In a word, it's virtuosic foot movements in time with music, resulting in a dynamic, fiery dance. Oh, those rhythms! They are musical and highly infectious, making you want to jump up and tap something yourself.
In a word, it's virtuosic foot movements in time with music, resulting in a dynamic, fiery dance. Oh, those rhythms! They are musical and highly infectious, making you want to jump up and tap something yourself!
"Step" translates to "step," and "chechetka" means "knocking." A fitting combination. To perform this dance, dancers wear special shoes with metal plates (taps) that produce that mesmerizing rhythm. This is the genre's main charm: the unique dance pattern is accessible even to blind people, as they can hear it.
Historical accounts of tap dance vary widely. The most popular version suggests that tap originated from the blending of different cultures and peoples at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. At that time, a huge number of slaves from Africa, Ireland, and Latin American countries arrived in the United States.
This dance style has its roots in the streets, where dancers joyfully and carelessly beat out rhythms with their feet, and to make themselves heard better, they attached beer bottle caps or small coins to the soles of their shoes.
In 1828, tap dance was first presented to the public. Soon it became a frequent feature in musicals, variety shows, and black-and-white films, confidently winning over hearts and conquering the world.
In recent times, tap has changed beyond recognition. Two main directions have emerged: speed and style. The difference lies in the execution technique.
- Hoofing is the African American version. A hoofer concentrates on beating out rhythms with the heel and toe. Dance movements here play a secondary role.
- Broadway tap is the Anglo-American version. This type is the complete opposite of hoofing. Broadway tap combines steps from ballroom dance and tap.
In the first, speed of movement is paramount; in the second, grace, elegance, and refinement.
In the modern style, now widely loved as Tap Dance, there is also Acro-Tap—a mix of tap movements with acrobatic tricks.
Today, tap resembles a full performance where dancers can amaze and astonish audiences with the beauty and speed of their footwork.
This dance is incredibly spectacular and vibrant. It may seem impossible to strike the floor so quickly with the feet, using different parts, while performing a variety of dance elements, but it is indeed possible.
The GoDance team crafts articles about dance, technique and inspiring stories from dancers.
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