Tap dance, or step, is a dance, the main movement of which is rhythmic kicks on the floor. Therefore, tap dance is sometimes called foot music. Nowadays, the popularity of this dance has increased in the wake of interest in the Irish jig, a mandatory element of which is the tap rhythm.
It is necessary
- - special footwear with metal heels;
- - hard floor covering.
Instructions
Step 1
Purchase special tap dance shoes. The main attribute of the tap dancer are shoes with metal heels. Such shoes can be purchased in a specialized store, or they can be made in any repair shop by asking the master to nail metal plates to ordinary shoes with toes and heels. When choosing dance shoes, pay special attention to how they fit on your feet. Too tight shoes can not only chafe the skin, but also cause deformation of the foot. Overly loose shoes can lead to ankle injury.
Step 2
Choose a room for tap dancing. It is best to practice dancing in a specialized dance club under the guidance of an experienced instructor-choreographer. If you are unable to attend dance club classes, you can train on your own. It is not recommended to tap-dance for residents of apartment buildings, since energetic stomping will surely cause discontent among neighbors below. It is best to practice step in the evening in the sports or assembly hall of a school or institute. Any kind of wood flooring is suitable for tap dancing, but linoleum and carpet are best avoided as these coverings absorb sound.
Step 3
Start learning the individual elements of the dance. The main element of tap dance is a clear rhythmic step. There are four basic movements in step: brush, flap, ball-change and shuffle. To brush, kick with your heel with your foot forward, then bring your foot back into place and kick with your toe. Ball-change consists of a kick with the right foot followed by a toe kick of the left foot. Then these movements alternate. Flap involves heel and toe strikes on one foot and then on the other. The shuffle element is a flap to be executed when stepping forward. The basic movements of tap dance must be worked out to automatism, so that later you can freely combine them in the dance.
Step 4
Improve your skills by watching videos on the Internet with the performance of both individual elements of tap dance and complex dance compositions. Try to repeat and remember new elements, copy the movements of professional dancers.
