Q & A (QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS)

1. 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.
   
    
2. 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.
   
   
3. 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.
   
   
4. 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...
   
    
5. 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.
   
    
6. 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!
   
    
7. 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!
   
    
8. 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). 
   
    
9. 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!
   
    
10. 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!
    
    
11. 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.
    
     
12. 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.
    
     
13. 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.
    
     
14. 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.
    
     
15. 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!
    
     
16. 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!
    
     
17. 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.
    
     
18. 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.
    
     
19. 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.
    
     
20. 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!
    
     
21. 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.
    
     
22. 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
    
     
23. 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.
    
     
24. 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)
    
     
25. 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.
    
     
26. 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.
    
     
27. 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..
    
     
28. 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!
    
     
29. 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.
    
     
30. 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.
    
     
31. 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.
    
     
32. 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.
    
     
33. 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!
    
     
34. 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".)
    
     
35. 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.]
    
     
36. 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!
    
     
37. 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...
    
     
38. 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.
    
     
39. 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.
    
     
40. 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!"
    
     
41. 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.
    
     
42. 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.
    
     
43. 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!
    
     
44. 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.
    
     
45. 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!
    
     
46. 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.
    
     
47. 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!
    
     
48. 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. 
    
     
49. 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!
    
     
50. 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.
    
     
51. 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.
    
     
52. 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!
    
    
53. 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...   
    
     
54. 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.
    
     
55. 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.
    
     
56. 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!
    
     
57. 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! 
    
     
58. 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! 
    
     
59. 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.
    
     
60. 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. 
    
     
61. 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?
    
     
62. 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!
    
     
63. 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.
    
     
64. 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!
    
     
65. 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.
    
     
66. 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!
    
     
67. 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.
    
     
68. 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.
    
     
69. 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!
    
     
70. 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.)
    
    
71. 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.
    
     
72. 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.
    
     
73. 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!
    
     
74. 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.
    
     
75. 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."
    
     
76. 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!
    
     
77. 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.) 
    
     
78. 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. 
    
     
79. 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!
    
     
80. 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?
    
     
81. 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.) 
    
     
82. 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!
    
     
83. 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. 
    
     
84. 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. 
    
     
85. 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! 
    
     
86. 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!. 
    
     
87. 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.
    
     
    
88. 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. 
    
     
89. 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."
    
    
90. 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! 
    
     
91. 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!
    
    
    
92. 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! 
    
     
93. 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?
    
    
    
94. 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...
    
    
    
95. 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!
    
     
96. 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?
    
    
    
97. 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! 
    
    
    
98. 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.
    
    
    
99. 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.
    
     
100. 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. 
     
     
     
101. 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!
     
      
102. 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!
     
      
103. 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...
     
      
104. 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.
     
      
105. 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...
     
      
106. 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. 
     
      
107. 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!
     
      
108. 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! 
     
      
109. 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.
     
     
     
110. 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.
     
     
     
111. 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. 
     
      
112. 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.
     
      
113. 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!
     
      
114. 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...
     
      
115. 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!
     
      
116. 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!
     
      
117. 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.
     
      
118. 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?
     
      
119. 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.
     
      
120. 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.
     
      
121. 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.
     
      
122. 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.
     
      
123. 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.
     
      
124. 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.
     
      
125. 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"!
     
      
126. 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.
     
      
127. 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.
     
      
128. 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!
     
      
129. 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...
     
      
130. 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!
     
      
131. 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...
     
      
132. 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!
     
      
133. 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!)
     
      
134. 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.
     
      
135. 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!
     
      
136. 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!
     
      
137. 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.
      
138. 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!
     
      
139. 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!
     
      
140. 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...
     
      
141. 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?
     
      
142.  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...)
     
      
143.  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?
     
      
144.  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...
     
      
145.  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.
     
      
146. 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!
     
      
147. 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!"
     
      
148. 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... 
     
      
149. 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.
     
      
150. 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.
     
      
151. 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.
     
      
152. 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! 
     
      
153. 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.
     
      
154. 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!
     
      
155. 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...
     
      
156. 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.
     
      
157. 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!
     
      
158. 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.
     
      
159. 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!
     
      
160. 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!
     
      
161. 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!
     
      
162. 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.
     
      
163. 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...
     
      
164. 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.
     
      
165. 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.
     
      
166. 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.)
     
      
167. 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.
     
      
168. 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...
     
      
169. 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...)
     
      
170. 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.
     
      
171. 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.
     
      
172. 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.
     
      
173. 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.)
     
      
174. 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?)
     
      
175. 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!
     
      
176. 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.
     
      
177. 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...
     
      
178. 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!
     
      
179. 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.
     
      
180. 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.   
     
      
181. 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.)
     
      
182. 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.
     
      
183. 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... 
     
      
184. 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!
     
      
185. 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.
     
      
186. 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.)
     
      
187. 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!  
     
      
188. 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. 
     
      
189. 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!  
     
      
190. 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.
     
      
191. 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. 
     
      
192. 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!
     
      
193. 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!
     
      
194. 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.
     
      
195. 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.
     
      
196. 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.
     
      
197. 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.
     
      
198. 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!)
     
      
199. 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.
     
      
200. 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!
     
      
201. 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!
       
      
202. 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.
     
      
203. 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.
     
      
204. 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...
     
      
205. 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.
     
      
206. 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.
     
      
207. From:  Gena Jones, age 15, Humble, TX, USA
     "Why is tap so popular ?"
     Because it's the BEST!
     
      
208. 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.
     
      
209. 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! 
     
      
210. 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.
     
      
211. 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!
     
      
212. 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.
     
      
213. 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.
     
      
214. 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."
     
      
215. 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. 
     
      
216. 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.
     
      
217. 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!) 
     
      
218. 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
     
      
219. 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.
     
      
220. 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!
     
     
      
221. 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!
     
      
222. 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
     
      
223. 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....  
     
      
224. 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.
     
      
225. 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.)
     
      
226. 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.
      
      
227. 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!   
     
      
228. 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.
     
      
229. 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!
     
      
230. 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!
     
      
231. 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!!!
     
      
232. 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... 
     
      
233. 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!
     
      
234. 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.
     
      
235. 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!
     
      
236. 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.
      
      
237. 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!
     
      
238. 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.
      
      
239. 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! 
     
      
240. 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.
     
     
      
241. 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.
     
     
      
242. 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.).
     
      
243. 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. 
     
     
      
244. 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.
     
      
245. 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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