In the development of tap dance, there are several very key figures - WILLIAM HENRY LANE is a great rhythm dancer, he added African dance steps to the Irish jig, emphasizing rhythm and percussion over melody. Subsequently, there were three main tap dancers who laid the foundation of tap dance, namely KING RASTUS BROWN, BILL ROBINSON, and JOHN BUBBLES. BROWN pioneered the mature tap step, which was characterized by a mostly flat foot shape, and then ROBINSON developed his own steps based on it, highlighting the pointing technique. BUBBLES, on the other hand, created the step known as CRAMPROLL, which is characterized by the use of both the toe and the heel.
Tap is a style of dance that is used to listen to, and there is even a theory that a great tap dancer is more of a musician. In the early days of tap competitions, judges even sat underneath the wooden stage and didn't look at the dancers at all, but rather listened to the rhythmic weight of their strikes, and most importantly for tap, the clarity of the rhythm. A good tap dancer can achieve clarity no matter how fast the rhythm, how complicated the steps or how soft the sound.
Tap dance has developed over nearly a hundred years, forming different styles, the two main branches, is the Irish style of tap dance and the American style of tap dance. The longest history of tap dance should be counted in the United States originated in the mainland, known as HOOFING genre. HOOFING itself has the meaning of tap, dance, so the people who tap dance at that time is also called HOOFER, HOOFER the word and the meaning of the black people, which explains the tap dancers at that time for the black people, but also explains the origins of the tap dance and the black people's dance.
Tap dance originated from the lower class people in the United States, mainly a combination of Irish folk dance and black African dance. The form of this genre is more open and free, without many programmed restrictions. The dancers do not focus on the body's dance posture, but show off the complex skills of the feet to combat the rhythm, and they often gather in the streets to compete with each other. Its overall dance style is rather simple and loose. Later, in its long development, this genre was constantly influenced by many factors. For example, the influence of the American West cowboys, such as the influence of the black traditional drum rhythms, etc., of which the most important influence may be considered the influence of jazz, tap dance absorbed jazz music rhythms, improvisation and other elements, more self-indulgent, but also more open and challenging. This gradually formed a very rich dance form, and became a representative of the United States, "black flavor" strong tap dance genre.
A, American tap: American tap is free, easy and humor as a pattern (there are two important elements of development, one is Irish tap dance and the other is African music) it originated in 1739 AD, a group of black slaves in order to rebel against the slave masters of South Carolina, open the way to freedom in Florida and the revolt. But it was suppressed at the outset, and a few months later the U.S. government enacted a law forbidding any Negroes to beat drums or make any other noisy noise that could stir up rebellion. Deprived of their amazing drumming and bravado, the Negroes were quick to utilize other means, and some Negroes with a talent for showmanship adopted white clogging in time, and through a sensible combination came Tap (TAP). Because it is free and easy, so in the performance of American tap, dancers often add "improvisation" in the dance performance, usually in New York Broadway and the movie "SINGIN IN THE RAIN", "ON THE TOWN", "AN AMERICAN IN PARIS", "STORMY WEATHER", and "TAP" is the most popular dance in the world. STORMY WEATHER'...etc. You can see the traces of American tap dance, famous American tap dancers are: Fred Astaire (Fred Astaire), Fred H. Holland (Fred Holland), Fred Holland (Fred Holland), Fred Holland (Fred Holland), Fred Holland (Fred Holland). Famous American tap dancers include: Fred Astaire, Sammy Davis Jr., Gene Kelly, the Nicholas Brothers, Bill Robinson, the Nicholas Brothers, the Nicholas Brothers, and the Nicholas Brothers. Bill Robinson ~ Mr. Bojangles, Dan Parry, and J.J. Bowen. Dein Parry ~ Tap Dogs, Jason Samuels Smith, Roxane Butterfly, Jimmy Slyde, Lon Chaney, Buster Brown, Gregory Hines, Savion Glover...and many more. At present, the tap dance taught in the dance studio of the Dance Factory is mainly American tap.
National Tap Dance Day: The birthday of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, May 25th, was officially declared National Tap Dance Day in 1989, in honor of this day. In honor of this day, dozens of special events and celebration of dance are held throughout the United States.
Two, the British tap: British tap is to emphasize the ballet beautiful body movement is the main, in the dance steps have more spinning, slipping and sliding, and the British tap is to emphasize the ballet beautiful body movement is the main, in the dance steps have more spinning, slipping and sliding. In terms of dance steps, there are more spins, slides, etc., and the dancers often bring an aristocratic atmosphere to the performances. In addition, the English tap has fewer syncopated changes in the rhythm, but more repetitive syllables; at the same time, the English tap also provides a channel for many learners to obtain a license. In Taiwan, you can join the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), become a member, and take the annual upgrade exam to obtain an internationally recognized license. Every tap teacher in the DanceWorks troupe has an ISTD license, and we welcome all interested parties to join the ISTD.
Three, Irish tap: (Irish dancing) Irish tap dance, the real name should be called "Irish dancing -Hard shoes dancing" American tap dance is known as Tap dancing; Irish dancers in the Irish dance is not the upper body action, hands are naturally hanging down on the hips, lower body feet are always kept on the hip. Irish dancers in Irish dancing do not have upper body movements, hands are naturally hanging down on the hips, the lower half of the body feet are always kept in a cross position (45 degrees), so the dancers in the dance you will feel very neat, and the Irish tap and soft shoes and hard shoes, respectively, in the soft shoes dancing, boys and girls are different, because the soft shoes dancing men and women's shoes are different, the female side of the shoes are a little bit like a ballet shoe, will not make a sound, and the boys' shoes after the root part of the shoe is hard, so you can In Taiwan's favorite "Feet of Flames" (Feet of Flames), "River Dance" (River Dance), "Magic of Dance" (Magic of Dance)...etc., you will see that the dancers' upper body will have a little movement, that is in order to increase the effect of the dance, and by the dancers to design their own! In traditional Irish dancing, only the lower body moves. Famous Irish dancing dancers include Michael Flatley. Michael Flately, Michael Donnelly, and Michael K. K. Kennedy. Michael Donnellan... and many others, and of course the movie mentioned above is the best choice for you to watch.