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Tap dance started by Irish step dancers.

Then African Americans used it as physical code

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Tap dance originated in America

by African Americans.

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Nicholas Brothers - Down Argentine Way (1940)

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Tap
Dance

Origin: America

History: Started by Irish step dancers. Then
African Americans started tap dance to use as physical codes.They
combined their footwork with Irish and British clogging steps to create a style
called "Buck and Wing," which is now called Tap Dance. Started in
mid-1800s.

Importance:

1. Tap
dancing helps dancers on their rhythm.

2. Builds
Ankle Strength.

3. It
is entertaining to do and to watch

Techniques/Moves:

Toe: tap the ball or pad of the foot
against the floor, use your ankle not your whole leg.

Heel tap: strike the heel of the foot on
the floor and release it immediately.

Step: place the ball of the foot on the
floor with a change of Weight.

Pullback: standing on the
balls of one or foot, jump up, hitting the ground with the ball of the foot,
and land on the same foot.

Riff: standing on one leg, swing the other
leg to the front, first hitting the ground with the ball of the foot, then with
the heel.

Ball change: two steps on alternating
feet. The first step does not get full weight.

Toe stand: stand on one or both tips of
the feet. This requires fairly stiff tap shoes.

Hop: standing on one foot, jump up and
land on the same foot.

Leap: standing on one foot, jump up and
land on the other foot.

Jump: standing on one or both feet, jump
up and land on both feet.

Facts:

In 1915, metal taps for
shoes were introduced

Gene Kelly was the first
one to combine dance forms to create tap dance

Tap dance is usually
danced to jazz music

Steve Condos and Fred
Astaire are one of the best tap dancers in history

National Tap Day is on
May 24th