How to Read and Understand Tap Dancing Notations
This is a crash course in learning tap dance notations and/or instructions that your dancing teacher will give you in class. You are one step ahead of the game if you understand what you are being instructed to do.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Learn that when you are instructed by your dance teacher--or read a dance notation--to do a "tap" that means that you will tap the ball of your foot or the heel of your shoe against the floor. When tapping the ball of your shoe, you will strike the floor with your toe tap plate and then lift the foot. When tapping your heel, you will strike the floor with the back edge of your tap shoe and lift it up. Your weight remains on your supporting leg/foot.
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2
Know that the expression "toe tip" means that you will strike the tip of your toe to the back or you can do it by crossing your working leg in front of your supporting leg--your working leg will be bent at the knee and your knee will be pointed toward the left or to the right, depending on which leg you are using--and strike the tip of your toe in front of the supporting leg. Your weight remains on your supporting leg/foot.
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3
Realize that a dig---heel or toe--is more emphatic than a tap. You will strike the ball of your foot or the heel of your foot against the floor close to your supporting leg. Your weight remains on your supporting leg/foot.
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4
Understand that a heel stand requires you to put your weight on the heel of your shoe and stand on the heel momentarily.
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5
Learn that a written dance notation that says RXBL means that your right foot is crossed behind your left foot. If the notation reads RXFL that means that your right foot is crossed in front of your back foot.
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6
Understand that the letters "bc" in a written dance notation mean ball-change. A ball-change consists of stepping down on the ball of one foot and then stepping down on the ball of the other foot, transferring your weight to the "change" foot.
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7
Recognize that "fwd" means to move to the front whereas "bkwd" means to move to the back.
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8
Be aware if you read the dance notation "SR" or if your instructor tells you to move to stage right that refers to the area of the stage to your right, not to the audience's right. "SL" means stage left and is the area to your left.
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9
Learn that down stage ("DS") means the area on the stage that is closest to the audience and "US" refers to the back of the stage and the farthest point from the audience.
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10
Note that the written notation "ast" means "at the same time." You are required to do two movements at the same time.
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11
Remember that the dance notation "tni" means turned in. Your foot should be turned in. The dance notation "tno" means just the opposite: Turned out.
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12
Know that the instruction R/P means to releve' (raise up on your toes) and plie' (bend your knees.) These are ballet terms that are sometimes used in tap dancing.
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13
Memorize that Sh means shuffle; Sp means spank (back brush); St means step; Cr means cramproll; Br means brush; Hl means heel; Fl means flap; Pu means pick-up and drbk means drawback.
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