How to Do a Shuffle Toe Pullback Ball Change in Tap Dancing

After a dancer learns the basic steps in tap dancing--such as a shuffle, toe tips, ball changes--that's when it gets really exciting because she can combine these basic steps into more complicated and challenging steps, including the shuffle toe pullback ball change. This article will explain how to do a shuffle toe pullback ball change in tap dancing.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tap shoes

1. Shuffle on your right foot. Lift your right foot and position it to the rear. Brush forward, swiping the ball of your foot against the floor. Brush the foot backward, once again brushing the ball of your foot against the floor. Your right foot is now raised to the back.

2. Tap the tip of your right toe against the floor and behind your left foot, which you are standing on. Do not apply any weight to the toe. After you tap your toe, lift your right foot.

3. Proceed with a pullback switch. Bend your left knee and spring up into the air, executing a back brush, or spank, with your left foot. Land on your right foot. The step onto the right foot is considered the "ball" in the ball change.
   It isn't possible to do a pullback if you are standing in a straight-legged position, so keep your knees bent, which is considered the plie (ballet position). Land on your right foot, which is still raised following the toe tip. The step is dubbed a "pullback switch" (or swap or grab off) because you are landing on the opposite foot, the right foot, from which you are doing the back brush, which is your left foot.

4. Step down on your left foot and put your body weight on it. This step is considered the "change" in the ball change.

5. Repeat the shuffle toe pullback change. Shuffle on your right, and tap your right toe to the rear. Execute the pullback switch starting on your left foot--do a back brush--and land on your right foot. Follow that with a step on your left foot. These two steps, first on the right foot and then on the left, are considered the ball change in this combination.

Tips & Warnings

• Watch the video demonstration by Rod Howell doing the shuffle toe pullback ball change in the Resources section. In the second video, observe as Emily Larew does a pullback swap. In the third video, Howell shows you how to do a basic shuffle. The shuffle is one of the core steps in tap dancing.

Resources

• Rod Howell of Unitedtaps.com doing the shuffle toe pullback ball change
• Emily Larew does a pullback swap
• Rod Howell of Unitedtaps.com on how to do a basic shuffle