The Shuffle Change in Tap Dancing

Video Transcript

" Hi! My name is Connie Hale. Thanks for joining me here at expertvillage.com. Today, we’re going over some tap steps for you beginning and intermediate tappers. What we’re going to be doing now is what’s called a shuffle change. It’s just what it is, what I just said, a shuffle change. You shuffle and you change positions of your feet. Let me demonstrate it first. It just really is a shuffle, step, shuffle, step, but you’re changing directions and changing weight with your body, this is why it’s called shuffle change. So, if we break that down it’s a simple, shu-ffle, step. I’m not putting my full weight, I’m staying in a dig. Shu-ffle, step. Again, my foot stays in the dig here. Shu-ffle, step. So if I turn to the side you can take a look, I’m going to alternate my feet here so you see it better, that my feet stay in a dig position at all times. Otherwise, it’s going to get real sloppy and sloshy, and we don’t like that. We want it nice and clean; nice clean taps. So bring it to the front to the side. Now, when you’re doing your shuffle changes, it’s best to lean your body forward. You’re going to be using your weight; you have to balance it out. We’re going to be leaning our body forward. You can keep your hands to the front, hands to the side, you can clasp your fingers in the middle: however it’s comfortable for you. I just like to press them in the front, imagine them pressing on a table to keep your balance. So facing the side, shuffle changes would be like this. Facing front, you can take a look, hands are pressed down, I’m leaning forward. Bring it up to speed. Let’s take a listen. Listen for those three distinct sounds. 123,123,123,123, here we go. Arms can some up. That is shuffle changes. "