Tap Dance

Tap dancing is defined by the creation of sounds made in a rhythmic pattern when the foot strikes or steps onto the floor. The easiest tap steps to learn are flap, shuffle, and ball change. They...

Although the quick movements and loud noises make tap dances seem complicated, routines are often comprised of a few basic steps, with some added flair if the performer is a seasoned dancer. Below...

Time steps were created to keep time. They are fairly simple and one of the most widely used tap steps in musical theatre. Buck time steps are ones that do not have a shuffle in them. You should...

As a dancer becomes more advanced, she will encounter some unorthodox tap dancing steps and combinations that go above and beyond the basic steps of shuffle ball-change. Good balance and an...

In a regular cramproll, with no frills, the dancer makes four taps or sounds, which is called a four-count camproll and consists of two steps and two heels drops in rapid succession. In the triple...

The short cramp roll step in tap dancing is sometimes referred to as the paddle roll. A cramp roll is achieved when steps, heel digs and heel drops are combined and executed quickly. In the short...

A "break" in tap dancing generally follows a series of times steps but "breaks" can be used with other dance steps. The triple time step incorporates shuffles into the...

When a "break" occurs in tap dancing, that means that the music changes and the "break" is used to finish off a specific sequence or a dance combination, such as the time step....

When learning about tap dancing, you may well wonder where some of these crazy names for the dance steps came from. The skutch step in tap dancing is a combination of shuffle steps, ball changes...

One-step rhythm step in tap dancing can be traced back to vaudeville, which is a French term that referred to the popular songs that were performed in the valleys near the French town of Vire....

The riff step in tap dancing consists of two sounds, including the sound made by the ball of your foot and the other sound made by the heel of the same foot. You're doing little steps, such as...

The shuffle step is one of the basic steps in tap dancing. The shuffle consists of brushing forward on the ball of your foot and then brushing backward, which is often referred to as a...

Military steps in tap dancing became increasingly popular during World War I, which is no surprise. There is something very rousing and patriotic about a rat-a-tat-tat tap dance to a military...

Some tap dancing steps have strange and crazy names and this is one of them: Cross the Bugle. This step creates nine sounds. The steps to Cross the Bugle include...

Early tap dancers sometimes created their own steps--which were subsequently named after them--or performed certain steps with such flair and artistry that they became synonymous with that...

Watch this quick video review of all the basic tap steps learned in the other videos in this beginning tap dance series.

How to do drop steps in tap dancing in this free video clip on tap dance lessons.

How to do change steps in tap dancing in this free video clip on tap dance lessons.

Finish the last riffle sound by switching the foot over. Learn about riffle bombershay time steps from a dance teacher in this free video on intermediate tap dancing.

Keep the tap sounds clear and stay connected to the floor for a six tap riff. Learn about six tap riff time steps from a dance teacher in this free video on intermediate tap dancing.

Keep the knees bent and weight in the balls of the feet for seven tap riffs. Learn about seven tap riff time steps from a dance teacher in this free video on intermediate tap dancing.

A tap dancing riffle has three sounds on the same foot. Learn about riffle time steps from a dance teacher in this free video on intermediate tap dancing.

Warm up the ankles and add a scuffle to the riffle steps. Learn about riffle and scuffle combo time steps from a dance teacher in this free video on intermediate tap dancing.

Put weight on the heel and get low for the Bombershay in tap dancing. Learn about bombershay time steps from a dance teacher in this free video on intermediate tap dancing.

Remember what you know about tap dancing Irishes and the Maxie Ford. Learn tap dancing steps for beginners, including a combination of Irishes and Maxie Ford steps, in this free video lesson from...

Practice drawback steps for tap dancing amateurs. Learn tap dancing steps for beginners, including drawback steps, in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.

Stomp buck time steps are important to know at any tap dancing audition. Learn how to do single stomp buck time steps in tap dancing in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.

A front wing is a variation on wing steps in tap dancing. A dance teacher will show you how to do intermediate tap dancing steps, like front wings, in this free video lesson.

The single wing will prepare you for wing time steps. A dance teacher will show you how to do intermediate tap dancing with wing time steps in this free video lesson.

Do a backwards version of the step heels and move on to a heel step exercise. Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with heel steps in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.

Put your whole foot on the floor for stomp step exercises. Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with stomp steps in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.

Hop steps can be done in different syncopations. Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with hop steps in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.

Mesmerize your audience with weight changes in tap dancing. It is the dance element that adds interest and style to the steps in a routine. A shifting of weight from the right to left or...

Tap dance is a symphony of different sounds. They are made by each individual part of your feet, and sometimes in combination. Fortunately, the tap steps sound very much like their names: a flap...

Once you've mastered basic tap steps such as the single and double time steps, try the next move in the time step category: the double triple. Start slowly and work your way up to tempo, focusing...

It's important to maintain body posture in every form of dance, including tap dancing. Proper posture is actually the most important part of dancing. Even if you struggle while performing...

Once you've mastered basic tap dance steps, you can combine those steps to perform more complicated tap steps. An advanced shuffle toe combination is a great way to showcase your mastery of basic...

Intermediate level tap dancers are skilled enough to learn brushback steps. In tap dancing, brushbacks are sometimes called drawbacks. Focus on getting the steps right before increasing your...

You've got the shoes and you're taking the lessons. Now it's time to improve your tap dancing skills with dedicated practice sessions. With a little motivation, you can find ways to master the...

In rhythm tap, dancers use only their legs and their feet to make a louder, more grounded sound. Rhythm techniques in tap dance are movements with a specific beat and style. Any basic tap dance...

In tap, a step change combination mixes many different steps in combination with the basic step-ball-change. Step change combinations connect two steps together without pause. In tap, the...

In tap dance, the double pull-back cross step is a combination of two separate moves, the pull back, or pickup, and the cross over, or front Irish step. Here's how to execute the combination