Tap dance

The fusion of African rhythms and performance styles with European techniques of footwork led to the creation of tap dance.

Rhythm tap focuses on musicality, and practitioners consider themselves to be a part of the jazz tradition.

During the 17th – 19th centuries, it was primarily developed from European step dance forms, such as jigs and clogs.

[8] These dances were brought to the American continent by immigrants and eventually grew to incorporate African rhythms and styles.

These fused and evolved into a form of dance called "jigging", which was taken up by minstrel show dancers in the 1800s.

In 1908, the partnership ended and Robinson began dancing solo, which was extremely rare for a black man at that time.

Consisting of real life brothers Fayard and Harold, this team wowed audiences with their acrobatic feats incorporated into their classy style of dancing.

The outstanding success of the animated film, Happy Feet, has further reinforced the popular appeal.

[15] National Tap Dance Day in the United States, now celebrated May 25, was signed into law by President George Bush on November 7, 1989.

Prominent modern tap dancers have included Sarah Reich, Brenda Bufalino, Melinda Sullivan, The Clark Brothers, James "Buster" Brown, Savion Glover, Gregory and Maurice Hines, LaVaughn Robinson, Jason Samuels Smith, Chloe Arnold, Michelle Dorrance, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, and Dianne "Lady Di" Walker.

This format was initially developed by Mark Yonally, founder and artistic director of dance company Chicago Tap Theatre[16] in the early 2000s.

[18] However, Black tap dancers found it difficult to be a part of these White films because segregation was prominent in America.

There was also the "two-color rule," which made sure that black tap dancers were not able to perform solos onstage.

[19] One of the first black tap dancers to be acknowledged by America was Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, who performed duets with Shirley Temple.

[20] James "Buster" Brown, got his start in the segregated clubs of the 1930s, but eventually earned international mainstream recognition and mentored younger more modern tap dancers in the 1990s.

Hoofers are tap dancers who dance primarily "closer to the floor", using mostly footwork and not showing very much arm or body movement.

The majority of early hoofers, such as Sammy Davis Jr., Glover, Hines, and LaVaughn Robinson were African American men.

[1] Other common tap steps include the shuffle, shuffle ball change, double shuffle, leap shuffle, flap, flap ball change, running flaps, flap heel, cramp-roll, buffalo, Maxi Ford, Maxi Ford with a pullback, pullbacks, wings, Cincinnati, the shim sham shimmy (also called the Lindy), Irish, Waltz Clog, the paddle roll, the paradiddle, stomp, brushes, scuffs, spanks, single and double toe punches, hot steps, heel clicks toe stands, over-the-tops, military time step, back to broadway, toe stand turns, New Yorkers, and Shiggy Bops.

Modern tap shoes have soles with heels of varying height (one inch or more) and are commonly made of wood or stacked leather.

For example, some taps have relatively low weight and small footprint whereas others may be thicker and fill out the edge of the shoe more, making them heavier as a result.