How to Do a Double Treble Shuffle in Tap Dancing

The double treble shuffle is replete with shuffles--lots of them--as well as ball-changes. A shuffle requires the dancer to brush to the front and then to the back on the ball of her foot. Your heel is not involved in a shuffle. Also included in this combination is a back Irish, which consists of a shuffle hop step to the back. Irishes can also be done to the front if the dancer steps to the front rather than to the back.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tap shoes

1. Step on your left foot and shuffle (a forward and backward brush on the ball of your foot) on the count of "1 and 2."

2. Do a ball-change. Step down on your right for the "ball" and step down on your left for the "change." The count is " and 3."

3. Shuffle on your right ("and 4") and ball-change R, L, on the count of "and 5."

4. Shuffle on your right ("and 6'), then leap on your right on the count of "and."

5. Step down on your left foot behind your right foot on the count of "7."

6. Shuffle on your right foot on the count of "8 and."

7. Reverse Steps 1 through 6 starting on your right foot.

8. Step onto your left foot and shuffle on your right foot on the count of "1 and 2."

9. Leap onto your right foot on the count of "and," then step down on your left foot on the count of "3."

10. Shuffle on your right foot on the count of "4 and." Reverse the "step shuffle leap step shuffle" starting on the right. Your right foot is still raised after the shuffle, so step down on it and continue.

11. Leap onto your left foot, then flap (brush step) to the front on your right foot, followed by a flap on your left foot. The count is "1 a 2 a 3."

12. Do a back Irish, which consists of a shuffle on your right foot, a hop on your left foot and a step to the back on your right. The count for the back Irish is "and 4 and 5."

13. Do a ball-change. Step down on the left for the "ball" and step to the front--rather than to the back, which is the usual way to do a "ball." Step down on the right foot to the front for the "change." This count is "6 7." Hold count "8." Do not move.

14. Combine the steps to the double treble shuffle. This is, obviously, a lengthy combination. Step shuffle ball change, shuffle ball-change, shuffle, leap onto right, step to the back, shuffle. Reverse all starting with a step on your right. Then proceed to: Step shuffle, leap, step shuffle; reverse; leap, flap, flap, back Irish (shuffle hop and step to the back), ball-change, hold.

Resources

• Tap Dance Demo by Dani Rhodes
• Tap Dance Blog Store