How to Do the Stopping the Traffic Step in Tap Dancing

Another crazy name for a tap dance step is Stopping the Traffic, which is an 8-count combination that includes brushes, heel digs and toe drops. The dancer can do this in place or travel forward.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tap shoes

1. Brush your right foot forward and follow with a heel dig on your right foot. A heel dig occurs when you dig the heel of your shoe into the floor.

2. Drop toe or ball of left foot. (Pick up your left toe and drop it.)

3. Drop toe or ball of right toe. The toes should be pointed upward on your right foot because the heel is “digging."

4. Repeat on your left foot. Brush forward and heel dig your left heel. Toe drop your right and then drop your left toe.

Tips & Warnings

• The dancer will make eight taps. The count is easy: "and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4." When you brush, you are swiping the ball (front portion) of your shoe against the floor. You can brush forward or backward.

Resources

• Expert Village heel dig video
• Amazon.com Books About Dance