Tap Dance Zone

for Tippy Tappers Tap dance was born in the United States during the 19th century, and today is popular all around the world. The name comes from the tapping sound made when the small metal plates on the dancer's shoes touch a hard floor. This lively, rhythmic tapping makes the performer not just a dancer, but also a percussive musician. At Janis Anderson School of Dancing we recently launched tap classes with the ISTD. Here is some of the basic things you need to know about tap dance; Tap shoes are a vital part and they need to be fitted correctly to get the most out of the tap shoe. Make sure the tap shoe is flexible and supportive of the foot. There is no need to have heel taps in the lower grades but they are needed as the child progresses. Posture it is vital you need to stand tall with your weight slightly forward over your toes. Pull in the tummy muscles and tuck under your seat muscles, arms relaxed and chin and eyeline well lifted. Relaxation is another vital skill, relax knees and ankles make the tap sound so much better! Tap tone and Accent this is the light and shade to our tapping, there is no need to thrash the floor taping quietly with the odd louder moments makes tap more interesting to the ear and doesn’t wreck the WI hall floor! Time is the beat of the music which we dance to. Tempo the speed at which the music is played Rhythm in tap we call our creative time, this is where we can create patterns with tap steps to make unusual and intricate rhythms. Timesteps (ahhhhh) timesteps in tap are as important as a plie in ballet, or a scale to music. They are a series of steps to a repetitive rhythm, these develop throughout the grades from shuffle timesteps to pick-up timesteps and many more. Tacit this is where the music or the dancer is silent for a bar of music or more. When the music goes silent the dancer is expected to keep the rhythm going and be exactly on time when the music starts up again, very difficult sometimes. Artistry the most important thing for me, the way you perform or in other words, smile and enjoy it! Please now click to your grade/level and find out all you need to know for your exams and practicing - Primary - Grade 1 - Grade 2 - Grade 3 - Adult Primary Tappers Parallel arm swings These are the ones that are like train tracks 2 straight arms swinging forwards and backwards together. Opposition arm swings Soldier arms start with one arm at the front and one arm at the back and swing them but remember not too high! Rythm section Quarter notes 4 Claps in time with the music 4 Taps in time with the music Quarter notes and Accented Eight noted 1 and 2 clap 1 and 2 dance This one is like an echo and it travels from side to side. Try to think of a good word that goes to that rhythm like sugar puffs 1 and 2 Grade One Tappers Rhythm Section &1 &2 &3 &4 5 6 7 &8 This is your set rhythm you have to clap this twice through and then dance it twice. Compound Steps Tap steps and Tap springs – 4 of each Tap step ball change Tap step heel beat Tap heel ball Shuffle hop step - travelling backwards Pick-up steps to quarter notes – travelling backwards Shuffle ball change x3 and a stamp Grade Two Tappers Rhythm Section 1 2 3 4 &5 &6 &7 &8 1 2 3 4 5&a6 &7 (miss 8) This is your set rhythm you have to clap this twice through and then dance it twice. Compound Steps Pick-up steps – accented eighth noted Pick-up hop steps Pick-up spring steps Shuffle ball change, shuffle hop step Tap step heel Tap step ball change – 4 times quiet 4 times loud Timestep Single 8&1 Shuffle R. Hop L 2 Step/Spring R &3& Forward TapL. Ball Change L.R. 4&5 Shuffle L. Hop R 6 Step/Spring L &7& Forward TapR. Ball Change R.L. Break 8&1 Shuffle R. Hop L. 2 Step/Spring R &3& Shuffle Step L. 4&5 Shuffle Step R. &6&7 Shuffle L. Ball Change L.R. Words you need to know; Forward Brush – Like a forward tap but with a broader movement hinging from hip joint Backwards Brush – Like a back tap but leg slightly bent and a brushing feel making leg travel all the way through. Step – Transfering weight fully from one foot to the other on the balls of the feet. Stamp – Heavy downward action, whole foot on floor make sure your knee is bending with the stamp do not let it jar. Stomp – raise the heel slightly and push forward making a heavy heel beat with knee flexed. Shuffle – forward and back tap &1 or less. Tap Step – forward tap and step on the ball of foot. Tap spring – forward tap and spring on ball of foot Flap – Forward tap and then downward beat finishing either on flat foot or ball of foot with relaxation in knees Ball Change – transfer of weight from one foot to the other Pick Up step – Pick-up R. Step L. Pick-up Hop – Pick-up R. Hop L. step back to repeat Pick-up Spring – Pick-up R. Spring onto R. step back to repeat 4 Beat cramp roll – Spring onto R Step L. Heel Beat R Heel Beat L. Grade Three Tappers Rhythm Section &1&a2&3&a4 5 (miss 6) &7&8 This is your set rhythm you have to clap this twice through and then dance it twice. Compound Steps Pick-up hop step, Pick-up spring step - travelling backwards Pick-up hop shuffle step, Pick-up spring shuffle step - travelling backwards Shuffle spring continuously - travelling backwards Pick-up step ball change – side to side Tap step R, stamp LR Pick-up L, hop R, toe tap L, hop R repeat with other foot Tap step R, heel LR, Pick-up L, heel R, toe tap L, heel R repeat with other foot Taken to Even - Accented rhythms facing front. Timesteps Double 8&1 Shuffle R. Hop L &2 Tap Step R &3& Forward TapL. Ball Change L.R. 4&5 Shuffle L. Hop R &6 Tap Step L &7& Forward TapR. Ball Change R.L. Break 8&1 Shuffle R. Hop L. &2 Tap Step R &3& Shuffle Step L. 4&5 Shuffle Step R. &6&7 Shuffle L. Ball Change L.R. Words you need to know; All vocabulary from Grade Two plus; Pick-up change – Pick-up on one foot and land on the other 3 beat riff forward – Forward catch heel and a heel beat on the underneath leg 5 beat cramp roll – Tap Spring onto R Step L. Heel Beat R Heel Beat L. Adult Tappers Welcome to the adult tap section, I have put the obvious things on for you TIME STEPS the things we love to hate but please do not hesitate to see me and I will put anything else on that you may need or want to know! Time Steps Single 8&1 Shuffle R. Hop L 2 Step/Spring R &3& Forward TapL. Ball Change L.R. 4&5 Shuffle L. Hop R 6 Step/Spring L &7& Forward TapR. Ball Change R.L. Break 8&1 Shuffle R. Hop L. 2 Step/Spring R &3& Shuffle Step L. 4&5 Shuffle Step R. &6&7 Shuffle L. Ball Change L.R. Double 8&1 Shuffle R. Hop L &2 Tap Step R &3& Forward TapL. Ball Change L.R. 4&5 Shuffle L. Hop R &6 Tap Step L &7& Forward TapR. Ball Change R.L. Break 8&1 Shuffle R. Hop L. &2 Tap Step R &3& Shuffle Step L. 4&5 Shuffle Step R. &6&7 Shuffle L. Ball Change L.R. Triple 8&1 Shuffle R. Hop L &a2 Shuffle Step R &3& Forward TapL. Ball Change L.R. 4&5 Shuffle L. Hop R &a6 Shuffle Step L &7& Forward TapR. Ball Change R.L. Break 8&1 Shuffle R. Hop L. &a2 Shuffle Step R &3& Shuffle Step L. 4&5 Shuffle Step R. &6&7 Shuffle L. Ball Change L.R. Here are some explanations of new steps that we are trying; This one is that tricky one in our dance, Tap step R, Heel LR, Pick-up L, Heel R, Toe tap L, Heel R Repeat with other foot