CA, USA I've
heard that after buying new tap shoes, the screws need
to be loosened a bit. Is this true?
No. it's exactly the opposite. Please read the other
answers already given in this area.
From: Jeanette Smith, age 30, Holland, MI, USA I wanted
to take tap lessons after I lost some weight as my
reward. After spending an entire evening reading all
your FAQs I decided to take tap lessons now! I signed
up the whole family! Thank you for being so
enthusiastic and encouraging! I am so excited to be
losing weight and having fun. I’m down 14 inches so
far!
Well Jeanette we are so happy for you AND WE ARE SO
PROUD OF YOU!
From: Breanne Long, age 16, High Point, NC, USA Is there
any way to convert a character into a tap shoe by
adding taps to it? Or must one purchase a character
tap shoe? Thank you!?
Most high-heel "women's tap shoes" are just that,
character shoes with taps on. Piece of cake!
From: Lauren Giles, age 19, Mission Viejo, CA, USA I’m
taking tap lessons with my mom. The floor in the
"studio" is bad - linoleum on concrete. How do I
convince mom we need to go somewhere with a decent
floor? They charge $15 for an hr lesson and mom has NO
dance experience. ARE there classes that’ll take a
19-yr old with 1 yr exp and a 45-yr old with none? For
cheap?
Lauren, (hi again!) many of us are parents and we
cannot imagine that your mom would ever want to let
you get hurt, but in this case it's precisely what's
happening on this TOTALLY inappropriate flooring. We'd
suggest you have HER read this page and the page on
good and bad tap floors. We
would have NO idea what studios there are charge in
your area or what they charge but any decent tap
program should have at least one class that welcomes
you and your mom (you also could teach her some of the
things you know at home to help her catch up.) As to
the studio your are in now, all we have to say is:
RUN!!!
From: Marsha Snider, age 37, Cleveland, OH, USA Where
can i get tap shoes w/two-part loose taps like from
the 60's? i just don't like the plain teletone.
boring!!!! Thank you.
Sorry Marsha but we strongly disagree. What you are
referring to is called "jingle taps" or jingles. They
had their place one hundred years ago but not any
longer. Frankly they make a truly awful kind of
sound.
A good teacher should be able to help you discover (or
re-discover) all the wonderful tones that can be
produced by "standard" taps. WE are far from finished
exploring this range of possibilities and trust us,
there's nothing boring about that...
From: Jenna
Boatwright, age 20, Woodbury , GA, USA How do you
know if you are a good tap dancer if you have only
been dancing and teaching in one studio?
In strict professional terms, you don't. You need
exposure to and advice from other teachers and if at
all possible, at least one master teacher.
But at the purely personal level and if you don't plan
on doing this professionally, it's best to keep the
judgmental stuff out. Do you LIKE tapping? Does it
make you FEEL good? Then it IS good!
From: Abbie-Jean Esbjerg, age 16, Colchester, VT, USA Do you
have clinics or master classes available to
individuals for private instruction?
Yes, our Director himself does conduct this kind of
training. It's not for everyone though. Have a look
here for details.
From: Al Prestrude, age 72, Forest, VA, USA How are the
number of taps per second measured for determining the
record, e.g., Michael Flatley's claim of 35/sec which
allegedly was included in the Guinness Book of
Records?
We'd recommend you inquire with the Guinness folks.
However, they clearly do not even know the difference
between Irish step dancing (what Michael does) and tap
dancing (what we do) so... brace yourself!
From: Cathy Tubolino, age 49, North Wales , PA, USA How did
"tap" get it's name?
The name comes from the little plates which are
attached underneath the soles of our shoes (those
plates were originally made of wood and were used by
African slaves to amplify the sounds they were making
with their feet.) Those plates are called taps, hence
the name.
From: Jill Reeves, age 47, Brunswick, GA, USA Is there
a secret to putting taps on tap shoes. My husband is
pretty handy , I think with the right instructions he
could do
it. Does he need a special tool? We have the screws.
Thanks,
Nope, no special tools, Jill, just a couple of basic
tools (a screwdriver and a small awl should suffice)
and a bit of common sense. In fact, many shoe repair
shops have never been trained at doing this, so by
doing yourselves you will save money and quite
possibly do a better job. We've seen it many times!
From: Jessica Barna, age 16, North Port, FL, USA I just
bought a pair of tap shoes, but they have jingle taps
on them so I bought regular taps. How do I remove the
jingle taps
without damaging my shoes?
Jessica, removing those awful jingles is a very smart
decision on your part. However, it may be a bit tricky
because most jingles are affixed with rivets or "bent
nails." Removing
a rivet requires either a special tool or drilling
through the rivet, both of which should be left to a
competent shoe repair shop or someone who is very good
at using power tools. Either way we'd suggest adding a
leather half-sole once it's done. This should help with
holding your new taps in place, not to mention quite
possibly giving you a better-sounding shoe.
From: Elise Posey, age 18, Upper Marlboro, MD, USA Is there
anything that I can put on my taps that can prevent me
from slipping, on a slippery surface?
"Slipping" - when done in moderation - is actually
excellent for the tapper's balance. It is also an
integral part of certain fundamental tap dance steps.
Our advice would be to never, ever put anything
on the taps themselves as this could be quite
dangerous. Adding a half-sole of rubber or "cat paw"
to the front part of the sole might help if you are really
that scared, but the best approach would be for
you to ask your tap teacher to help you change your
mental approach to "slipping and sliding." When done
safely, most of the steps that are based on "low floor
grip" can make you into a much better tapper and
they are just tons of fun too!
From: Emily Jenkins, age 16, New South Wales,
AUSTRALIA I have
just started learning tap (and it's great!!) and will
it boost my agility if I have sand bags attached to my
waist like Eleanor Powell?
What a great question, it sounds like you have studied
your tap history Emily!
However, the answer is no, we wouldn't recommend it.
Eleanor's mentors asked her to do this because they
needed her to be more "grounded" as she came from a
very balletic background and they also needed fairly quick
results. But there are risks. Keep in mind that she was already a very
accomplished dancer and she had a phenomenal sense of
balance and timing. She made the best of a
physically demanding situation, but not everyone is an
Eleanor Powell (in fact, very few master tappers have
ever come close to her!) We would definitely not
recommend sandbags as a general tap tool for
non-professionals.
From: Sheila Kush, age 60, Oak Lawn, IL, USA What is
the difference between a tap dancer and a hoofer?
Some people like to argue about this or that, but at
the end of the day these two words represent the same tradition
so there is no real difference. Open-minded tap
artists have used the two terms interchangeably for as
far as we can remember.
From: April Sutherland, age 53, Eastchester, NY, USA Paradiddles-
I can do them and my teacher does them so fast it
doesn't even look like her feet are moving. How can I
get this speed? Thanks.
Your teacher is the one who can/should help you!
Please see the
Answers to such questions as...
in the Important
GUIDELINES & tips
section at the top of
this page (nothing personal, this is just a reminder
for everyone.).
From: PingPing Lavigne, age 14, Chiangmai, THAILAND How can
I start tapping or how can I start to be a tapper?
You need tap shoes and you will find lots of advice on
this web page about tap dance shoes but the first and
most important thing would probably be for you to try
to find a local tap dance class, or at least someone
who is willing to teach you a few basics. Practice
those for a few months and see how you like it.
From: Brooke Nevin, age 19, Ashtonfield, New South
Wales,
AUSTRALIA
What is
the eastiest tempos for slow, med, fast waltz and
slow, med, fast foxtrot. Could u name some Medium
waltz songs(new vogue waltz). No words though, as they
are for tap exams.
No words indeed. Sorry to say Brooke, but your
questions leave us speechless.
But even more so for tap "exams" that are "designed"
and sold by people who clearly do not have a
clue about the difference between ballroom and tap, or
about the history and nature of the art of tap dancing
itself for that matter. It's a bit ridiculous, and
quite frankly just shameful to still find this sort of
stuff in the year 2007. But as long as there will be
parents and students naive enough to keep these
"exams" in business... they will go on and laugh all
the way to the bank.
From: Frances Advincula, age 16, El Dorado Springs, MO, USA I just
started tap again (advanced beg.) I bought several
dvds and will start classes with the same instructor!
If I can only afford lessons once a month and practice
a lot, can I still be really good? Can I be good
enough to attend one of those tap conferences this
summer if I work my heart out?
Absolutely! You are doing two things right Frances. First,
study with an actual human being who will be able to
give you feedback on both your problems and your progress,
which is MOST important, and second, you seem to have
a great attitude when it comes to practicing. Go for
it girl!
.
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