How to do a Time Step (in Tap Dance)

The "Time Step" is one of the most recognizable and common tap combinations. It is often taught in tap dance classes as a basic move for tap students. The Time Step originated as a way for tap dancers in the early 1900's to communicate the proper tempo for the dance to follow. This would allow the band to know how quickly/slowly to perform the musical accompaniment. Since then, it has been standardized, although many variations of the time step exist.

This particular set of instructions is specifically for the Single Time Step, which is the most basic version.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tap shoes
• non-carpeted flooring

1. STOMP YOUR RIGHT FOOT - Start by stomping your right foot slightly in front of you. To do this, you want to lift your right foot off the floor, then bring it quickly down and back up again, stomping the floor with the entire bottom of your shoe. This is the only time your heel should touch the ground. Imagine you are squishing a bug. THIS IS COUNT "1".

2. HOP ON YOUR LEFT FOOT - Your weight should still be on your left foot, with your right foot slightly raised off of the floor. Hop up and down on your left foot once. This move should not travel in any direction, just hop up and down in place. It is best to keep your heel slightly off the floor, hopping up and down on only the ball of your foot, as if you were skipping rope. THIS IS COUNT "2".

3. STEP DOWN ON RIGHT FOOT - Place the ball of your right foot down on the floor, shifting your weight to the right. Remember that with tap shoes, every time your foot touches the floor it will make a sound. Be sure to place your foot down firmly and keep your heel off the ground, so the toe tap makes a clear sound. After you have shifted your weight onto the right foot, lift your left foot slightly off the ground to prepare for the next step. THIS IS COUNT "3".

4. FLAP WITH YOUR LEFT FOOT - A "flap" is a basic tap step where you brush the toe tap (the metal portion of your tap shoe underneath the ball of your foot) slightly forward, and then step onto the ball of that foot. In this case, you are brushing your left foot slightly forward, and then stepping onto the ball of your left foot, shifting your weight onto that foot. Imagine you are scooting away a bit of sand on the floor so you can step onto a clean area of floor. This step is done twice as fast as the previous steps, following the previous step more quickly (without pause). THIS IS COUNT "AND-4".

5. STEP ON THE RIGHT FOOT - Your weight should have ended on the left foot in the last step, so now you are going to shift your weight back onto your right foot. This is done exactly as Step 3. THIS IS COUNT "AND" (after 4).

6. For Steps 5-8, just reverse Steps 1-4. The Time Step can be repeated in a circular fashion, switching from left to right indefinitely.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to keep your rythmn even throughout, don't pause too long or too short between each movement.
• Remember to keep your weight on the balls of your feet, not in your heels. The only time your heel should touch the ground is the stomp in Step 1, but even then, your weight remains in the ball of your standing foot.
• If you are having trouble staying balanced while learning the step, use the back of a sturdy chair to help keep your balance.

[unitedtaps]

on 1/24/2009 They have a video of this step at http://www.unitedtaps.com