How to Do the Basic Heel Dig Move in Tap Dance

The interesting thing about tap dancing is that many tap dance moves look much harder than they actually are to perform. It's possible to wow audiences even if you're not performing advanced tap moves. A heel dig is a basic tap dance move that you can incorporate into many different steps, and performing a series of fast heel digs looks more difficult than it really is.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Stand upright with your feet together.

2. Shuffle with your right foot. Move your right foot forward brushing the ball of your foot against the floor, making sure your heel doesn't touch the floor. Bring your right foot back slightly, again brushing the ball of your foot on the floor.

3. Place your right heel on the floor and point your toes outward and upward. This movement is the "dig" portion of the shuffle heel dig tap step.

4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 multiple times in a row. Try four shuffle heel digs on your right foot before stepping your right foot back to its starting position as in Step 1.

5. Perform a shuffle on your left foot. Remember that the shuffle consists of moving your foot forward and backward, touching the ball of your foot against the floor in each direction.

6. Dig with your left foot by placing your left heel on the floor.

7. Do three more shuffle heel digs before stepping your left foot back to its starting position.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that your heels never touch the floor while you're shuffling. Your heel is the only part of your foot that touches the ground when you dig.