By Beth Jordahl
Tap dancing is a rhythmic, exciting and dynamic form of dance. It captivates the ears, and the eyes as dancers use their shoes to add to their performance. Tap dancers are, quite literally, musicians with their feet. It has a rich history that began over a hundred years ago! Today, it is an important element of any dancer’s repertoire as it is used in many Broadway productions and dance companies.
As we celebrate and admire the history of tap dancing, here are five fun facts that you might not know!
1. Tap dancing is the combination of Irish clog & step dancing with the rhythms of West African drumming.
In the mid 1600’s, Scottish and Irish laborers brought their social dances with them to America. Slaves were inspired by the rapid toe and heel action and added it to West African step dances. The two styles slowly influenced each other forming a hybrid that was both fluid and rhythmic.
2. The term “tap” started being used around 1902.
There were two popular techniques. A fast style that used wooden-sole shoes, or Buck-and-Wing, and a smoother style that used leather-sole shoes, called Soft-Shoe.
Eventually, people started to hammer pennies or nails into the toes and heels. The metal plates, or taps, were later added to leather-soled shoes and started being used in a style that combined elements of both techniques by the 1920s.
3. There were many movies made with tap dancing numbers from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Tap numbers became an important part of both movies and television. There was Shirley Temple who “tapped” onto the screen at 6 years old. Gene Kelly, who introduced a style of tap heavily influenced by ballet. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, who combined tap and ballroom to create beautiful dance scenes that were often captured in a single take.
4. The first rule of tap is to keep your knees relaxed and your weight in the ball of your foot.
Tap dancing takes a great deal of work and dedication. But it is worth it! Taking tap increases your rhythm, balance, musicality, and showmanship.
5. Taps are now screwed onto the bottom of shoes. This is not just to keep them on the shoe!
The taps can be tightened or loosened to change the sound or “tone” of the shoe. It also means that any pair of hard soled shoes can become tap shoes! This makes for some awesome costume tap shoes in productions.
For a bonus fun fact, check out these famous tap dancers. Their passion and persistence changed the way we tap now.
● Bill “Bojangles” Robinson (1878—1949) began dancing in minstrel and vaudeville shows. He was able to adapt and moved on to perform on Broadway, Hollywood Radio programs, and television. You may recognize one of his most popular routines, where he danced up and down a staircase!
● Jeni Le Gon (1916-2012) was one of the first black women to become a tap soloist in the early 20th century. She wore pants instead of skirts. So, she developed an athletic, acrobatic style. She used mule kicks and flying splits.
● The Nicholas Brothers: Fayard (1914-2006) and Harold (1921-2000) Nicholas had a tap career in movies and television that lasted more than 70 years. George Balanchine invited them to appear in his Broadway production of Babes in Arms. They had a unique style of grace, strength, and boldness.
● Henry LeTang, (1915-2007) choreographed several hit Broadway revues including Black and Blue, and was mentor to several generations of tap dancers. He began dancing at age seven and opened his first New York City studio when he was just 17! He taught many amazing tap dancers including; Billie Holliday, Eleanor Powell, Debbie Allen, Savion Glover, and Gregory Hines.
● Savion Glover (b. 1973) starred in the Broadway hit The Tap Dance Kid. Glover mixes classic moves like those of his teacher Gregory Hines with his own more contemporary style. For his Broadway choreography, he has won several Tony awards. He has a unique style of tap, called “hitting”.
● Gregory Hines (1946-2003) was a dancer, actor, choreographer and singer. He is one of the most celebrated tap dancers of all time. He was well-known for his complexity in the improvisation of steps, sounds, and rhythms. He starred in over 40 films, and many Broadway shows.
Now that you know some more about tap dancing, go give it a try or look up one of these famous tap dancers and watch some of their routines!