How to Do a Slap Heel Heel in Tap Dancing

To execute the slap heel heel step in tap dancing, the first thing the dancer needs to know is that although slaps and flaps were once considered interchangeable, they’re not. A slap does not carry weight, whereas a flap does. A slap is a brush on the ball of the foot; however, your weight remains on your supporting leg, which is not the leg that you’re slapping with.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tap shoes

1. Slap your right foot to the front. Remember, there is no weight on your right foot; the weight remains on your left foot. Brush forward with the ball of your foot and put your right foot down, but do not put weight on it.

2. Drop your right heel. Drop your left heel.

3. Consider doing it the other way around. Drop your left heel first and then your right heel.

4. Know that your right foot remains free, regardless of which heel you drop first. There is no weight placed on your “working” foot. The next step will begin on the right foot.

5. Remember that there is no weight transfer when you’re doing slaps in tap dancing.