How to Do a Down Syncopated Step in Tap Dancing

A syncopated dance step emphasize the weak beat, also known as the upbeat, or the downbeat, which is the primary accent. The upbeat is a beat that occurs at the beginning of a dance combination and precedes the first main beat. For example, "and a" precedes "1." The "1" count is considered the first main beat. The "and a" is considered the weak and/or upbeat count. In the down syncopated step, emphasize the main beats such as "1," which is a step, or "2," which is a "change."

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tap shoes

1. Shuffle right and step right. The count is "and a 1."

2. Ball change, left, right on the count of "and 2."

3. Shuffle on your left and step down on the count of "and a 3."

4. Ball change, right, left, on the count of "and 4."

5. Shuffle step on your right on the count of "and a 5" and chug on your right to the back on the count of "and." Step down on your left on the count of "6." A chug occurs when the dancer forces the entire foot to the front or to the back and at the conclusion of the chug the heel makes deliberate and emphatic contact with the floor. The chug is a combination of a slide/hop (backward or forward).

6. Step down on your right and chug to the back on your right on the count of "and 7." Ball change, left, right, on the count of "and 8."

Tips & Warnings

• Put it all together: shuffle step ball change, shuffle step ball change, shuffle step chug step, step chug ball change. Think about the count: "and a 1 and a 2 and a 3 and 4 and a 5 and 6 and 7 and 8."