How to Do the Shuffle Hop Step in Tap Dance

You've mastered the shuffle step in tap dancing, so why not add a little "hop" to it to make it a combination movement. The "shuffle hop step" is a four-count tap dance step. Use the following steps to learn how to do the "shuffle hop step" in a tap dance.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tap shoes
• Dance floor
• Practice time

1. Start by standing with your feet side by side. The first part of the "shuffle hop step" is the basic "shuffle" step in tap dancing. The shuffle is a two count or a two "tap" sound movement..

2. Stand with your body weight slightly on your left foot to prepare to do a shuffle with the right foot. Raise the right foot up slightly behind you and then brush out the foot in a forward movement. The ball of the right foot makes a tap sound as the foot brushes out. This is count one.

3. Bring the right foot back in by brushing the ball of the right foot a second time on the floor to make the second tap sound or the second count of the shuffle step.

4. Add the hop to the shuffle movement. When you brush the right foot back in from the second count, the right foot is still off the floor. Your body weight is still on your left foot. Just do a little "hop" on your left foot. This is count three.

5. Stomp or "step" the right foot back down on the floor beside the left foot to the starting position. This is count four.

6. Do the "shuffle hop step" with the left foot by reversing the above steps, standing on the right foot and doing the basic shuffle with the left foot. Continue with the other steps using the left foot to complete the "shuffle hop step" sequence of four counts.

7. Repeat the "shuffle hop step" with each foot until it becomes a smooth dance movement. The more you practice, the more rhythm you will develop and the step will flow naturally. Practice and rhythm also allows you to travel with the "step" count or count four. You can travel up or back.

Tips & Warnings

• The "shuffle hop step" is a combination used in connection with many other dance combinations in a tap dance routine.
• Do the "shuffle hop step" with a cross over on the step count or count four and this step then becomes an "Irish."