How to Do Hits in Tap Dancing

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Hits in tap dancing are very much like how the name sounds: sharp and distinct. They are similar to drop steps in tap dancing, but where the sound of drop steps are sustained while the toe or heel remains on the ground after it's dropped, the hit steps are always followed by the heel, ball, or tip of the toe being lifted directly from the ground. It's similar to the difference in sound between a harpsichord's pluck and the piano's hammer. As with any tap step, the hits form an important building block in tap dancing.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Forward Hit

Step 1

Do the forward hit in tap dancing by starting with your feet together.
Step 2

Lift up your right foot.
Step 3

Strike the floor with your toe as you bring it forward. This is similar to a shuffle, but the sound is more percussive.
Step 4

Make sure you make the sound of the forward hit very sharp and distinct.

Backward Hit

Step 1

Do the backward hit in tap dancing by beginning with your feet together.
Step 2

Bring your right foot back, striking the ground as you do so.
Step 3

Make the sound of the back hit very percussive and distinct. While the back hit is similar to the brush back, the hit back should have a far sharper sound.

Straight Hit

Step 1

Begin the straight hit in tap dancing with your feet together.
Step 2

Lift your toe and hit the ground with it without lifting your heel.
Step 3

Bring your toe up again. The sound it produces will be sharper and more distinct than the drop step in tap dancing.

Ball Hit

Step 1

Begin the ball hit in tap dancing with your feet together.
Step 2

Lift the toe of your right foot and drop it sharply then lift it up again.
Step 3

Make the sound of the ball hit in tap dancing more forceful and percussive than the drop step.

Heel Hit

Step 1

Start the heel hit in tap dancing by having your feet together.
Step 2

Lift the heel of your right foot and drop it sharply as you do the heel hit in tap dancing, then bring it directly up again.
Step 3

Make the sound of the heel hit very percussive and distinct—far more than the "thump" of the heel drop.

Toe Hit

Step 1

Start with your feet together.
Step 2

Lift your toe and strike the ground with the tip of your toe tap when doing a toe hit in tap dancing.
Step 3

Bring your toe up off the ground after you strike with the tip of your toe tap in tap dancing.
Step 4

Tap the ground a little behind you as you do a toe hit in tap dancing.