How to Paddle Roll in Tap Dance

Welcome to the wonderful world of paddle rolls. This step has many variations, and you can even create your own. This article will show you how to get started with the 4-sound paddle roll, and eventually be able to do 16 or more in one beat!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tap shoes, preferably flat ones
• Wooden or Marley floor

Basic Paddle Roll

1. Lift your heel and set it back down, bringing your opposite foot off the ground.

2. Dig the heel that is off the ground onto the floor. Only the heel of that foot is down in this step.

3. Spank the toe of that same foot back. This is a toe-only move, hitting the floor, so the heel comes off the ground.

4. Set the toe down after spanking it. The heel is in the air, but goes down to repeat it from the beginning on the opposite foot.

Double Paddle Roll

5. Start as you would in the first section, lifting the heel only and setting it down as the opposite foot lifts.

6. Proceed to the next step taught before, with the opposite heel digging into the floor.

7. The third step is the same--the toe spanking--but hit the heel of that foot against the floor, then the toe again. It should look like you're paddling the floor with your foot.

8. After the final toe in this double paddle, set the toe down, heel in the air, as in the final move before.

Tips & Warnings

• The triple paddle roll has Step 3 of this last section performed twice.
• Try to move the leg only from the knee upward. This gives the dancer more leeway in moving the foot back and forth during the double and triple paddles.
• Be careful not to set the toe in the final beat too far behind you. It is easy to trip in tap shoes, if the floor is too smooth or the taps are newer and not broken in.