How to How to Do a Syncopated Riff Step in Tap Dancing

Syncopated steps in tap dancing involve either a beat that's not normally accented or rests (stopping completely) where they aren't normally found in a combination. The syncopated riff step is precisely one of those combinations.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tap shoes

1. Brush to the front on your right foot and scuff your right heel. A scuff involves brushing your heel against the floor.

2. Lower (drop) the left heel.

3. Heel dig right followed by a toe drop right and a step left. A heel dig requires digging the heel into the floor. The toe drop is accomplished by dropping the ball of the right foot.

4. Heel dig and toe drop right once again.

5. Step left followed by a step on your right.

6. Note the count: "8 and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, 7."

7. Put the count with the steps: brush, scuff ,heel drop ("8 and 1"); heel dig toe drop step ("2, 3, 4"); heel dig, toe drop, step, step ("5 and 6, 7").

Tips & Warnings

• A riff occurs when the dancer brushes forward and then heel scuffs on the same foot (two sounds) and, in this case, followed by a heel drop on the opposite foot (three sounds). In this combination, a heel dig and toe drop are added (five sounds). This is a five-tap riff.

Resources

• Tapmoves.com Riff