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Erika loves to Tap Dance.
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Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting
the floor (or other surfaces) as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered
to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm (Jazz) tap and
Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the dance. It is widely performed as a part
of musical theater. Rhythm tap focuses more on musicality, and practitioners consider
themselves to be a part of the Jazz tradition. The sound is made by shoes with a metal "tap"
on the heel and toe. Tap shoes can be bought at most dance shops. There are different brands
of shoes which sometimes differ in the way they sound.
"Soft-Shoe" is a rhythm form of tap dancing that does not require special shoes, and while
rhythm is generated by tapping of the feet, it also uses sliding of the feet (even sometimes
using scattered sand on the stage to enhance the sound of the performer's sliding feet)
more often than modern rhythm tap. It preceded what is currently considered to be modern
tap, but has since declined in popularity.
Tap dance has roots in dancing such as the Juba Dance, English Lancashire Clog dancing,
and probably most notably Irish stepdancing. It is believed to have begun in the mid-1800s
during the rise of minstrel shows. White performers would imitate Southern blacks and satirize
their dance forms while incorporating step-dancing. In later minstrel shows, black performers
in blackface would play roles in which they imitated the Irish imitation of black dance
forms, further mixing the two. Famous as Master Juba, William Henry Lane became one of the
few black performers to join an otherwise white minstrel troupe, and is widely considered
to be the most famous forebear of tap dance. As the minstrel shows began to decline in
popularity, tap dance moved to the increasingly popular Vaudeville stage. Due to the two-colored
rule, which forbade blacks from performing solo, the majority of Vaudeville tap acts
were duets.[2] This gave rise to the famous pair "Buck and Bubbles," which consisted of
John "Bubbles" Sublett tap dancing and Ford "Buck" Washington on piano. The duo perfected
the "Class Act", a routine in which the performers wore impeccable tuxedos, which has since become
a common theme in tap dance. The move is seen by some as a rebuttal to the older minstrel
show idea of the tap dancer as a "grinning-and-dancing clown."
Another notable figure to emerge during this period is Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. Well
versed in both Buck and Wing dancing and Irish Step dancing, Bill Robinson joined the Vaudeville
circuit in 1902, in a duo with George W. Cooper. The act quickly became famous, headlining
events across the country, and touring England as well. In 1908, however, the two had an
altercation, and the partnership was ended. Gambling on his popularity, Robinson decided
to form a solo act, which was extremely rare for a black man at that time. Despite this,
he had tremendous success and soon became a world famous celebrity. He went on to have
a leading role in many films, notably in the Shirley Temple franchise.
During the 1930s tap dance mixed with Lindy Hop. "Flying swing outs" and "flying circles"
are Lindy Hop moves with tap footwork. In the mid- to late 1950s, the style of entertainment
changed. Jazz music and tap dance declined, while rock and roll and the new jazz dance
emerged. What is now called jazz dance evolved out of tap dance, so both dances have many
moves in common. But jazz evolved separately from tap dance to become a new form in its
own right. Well-known dancers during the 1960s and 1970s included Arthur Duncan and Tommy
Tune. No Maps on My Taps, the Emmy award winning
PBS documentary of 1979, helped begin the recent revival of tap dance. The outstanding
success of the animated film, Happy Feet, has further reinforced the popular appeal.[4]
National Tap Dance Day in the United States, now celebrated May 25, was signed into law
by President George Bush on November 7, 1989. (May 25 was chosen because it is the birthday
of famous tapper Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.) Prominent modern tap dancers have included
Sarah Reich, Brenda Bufalino, Melinda Sullivan, The Clark Brothers, Savion Glover, Gregory
and Maurice Hines, LaVaughn Robinson, Jason Samuels Smith, Chloe Arnold, and Dianne "Lady
Di" Walker Indie-pop band Tilly and the Wall also features a tap dancer, Jamie Pressnall,
tapping as percussion.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/267471665344022540
http://ymagnus.blogspot.ca/2014/03/tap-dancing-recital.html