Tap dancing meaningTap dance is a type of dance that uses the sounds of the dancer's shoes striking the floor as percussion. The tap sounds are produced by shoes equipped with metal "tips" on the heel and toe. The dance incorporates music, rhythm and choreography.
The origins of tap dance lie in the fusion of several ethnic step dancing traditions, largely African and Irish. It began in the mid 19th century and was popularized in the early 20th century by famous vaudeville performers. In its most refined form, tap dance is a complex combination of footwork, coordination and rhythm.
Some key elements that define tap dance:
- A defined rhythm and beat generated through precise footwork.
- A combination of syncopated and rhythmic tap steps that produce complex and coordinated percussive sounds.
- Frequent use of sounds like "shuffles", "buffs", "flaps" and "drawbacks" created by the tapping feet.
- Both graceful and fully body movements that accompany the percussive footwork.
- A musical style that develops through improvisation and creative footwork patterns.
A form of dance in which the performer taps out rhythms and patterns with his or her heels and toes while wearing special shoes with small metal plates called taps affixed to the underside of the heel and toe.
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