Tap

Tap dance is a rhythmic, percussive style that creates music with the feet. Originating in the United States with roots in African American and Irish dance, tap blends intricate footwork, syncopation, and improvisation. Dancers wear shoes with metal plates (“taps”) on the heels and toes to produce clear sounds of shuffles, flaps, heel drops, toe taps, and time steps set to jazz, blues, or contemporary music. Celebrated for its energy, precision, and individuality, tap invites dancers to craft their own rhythms while developing musicality and performance confidence.

Beginning Levels 1–2 Ages 6-10

Tap — Beginning Levels 1–2
Perfect for newcomers, this upbeat class builds tap fundamentals in a fun, supportive setting while discovering the joy of making music with your feet.
Class flow
  • Warm-up & articulation: Posture/alignment, ankle and foot mobility, balance
  • Technique: Foundational steps shuffles, toe/heel drops, flaps, ball-change; intro to time-step patterns
  • Across the floor: Traveling steps, weight shifts, clean transfers
  • Combination: Short phrases that develop timing, clarity, and pickup
Musicality & skills
  • Counting, rhythm, and basic syncopation
  • Coordination and clear sound (“light vs. strong” dynamics)
  • Body awareness for safe, confident movement

Intermediate Level 3–4 Ages 10–14

Tap — Beginning Levels 1–2

What we focus on

  • Tap fundamentals in a fun, supportive setting—timing, clarity, coordination, and making music with your feet
How it works

  • Warm-up & articulation: Posture/alignment, ankle and foot mobility, balance
  • Technique: Foundational steps—shuffles, toe/heel drops, flaps, ball change; intro to time-step patterns
  • Across the floor: Traveling steps, weight shifts, clean transfers
  • Combination: Short phrases that develop timing, clarity, and pickup
Musicality & skills
  • Counting, rhythm, and basic syncopation
  • Coordination and clear sound (light vs. strong dynamics)
  • Body awareness for safe, confident movement

Advanced Levels 5 Ages 12+

Tap — Advanced Level 5

What we focus on
  • Speed, clarity, musicality, and stagecraft at performance tempo
How it works
  • Warm-up & articulation: Precision sound drills; ankle–foot strength; balance and alignment
  • Across the floor: Traveling rhythms, direction changes, rhythm turns, tempo shifts
  • Combination/choreography: Long phrases with quick pickup/retention, dynamic contrast, and performance intent
Technique (advanced vocabulary)
  • Time steps (double/triple, breaks, turning)
  • Cramp rolls; paradiddles (paddle & roll) with accents/subdivisions
  • Riffs/riffles (5-, 7-beat); riff walks
  • Cincinnatis/drawbacks; grab-offs
  • Pullbacks (single/double); wings (single/double/3-count)
  • Maxie fords; buffalo; toe stands (as appropriate)
Musicality & style
  • Phrasing, polyrhythms, metric variations, dynamic shading (light vs. strong)
  • Interpreting swing vs. straight feels across jazz, blues, and contemporary tracks
Improvisation & performance
  • Guided improv (trading 4s/8s, call-and-response)
  • Ensemble skills: listening, cueing, and clean endings
Placement & expectations
Placement by faculty. Students should demonstrate clean intermediate vocabulary at fast tempos, precise articulation, quick retention of long phrases, and mature performance quality.