Why is tap dancing so important?

Tap dancing has had a huge impact on American culture for years now. It helped influence early Hollywood films, music, dance, and broadway. In the 1920’s you had to search hard for a show that didn’t have tap dancing in it. Some of Hollywood's most well known actors earned their fame from their tap scenes such as Fred Astire, Ginger Rogers, Shirley Temple, and Bill “Bojangels” Robinson. With all of that being said you might ask the question why is tap dancing so important as a dancer? Here are two main reasons to answer that question.

Tap teaches all of its dancers rhythm and musicality. Tap class isn’t just about fancy footwork and complex combinations. In class you learn about music,how to make music,and how to listen to it. In tap dancing your shoes are your instruments. All tap shoes have two taps on the bottom, one at the toe and one at the heel. By wearing your instruments you are making your own rhythm and beats which helps dancers understand rhythm and musicality on a deeper level. 

Tap dancing makes well rounded dancers. Like I said, tap dancing helped give actors and broadway stars some of their biggest leads. This still stands true even today. Lots of Broadway shows have long tap breaks in them where the ensemble performs a complex tap sequence. If your goal as a dancer is to perform on Broadway chances are at an audition you'll be asked to tap. I’m sure you've heard of the Radio City Rockettes. At their Christmas show, two of their famous dances, “The 12 days of Christmas” and “Rag Dolls” are tap dances! Did you know the rockettes have microphones in their tap shoes so that even the people in the back row can hear their perfectly syncopated steps.   

I believe Gregory Hines said it perfectly when he said “All you need is a pair of tap shoes to be part of this community.” 

~Written by Rebecca Edmonds, Tap Instructor DIO