eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.
Get ready to do some tap dancing with proper techniques for warming up. Learn how to do tap dancing warmups in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.
There are 15 videos in this series:
Ball taps are done, naturally, on the ball of the foot. Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with ball taps in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.
Go from the heel to a brush to do scuffles in tap dancing. Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with scuffles in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.
Hop steps can be done in different syncopations. Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with hop steps in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.
Remember to stay on the balls of the feet when jumping in jump toe exercises. Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with jump toes in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.
Try adding half a wing to jumping jacks for tap dancers. Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with jumping jacks in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.
Put your whole foot on the floor for stomp step exercises. Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with stomp steps in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.
Rock your foot from the heel to the ball in this exercise. Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with heel ball rocks in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.
Try the tap sequence of ball, change, hop, step when warming up. Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with the ball change in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.
Start with the ball of the foot before moving on to step heels. Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with step heels in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.
Do a backwards version of the step heels and move on to a heel step exercise. Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with heel steps in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.
What is a Suzy Q step in tap dancing? Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with a Suzy Q in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.
Keep the weight on the balls of your feet for brush step heels. Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with brush step heels in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.
Run across the floor on the balls and heels of your feet. Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with ball and heel runs in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.
Focus on rolling the ankles and not making and tap sounds. Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with ankle rolls and wiggles in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.
Stretching is important for any exercise, including tap dancing. Learn how to warm up for tap dancing with hamstring and calf stretches in this free video lesson from a dance teacher.
The rhythmic foot stomping we call tap dancing emerged in the 1830s from a blend of cultures in Manhattan’s original melting pot, the Five Points neighborhood (recently depicted in Scorsese’s film Gangs of New York.) Essentially a blend of African shuffle and Irish jig, tap dance became extremely popular in the first half of the 20th century. The metal plates attached to the bottom of the dancer’s shoes create a percussive rhythm which could either accompany music, or be used as an instrument itself. This popular form of entertainment soon found its way from amateur street performances to vaudeville, Broadway, and eventually film and television, where millions were inspired by the moves of Sammy Davis, Jr., Gregory Hines, Fred Astaire, and Gene Kelly.
If you want to participate in tap dancing, it's important to warm up beforehand. In this free video series, a dance teacher will show you how to do a number of exercises to properly warm up for tap dancing. You'll learn how to do ball taps, scuffles, hop steps in different syncopations, and jumping jacks. You'll also learn how to do stomp steps, step heels, and Suzy Q steps, among many other sequences that are not only great for warming up, but great for tap dancing practice. With these warmup tips and techniques, you'll be ready to go out and tear up the dance floor.
Emily Larew Emily Larew is a professional dancer and dance instructor. Her education includes studying at LA’s The Edge and Millennium dance studios. She has performed for various music awards, theaters, and sang and danced for a Pepsi commercial. Larew has been on tour with Big Idea’s “Veggie Tales Live” stage show, performed with Holland America’s Cruise line, danced for Dolly Parton, Keith Anderson and Kaci music videos, performed with DC Talk’s HERO tour, and the Beth Moore Women’s Conference. Larew teaches at Vanderbilt University, Columbia State, and top studios in the Nashville area.dkdk
Read More
Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.
