How to Perform a Second Variation of the Buck Toe Tap Time Step in Tap Dancing

Historically, the time step was performed differently depending on who was doing the dancing. African-American tap dancers opted to dance flat-footed and to do the “buck” type of time step, which begins with a stomp, whereas white performers danced on the balls of their feet and started their version of the time step with a shuffle. Compare this second variation of the buck toe tap time step to the first variation, in which you added a second hop or heel drop to the combination. In this second variation, the toe tap comes after the heel drop. In the first variation, the toe tap occurred before the heel drop. Note that the count for the second variation is the same as the count for the first variation.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tap shoes

1. Stomp forward on your right foot on the count of “8.” Do not put any weight on the stomp.

2. Spank (back brush) your right foot on the count of “and.”

3. Hop on your left foot on the count of “1.”

4. Heel drop your left heel on the count of “and.”

5. Toe tap your right foot to the back on the count of “a.”

6. Step back on your right foot on the count of “2.”

7. Flap your left foot forward on the count of “and 3.”

8. Step in place on your right foot on the count of “and.”

9. Get the count straight in your head: 8 and 1 and a 2 and 3 and.

10. Learn the order of the steps: Stomp spank hop heel drop toe tap step flap step.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow the link in Resources and watch the video of Connie Hale doing the time step. As noted, there are numerous variations of the step, but if you can see it executed and hear the taps, it will make the learning process easier. Better yet, join a tap dance class.

Resources

• Expert Village Video of the Time Step