A Quick Guide to Choosing the Right Pair of Tap Shoes

Learning to tap dance is a great way to keep fit. It will also no doubt lead you to making loads of new too!

To get the most out of your tap dance classes it's really important to make sure you choose a suitable pair of tap shoes. Choosing the right pair is slightly different to buying a pair of regular shoes or trainers because there are a few things you need to know so you can ensure you purchase the shoes that suit you best.

Firstly, it's highly important to invest in a pair of tap shoes that are good quality. You can ensure this by buying from a reputable dancewear brand such as Roch Valley, Dance Gear, Capezio, So Danca or Leo's Dancewear. A pair of shoes from any of these suppliers will stand the test of time and ensure that you get the most enjoyment possible out of your tap dance lessons!

If you have the ability to pick things up quickly, you may consider teletone taps. These are the most common type of tap shoe but are usually for those who have a little experience. The benefit is that they enable you to tune the sound of the tap they make with small adjustments to the screws that hold them to the sole.

Just like any style of dance such as ballet, jazz or modern there are different types of tap shoes designed for different abilities. It's therefore important that you purchase a pair that match your level of skill. As a beginner, it's advisable to use a full sole with either a flat or low heel as this will make it as easy as possible to master new moves making learning as enjoyable as possible. Once you've mastered the basics, you can learn more advanced steps and choose tap shoes with a split sole or slightly higher heel.

If you're a little unsure about which shoe to go for, then you could go to a local dance shop to get your tap shoes fitted by a professional. However, the internet offers you a massive choice of dance shops where you can purchase your dance gear such as tap shoes. It's a good idea to shop around because prices often vary. Make sure you also take into account the cost of postage, their returns policy, and also check out the dance shop's terms and conditions to ensure you get the best possible service.

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5 Interesting Tap Dance Facts

Tap dancing is one of the most rewarding forms of dance to both the eyes and ears. The rapid foot movements, combined with the rhythmic sounds created by the dancer are unparalleled in any other form of dance. The history of tap is filled with interesting facts, including these five:

1. An early form of tap dance was popular in the early 19th century among African-American slaves. They used the dance to maintain their history of rhythms and beats passed down through generations. The slaves used their feet because they weren't allowed to freely play drums or other instruments from Africa.

2. Prior to metal taps being used, the dance was performed with wooden clogs on leather shoes.

3. In the 1920's and 1930's the metal taps became popular. During that same time, African-American dancers expanded the art to become more acrobatic, and energetic. Tap dancing at this time expanded from solo performances to often being highly orchestrated teams of dancers.

The Nicholas brothers were two of the most famous dancers to emerge during this period. Their skills amazed audiences, and earned them a role in the movie Stormy Weather. The movie was one of the first to feature a predominately African-American cast.

Fred Astaire was quoted as saying that the Nicholas brother's performance in Stormy Weather was the greatest movie musical number he had ever seen.

4. In the 1930's and 1940's tap dance reached a wider audience when it made a big splash in Hollywood. Famous dancers like Fred Astaire and Ray Bolger impressed audiences around the world with their musical feet.

5. In the 1950's, Gene Kelley increased the popularity of tap dancing by combining movements from other styles of dance with his tap dancing skills.

The Beat Goes On

Tap dancing is still a popular style of dance practiced and studied around the world. The musical sound and the fast footwork continue to capture the attention of adults and children all over the world. The sound of the tap dancing techniques of rush, flap, shuffle, ball change, and cramp roll, will continue to live on as one the greatest dance varieties enjoyed anywhere.

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Tap Dancing Is Back

Tap dancing is back. Another aspect of tap dancing is improvisation, the timing of the step, the foundation of which tap dancing is built and the means by which the rhythm is based all of these factors are very important. To some it may seem that tap dancing is losing ground in the world of dance. The art of tap dancing is a culture in itself. Tap dancing is a great workout. A fun way to exercise is tap dancing; some of the benefits of dance are coordination and rhythm development. Even better, one hour of tap dancing is thought to burn around 250 calories. Tap dancing is fun for both the audience and the dancer and especially children.

You don't really have to practice tapping on a hard wood floor. All children need practice when they are learning new skills, just like adults do. Wearing black clothing makes it much easier to see your body movements while you are dancing to the rhythm of the music.

When you become an experienced dancer, you can purchase tap shoes, they come in an many different styles, it all depends on what type of dance you are doing. Try not to wear rubber on your shoes since they get stuck on the floor, the key is to flow across the dance floor while tap dancing. Put your dancing shoes on, tap dancing is the new way to keep off the pounds. Experienced tap dancers usually invest in a more expensive pair of tap shoes and they usually run around $250. Leave your stress at home and wear comfortable clothes and shoes its time to dance. Adapting to the music while dancing is a stimulating challenge, for some it is not easy to feel the rhythm.

Balance and coordination are items that are brought up in the this class so students learn the basic tap dancing techniques. When taking a class they will break down all of the basics of tap dancing, as well as explore the foundations of body movements. Tap dancers must stretch before every performance, rehearsal or class.

Tap dancing is probably the most interesting of dance genre. Tap dancing is a good type of exercise and the routines are sometimes used in performances. Having its roots in early American Jazz, tap dancing is fun but incredibly challenging. Tap dancing is a fantastic substitute to conventional workouts to stay fit. Tap dancing is celebrated all over the world.

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Choose The Best Style of Dance For You

Dance is quickly becoming more popular than ever and there are loads of different styles to choose from. With so many different styles, there is almost certainly one that will suit you and this article outlines some of the main ones.

Ballet

Ballet is one of the most iconic styles of dance and can be traced back as early as the 1400s. However, it was under the rule of Louis XIV that it developed into the form in which it is recognised today. Classical ballet is a highly traditional style of dance that is usually performed to the accompaniment of classical music. It's also taught all around the world which has led there to be many variations of this wonderful style of dance. As ballet incorporates many of the foundation techniques used for other styles of dance ranging from contemporary through to jazz, many professional dancers have at least some grounding in ballet.

If you're looking to take up ballet then you will almost certainly find a wide range of dance schools in your local area which are willing to teach you. It's likely that you will study either under the ISTD or RAD syllabus which are widely recognised examining bodies in the art form. It's often thought that you have to be very young to start ballet which can be true if you want to pursue a professional career as a ballet dancer. However, many adults also take part in ballet classes recreationally as it's a great way to learn a new skill, keep fit and meet new people.

Jazz

Even though jazz dancing does not date back as far as ballet, it has a particularly unique history. It's roots can be found in the African and slave traditions and has continued to evolve ever since. The result is that jazz dancing takes inspiration from a wide variety of other forms of dance such as ballet, contemporary and, most recently, hip hop.

Jazz is great fun to learn as it incorporates a complex mix of twists, spins, turns and kicks. Some of the most iconic jazz dance styles include works by renowned choreographers Bob Fosse and Jack Cole. The fact that it takes influences from so many other dance styles makes it highly durable too, as it can provide an excellent foundation for other styles including hip hop and tap dancing.

If you decide that jazz dancing is the style for you, it's highly likely that you'll be required to learn at least the very basics of ballet dancing. Even though on the surface it may seem that they're two completely different styles of dance which involved different clothing, movement styles and techniques, many of the skills required by the ballet dancer provide an excellent foundation for jazz dancing.

Tap

Tap dancing is a highly exciting style of dance. Metal plates attached to the ball and heel of the dancer's foot create a percussive sound as they hit the floor. This means that the dancer can become an intrinsic part of the music to which they are performing which when combined with a mixture of leaps, turns, kicks, and spins creates a highly exciting and impressive performance - particularly when performed with a chorus!

In order to tap dance, a grounding in jazz dancing is highly beneficial as many of the spins, twists, kicks and other movements are highly similar. If you already have some experience in jazz dancing then it's worth asking your teacher about tap dancing as it's a great deal of fun!

Ballroom

Unlike jazz dancing and tap dancing, a grounding in ballet dancing is not required for ballroom as this is a completely different style of dance altogether. Rather than referring to only one style of dance, the term "ballroom dancing" actually refers to a wide range of partner dances such as the Cha Cha Cha, American Smooth and Latin amongst others.

If you've decided that ballroom dancing is for you then you'll find a multitude of ballroom classes in your local area. It used to have a somewhat stereotypical reputation for being for the older generation but TV hits such as "Strictly Come Dancing" have shown that this does not have to be the case. Ballroom dancing can be sexy, exciting and great fun to be a part of and as a result, it has recently seen an explosion in its popularity across all age groups.

There are countless other styles of dance not discussed here for you to choose from but we've decided to focus on some of the main ones. Whichever style you choose to learn, we hope you enjoy it because dancing is all about having lots of fun!

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What Tap Dancers Should Consider When Buying a Portable Tap Floor, Board, Or Mat

For those tap dancers serious about their profession, a portable tap floor, board, or mat is a critical part of the equipment that enables them to perfect their technique. Owning a portable practice floor gives tap dancers the chance to practice their moves outside a studio, honing their craft and raising their performance ability. There are many tap mats available on the market, and almost all of them seem to offer various advantages. This tends to make choosing the right tap board for your practice a struggle for many tap dancers who want to find ways of practicing outside the studio.

A good tap mat will have a number of qualities that help it stand out from the competition, and which should all be considered when considering making a purchase.

A. LIGHTWEIGHT.

If a tap board isn't lightweight, it defeats the point of its being portable! Much like laptop computers, the lighter the board the more likely you are to take it with you when you travel or have competitions to rehearse for. Having a so-called portable tap board which isn't actually easy to slide into the car and take along wherever you go can put a damper on your practice, and defeat the purpose of buying the board in the first place. Also, consider that the board needs to be easy to carry into performance venues if used for that purpose.

B. EASY TO CARRY.

Along with being lightweight, an ergonomic structure for practice floors is important. They should be easily transported and have easy methods of grip, to allow their owner to pick them up and carry them without strain. The last thing any dancer wants to do is find that although he or she has selected a practice board they think will suit their needs, they can't carry it more than a few steps with any level of comfort!

C. SPRUNG AND SHOCK ABSORBING.

Doing a complicated tap routine can put a huge strain on your hips, knees, and ankles. When considering buying a portable tap dance floor you should remember that you need the same kind of spring and shock absorption you would expect from a high-quality tap studio floor. As a dancer, taking care of your body should be your primary concern, and neglecting this important feature when considering tap boards can lead to discomfort, pain, and even injury. Make sure that the tap mats you are choosing from offer you protection from shock while dancing.

D. RESONANT.

Part of the joy of watching a good tap routine is hearing the sounds of the dancer's feet as they strike the floor, and many dances require this resonance to reach their full effect. Like any other aspect of dance, this must be practiced, and dancers who select tap mats that don't fulfill this requirement will find that their practice sessions sound so different from their routines that it can actually undercut the practice they've put into learning their steps. Finding a tap board with great resonance which builds the suspense of your dance and allows you to have a realistic impression of the sounds your dancing will create is an important thing for any dancer to consider.

E. AFFORDABLE.

No tap mat should break the bank, and finding an affordable piece of equipment that will allow you to practice your dancing is not hard. Many affordable, high-quality mats are available to help you with your practice.

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Choosing The Right Pair of Tap Shoes

Choosing your first pair of tap shoes can be exciting, but it's sometimes difficult to know where to start. Firstly, it's a good idea to have a good understanding of what properties make a good pair. They're a special type of shoe designed specifically for tap dancing and have metal plates mounted to the bottom of the heel and toe. These plates are called taps, and make a loud tapping sound when struck against a hard surface.

As with any style of dance shoes, the most important element to consider is comfort. Without well fitting tap shoes, the quality of the sound they make along with their style will become insignificant because the dancer's ability will become inhibited. A good pair should fit snugly to the foot without being too tight. Even if the dancer's feet are still growing, allowing for growing room in the shoe should be done with caution because any movement of the shoes on the feet creates a high possibility of causing blisters and discomfort.

To make sure you select the most comfortable style, you should also take into account what they're made of. Most tap shoes have a leather upper which will soften with use and create a little more space in the shoe. Some tap shoes have a PVC upper which does not soften in the same way as leather but does offer a cheaper alternative.

The style of tap shoes you go for is largely down to your own personal choice. For men, the choices are fairly straightforward whereas women need to think about the height of the heel they want on their tap shoes. A higher heel may look more appealing to some but can make learning to tap dance very tricky for beginners. It's therefore advisable to begin learning with a pair of relatively flat tap shoes and then progress onto a heeled pair when you gain more confidence and experience.

You need to check whether taps are included with the tap shoes you want to buy. Most include a pre-attached toe tap but will require you to attach the heel tap. You can go to a cobbler to do this though it is fairly straightforward to do it yourself. Occasionally, you will need to attach both the toe tap and the heel tap but this is very rare. The most popular type of taps are Teletone Taps which include a sounding board. This enables the dancer to adjust the sound that the taps make with small turns of the screws which hold them to the shoe. This enables the dancer to ensure that their shoe makes a tapping sound that fits with the character of the dance.

Cost will no doubt play a big role in the tap shoes you choose and there's no need to spend a fortune. It's worth giving it a bit of time before you splash out on an expensive pair. Besides, there are many popular brands such as Capezio, Bloch and Dance Gear that have many years experience in manufacturing high quality shoes for dancers of all abilities.

Dance Gear Direct are experts in providing dance wear with over 30 years experience. For more information about our extensive range of tap shoes please visit our website www.dancegeardirect.co.uk.

Tap Dance Questions and Answers

Tap dance enjoyed the height of its popularity in the 1930s and 1940s. However, it's still practiced by many young dancers. Anyone studying tap should know its history. For example,

(1) African-American slaves created an early form of tap that was an inspiration for the current art form,

(2) metal taps weren't always used, and

(3) one of the most famous movie dance routines was a tap dance routine.

Read this article to expand your knowledge of tap dance.

Tap dance is one of the few dances that also engage the ears. It's like a dance that creates its own music. Very few dances fit into this category. Are you interested in studying tap? Or maybe you just want to know more about it? Here are some questions and answers to get you informed.

Question One. Where did tap dance come from?

Answer. Tap dance is believed to be a mixture of dances from various cultures. African-American slaves are credited with starting an early form of the dance in America. They used their hands and feet to make music because they weren't allowed to play African drums.

Question Two. What did tap dancers do before metal plates were available?

Answer. Dancers wore wooden clogs on leather shoes. The heel or toes were used to strike the wooden clogs against the floor. It produced a musical sound, although different from the one produced by metal plates.

Question Three. Who were some of the earliest famous tap dancers?

Answer. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson was one of the first dancers to become well known for tap. He began dancing professionally at the age of 6, and joined his first dance troupe in 1886. In 1891 when he was 12 years old, he joined a traveling dance company. Robinson spent his entire life dancing and performing, but he didn't perform for a white audience until he was 50 years old.

The Nicholas brothers were also famous tap dancers. They first gained attention as featured dancers at Harlem's famous Cotton Club. They were so popular, until they were the only act allowed to socialize with the white patrons. After leaving the club, the brothers appeared in movies and television shows.

Question Four. Were all popular tap dancers African-American?

Answer. At one time, the answer to that question would have been yes. But dancers such as Fred Astaire and Gene Kelley proved that dancing skills weren't limited to one ethnic group. Astaire and Kelley were well-known for their dancing skills, which included tap.

Just the Beginning

The history of tap dance can't be condensed into one short article. There's much more to learn. If you're interested in this art form, take time to read and learn more about it.

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