How to Do an Irish Pullback Toe Flap in Tap Dancing

The Irish pullback toe flap is an advanced step. It is a variation of the basic Irish step, which consists of a shuffle hop and then a step to the back or to the front, depending on if you are moving backward or forward. In the Irish pullback toe flap, you will not be traveling; however, you will be executing a complicated pullback complete with a toe and step.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tap shoes

1. Shuffle on your right foot. To execute a shuffle, stand with your feet parallel, lift your right foot, bend at the knee and raise your foot to the back. Brush the ball of your foot against the floor as you swing your right foot to the front and then brush the ball of your foot against the floor as you swing your foot to the back.

2. Execute a single pullback on your left foot. Pullbacks are tricky to begin with but this one gets even more complicated because you do not immediately land on the ball of your foot; instead, you are landing on the tip of your left toe and then stepping down on your left foot. A pullback consists of doing a back brush, or spank, on the foot that is supporting you. You must bend at the knee (plie position) and then jump up and brush the ball of your foot against the floor. Attempt to land on the tip of your left foot. This is the challenging part. Hold that momentarily and then step down on your left foot.

3. Do a flap on your right foot, which is a brush step. Brush your foot to the front and then step down on the ball of your foot.

4. Repeat the Irish pullback toe flap starting on your left foot. Shuffle your left foot and then execute a single pullback (back brush or spank) landing on the tip of your right toe. Step down on your right foot. Do a flap (brush step) on your left foot.

Tips & Warnings

• Watch Rod Howell's video demonstration of the Irish pullback toe flap, found in Resources. This step gives him a little grief, and he's an extremely experienced dancer. As Howell explains, this is one of those tap-dancing steps that require "air time," which means both of your feet are going to be off the ground at the same time. Consider holding onto a dance barre or a sturdy object when you first attempt this combination, because you can slip.

Resources

• Rod Howell of Unitedtaps.com