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How to tap dance for kids


Free & Easy Online Tap Dance Lesson for Kids – No Tap Shoes Needed! – Move Dance Learn

Do your kids love making noise with their feet? Have they asked you to take tap dance classes or even just love tapping away up the grocery aisles as you shop?

These free and easy online tap dance classes for kids can be done in any hard soled shoe. I slowly and creatively take your child through various tap steps to ensure they experience success, because lets face it trying to isolate the muscles of the feet to create something that sounds like rythmical noise is hard!

Click here to go straight to a playlist on Youtube of dance classes by Move Dance Learn. Don’t forget to subscribe to get notifications as the library is growing every week!

How old should my child be to begin tap dance lessons?

Kids can start tap dance lessons from the time they can walk – but obviously, these lessons would have to be short and modified for them to retain their attention. From the ages of 5-6 children are more aware of their bodies and are able to follow directions for long periods of time so these are great ages to begin tap. You will find the older your child is 7-10 the better they will be able to isolate the muscles and joints in their feet and ankles, but sometimes starting too late in tap can also mean there is a steep learning curve and many children quit after a term because taming their feet to create crisp, clean beats and sounds is actually harder than they thought it would be. But once over that curve, tap can become a great hobby and fitness activity well into your child’s adult life and today brings so much joy to many adults who decide to take on the dance form later in life.

What are the benefits of learning to tap dance?

Because tap dance focuses on using the legs, it means your child will be doing a deep aerobic workout as they move these large muscle groups in their bodies. Tap dance also strengthens the ankle and feet muscles which can help them avoid ankle injuries, or at least create a strong foundation if they were to have one. Tap dance also focuses on musicality and creating rhythmical sounds with your feet similar to a musician. It is well documented how learning to play a musical instrument helps children develop their understandings of mathematical concepts and for children who are more inclined to be kinaesthetically intelligent just like in music a tap dance helps to develop mathematical concepts such as identifying patterns and nuances. Lastly, tap dance and making rythmical noise with your feet is just plain fun!

Breakdown of Tap Terms used in this lesson and helpful information:

What is a stamp in tap dance?

A stamp in tap dance is when you lift one foot off the floor and place it heavily with a flat foot back onto the floor making a stamping sound. Stamps can be done with or without weight. What this means is that you can stamp from one foot to the other transferring your weight from one leg to the other or you can just stamp one leg continually bringing it back up off the floor after making the stamping sound.

In this tutorial we do both stamps with and without weight and we focus on trying to control the muscles in our legs to create loud and soft stamps. Usually kids can easily show the difference between a loud and soft stamp, but it takes more control to gradually increase or decrease the volume.

What is a hit in tap dance?

When I was learning to tap dance we had to recite the following – a hit is a hitting movement of the foot on the floor. A hit can be done with the heel, ball or toe of the foot. This really isn’t all the helpful so I will explain what a hit is in more detail!

A hit in tap dance is when you lower an isolated section of your foot such as the ball, toe or heel and sharply tap the floor lift the foot or that part of the foot immediately away from the floor to create a crisp and sharp tap sound.

We focus on strengthening the muscles in our ankles during the second exercise of the tutorial where we focus on making tapping or hitting noises with our feet in as many different ways as we can.

What is a brush in tap dance?

A brush in tap dance is when you tap the ball of the foot on the floor away or towards the body in a swinging motion. Little children begin learning to do a brush by swinging their foot from the knee joint. As a tap dancer becomes more experienced they learn to do this brushing action directly from the ankle and use the knee to help pick up the foot from the floor rather than make the brushing movement.

What is a forward slap or forward flap?

A forward slap or flap in tap dance is when you do a forward brush or hit with one foot and then step transferring your weight onto the ball of that same foot. They can also be done backwards.

What is a drop in tap dance?

A drop in tap dance is similar to a hit, except you do not lift the foot off the floor after the hitting sound, rather you leave the part that hit the floor in contact with the floor. You will see why this can be handy in the next step I describe which we do during the travelling section of the tap tutorial.

What is a Ball Heel (or Ball Heel Drop) in tap dance?

A ball heel or ball heel drop, in tap dance, is usually a travelling step where you lift one foot off the floor and drop your flat part of the ball of your foot onto the floor on the first count and then drop your heel of the same foot to the floor on the second count. Your would normally repeat this sequence with the other foot. You can do a ball, heel on the spot, but it is a good moving and traveling step especially for beginning tap dancers. Experienced dancers may incorporate ball heels into turns that travel from one side of the stage to the other.

LINKS TO THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM

Having been a teacher in Australia with a Bachelor of Education (Primary), I am always looking at ways to creatively teach children and regularly used dance and movement in my classroom to enforce learning of concepts and material we were learning about in different areas of the school curriculum.

The following are some links and connections that can be made from this creative dance lesson to other areas of learning!

Mathematics or Arithmetic

  • Count forwards or backward as you do ball, heels, or walking on the balls of your feet, doing hits or stamps or any other tap step or exercise.
  • Count how long you can balance on one leg. To make it harder balance on the ball of the foot (raise your heel)
  • Measure your height when on flat feet and on the balls of your feet and work out the difference.
  • Use a tap shoe or hard-soled shoe to measure objects around the house – which ones are shorter or longer than your shoe?
  • Collect Data and make graphs about tap and dance – ask your family if they like tap dance, ever took a class, have seen a tap dance performance, or know any tap steps and tally, graph or chart their answers. Analyze and make statements about your results.
  • Read a book about dance that encourages numeracy and counting – you can find some in this article on Dance Parent 101

English and Literacy

  • Create your own tap or dance alphabet book – you could take photos of your child doing the movements to include in the book with the letters for example H is for Hit or S is for Stamp.
  • Use Tap and dance terminology in a spelling list.
  • Create handwriting tasks using tap and dance terminology.
  • Create a list of adjectives to describe how we move our bodies in tap – sharp, strong, rhythmical
  • Create a list of verbs to describe how we move in tap- strike, hit, slap, loud, soft, etc…
  • Write or tell a Recount about doing your online tap lesson or another dance class you have taken.
  • Write a narrative or fictional story about tap or dance.
  • Research and then write a report about the history of tap or a famous tap dancer.
  • Write an argumentative or persuasive essay to convince others about the benefits of tap dance and why they should start taking lessons.
  • Read stories about dance and tap dancing.

Science

  • Learn the names of the different body parts we use doing various steps in tap dance especially those in the foot and ankle.
  • Study the muscles, joints, ligaments etc… and how they move when we dance.
  • Explore and learn about the best ways to strenghen and stretch the human body.
  • Investigate forces such as push and pull and how these forces affect how our bodies move when we dance.
  • Study the laws of force and friction and how these relate to making sound in tap dance.

Social Studies/History/Geography

  • Explore different tap syllabuses and ways of learning and teaching tap dance.
  • Study the history of tap and dance.
  • Investigate maps and locations in relation to the history of tap dance or where major tap dance companies, schools, and theatres are located around the world.
  • Learn about the history of dance in different cultures.

Art and Craft

For some great Dance based craft ideas head to my article on Dance Parent 101

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Free Tap Dance Syllabus with Videos

Spank (Brush Back, Draw, Pull) - 1 - swing the foot back (coming from the front or diagonally side) hitting only the ball tap

Spank Step (Back Flap) - &1 or a1 - swing the foot back (coming from the front or diagonally side) hitting only the ball tap, step

Spank Step Heel - a1 2 or &a1 - spank step heel

Spank Step Ball Change - &1&2 or a1 a2 - spank step STEP step

Shuffle - &1 or a1 - brush spank

Shuffle Step (Running Shuffle, Leap Shuffles, Jogging Shuffles) - &a1 - brush spank step

Shuffle Ball Change - &1&2 or a1 a2 - brush spank step STEP

Buffalo - 1&a2 - (cross foot in front) step (leap) SHUFFLE STEP

Cramp Roll - 1&a2 - step STEP heel HEEL

Irish - a1 a2 or e&a1 - shuffle HOP step

Maxie Ford - 1&2&3 or 1e&a2 or 1 a2 a3 - step SHUFFLE STEP toe  (toe crosses in back)

Waltz Clog - 1&2&3 or 1e&a2 or 1 a2 a3 - step SHUFFLE BALL CHANGE

Heel Stand - 1 - jump onto the back edges of your heels and balance

Step Heel Turn - 1&2& - step heel STEP HEEL(turning - 2 step heels per rotation)

Flap Heel Turn - &1 2 or &a1 - brush step heel BRUSH STEP HEEL (turning)

Slide - 1 - run or push off of one leg and allow your feet to glide along the floor without leaving the floor

OPTIONAL STEPS

Clunk - 1 - hit the inside of the toe and heel tap against the floor at the same time

Leap - 1 - push off of one foot and into the air and land on the ball of the other foot

JUMP TO:  Top  1  2  3  4  5  6  7

LEVEL 2 (essential steps in teaching order, optional in alphabetical)

ESSENTIAL STEPS

Hop Shuffle - 1&a - hop BRUSH SPANK

Shuffle Heel - &a1 - brush spank HEEL

Scuff - 1 - swing your foot forward and hit the back edge of the heel tap as the foot swings

Double Buffalo - a1&a2 - (cross foot in front) flap SHUFFLE STEP

Double Cramp Roll (Flap Cramp Roll) - a1&a2 - flap STEP heel HEEL

Double Irish (version 1) - &1&2&3&4 or a1 a2 a3 a4 - shuffle ball change, shuffle HOP step

Irish Flap - a1&a2 - shuffle HOP flap

Double Maxie Ford - &1&2&3 or a1e&a2 - flap SHUFFLE STEP toe

Double Waltz Clog - &1&2&3 or a1e&a2 - flap SHUFFLE BALL CHANGE

Alexander (Broadway, Shirley Temple) - &1&2&3&4 or a1 a2 a3 a4 - flap HEEL heel SPANK heel TOE heel

Back Essence - &1&2 or a1 a2 - spank step (cross behind) STEP (out) step

Flap Heel Heel - &1&2 or a1 a2 - brush step HEEL heel

Bombershay Modern (Bombershe, Toe Clip)- 1&a - step SPANK DIG

Drawback - &a1 - spank HEEL step

Pullback (Pull, Grab Off, Pick-Up) - a1 - jump backwards and as your feet leave the floor they both do a “spank” (brush back) at the same time then both feet land on the balls of the feet at the same time

Scuffle (Dig brush, Dig Spank, Paddle) - &1 or a1 - dig spank

Scuffle Step (Paddles, Dig brush Step) - 1&a - dig spank step

Scuffle Step Heel (Dig Brush Toe Heel, Paddle and Roll, Paradiddle - 1&2& or 1e&a - dig spank step heel

Scuffle Ball Change - &1&2 or 1e&a - dig spank step STEP

Buck Single Time Step - 8 1 2&3&4 5 6&7& or 8 1 2 a3 a4  5 6a7 a - stomp (some people add a spank after the stomp) HOP step FLAP step

Traditional Single Time Step - 8&1 2&3&4&5 6&7& or 8 a1 2 a3 a4  a5 6a7 a - shuffle HOP step FLAP step

Buffalo Turn - 1&a2 - (cross foot in front) step SHUFFLE STEP (turning)

Step Irish Turn - 1e&a2 - step SHUFFLE hop STEP (turning)

Step Toe Hop Turn - 1&a2&a - step TOE hop STEP toeHOP (turning)

In and Out Pullback (Jumping Jack Pullback) - a1 a2 - start feet apart, pull both feet into the air and land feet together, pull into the air and land feet apart

Toe Stand - 1 - "jump" up to the tip of your toes and balance on them

Slap - a1 - brush touch

OPTIONAL STEPS

Bombershay Broadway (Bombershe) - a1 2 - spank stamp, STEP/twist and lift right toe

Clicks (Toe & Heel) - 1 - click either the toe taps or heel taps together

Crossing Pullback - a1 - pull both feet into the air and land so that one foot is crossed in front of the other

Heel Stand Turn - 1 - jump onto the back edges of your heels while turning

Jump Click - 1 - propel yourself into the air and click either the toe taps, heel taps, or both toe and heel taps together

Leap Heel - 1 2 or 1&  - push off of one foot and into the air and land on the ball of the other foot, heel

Smack - 1 - step on the ball of the foot with a straight leg (can also be done without weight

Slam - 1 - jump-out with straight legs and barely go into the air (it's more like a scoot back on your toes)

Travel Step - 1&a - step out to the side, SPANK, STEP IN

JUMP TO:  Top  1  2  3  4  5  6  7

LEVEL 3 (essential steps in teaching order, optional in alphabetical)

ESSENTIAL STEPS

Shuffle Step Heel - &1&2 or e&a1 - brush spank step heel

Double Shuffle - 1&a2 - brush spank brush spank

Double Irish (version 2) - &a1&a2 - shuffle (front) HOP shuffle step

Alternating Cramp Roll (Around the World Cramp Roll, Trading Cramp Roll) - 1&a2 - step STEP HEEL heel

Pendulum Shuffle - a1 a2 - brush to the front then spank in front of the standing foot, then brush back out to the front and then spank diagonally back to the side

Double Scuffle - 1&a2 - dig spank dig spank

Double Scuffle Step Heel - 1e&a2e or 1&a2&a - dig spank dig spank step heel

Double Back Essence - a1&a2 - spank step (cross behind) FLAP step

Traditional Double Time Step - 8&1&2&3&4&5&6&7& or 8 a1 a2 a3 a4 a5 a6 a7 a - shuffle HOP flap FLAP step

Traditional Triple Time Step - 8&1&a2&3&4&5&a6&7& or 8 a1&a2 a3 a4 a5&a6 a7 a- shuffle HOP shuffle step FLAP step

Buck Double Time Step - 8 1&2&3&4 5&6&7& or 8 1 a2 a3 a4 5 a6 a7 a- stomp (some people add a spank after the stomp) HOP flap FLAP step

Buck Triple Time Step - 8 1&a2&3&4 5&a6&7& or 8 1&a2 a3 a4 5&a6 a7 a - stomp (some people add a spank after the stomp) HOP shuffle step FLAP step

Cincinnati - &1&2&3 0r &a1&a2 - spank HEEL shuffle HEEL step

Single Pullback (One-Foot Pullback) - a1 - start on one foot, push off the floor into the air and as your foot leaves the floor do a spank then land on the ball of the foot

Trenches (Hoofer & Broadway Style) - 1 - step on one foot while the other slides backwards coming off the floor at the end of the slide

Riff - a1 - (this is taught many different ways) touch dig or touch scuff or brush scuff

3-Beat Riff Walk (Slam, Flam, Slurp, Third) - &a1 - touch dig toe or brush dig toe

4-Beat Riff Walk - a1 a2 - touch scuff dig toe or brush scuff dig toe

5-Beat Riff Walk - a1&a2 - touch scuff HEEL dig toe or brush scuff HEEL dig toe

Maxie Ford Turn - 1e&a2 - step SHUFFLE STEP toe (turning)

Stamp Cramp Roll Turn - 1 2&a3 - stamp STEP step heel HEEL (turning)

Double Pullback - 1&a2 or &a*1 - pull PULL step STEP

Wing - &a1 - start on the balls of the feet with feet together, scrape both feet outwards and into the air, then spank both feet inwards at the same time and land on the balls of the feet with your feet together

OPTIONAL STEPS

Boomerang  - 1&2& or 1e&a - stamp STEP spank step

Double Flap - 1&a2 or &a*1 - brush step BRUSH STEP (done in rapid succession)

Scuff Dig Ball Change - &1&2 - scuff dig STEP step

Single Heel Stand - 1 - jump up onto the back edge of one heel tap

Skipping Pullback - &a1 - single pullback STEP

Step Heel Heel - 1&a - step HEEL heel

JUMP TO:  Top  1  2  3  4  5  6  7

LEVEL 4 (essential steps in teaching order, optional in alphabetical)

ESSENTIAL STEPS

Triple Cramp Roll (Shuffle cramp Roll) - &a1&a2 or a1e&a2 - shuffle step STEP heel HEEL

Irish Pullback - a1&a2 - shuffle SINGLE-PULLBACK step

Double Toe Stand - 1&a2 or &a*1 - toe TOE step STEP

Toe Stand Turn - 1 - "jump" up to the tip of your toes and balance on them (turning)

Nerve Taps - 1 - vibrate either your toe or heel tap against the floor rapidly

Switching Pullback (Swapping, Alternating Pullback) - a1 - start on one foot, push off the floor into the air and as your foot leaves the floor do a spank then land on the ball of the other foot

Maxie Ford Pullback - 1e&a*2 - step SHUFFLE switching-pullback toe

Double Maxie Ford Pullback - a1e&a*2 - flap SHUFFLE switching-pullback toe

Shuffle Pullback Ball Change - a1&a2 or e&a*1 - brush spank SWITCHING-PULLBACK STEP

Waltz Clog Pullback - 1e&a*2 - step SHUFFLE switching-pullback step  

Double Waltz Clog Pullback - a1e&a*2 - flap SHUFFLE switching-pullback step

Shuffle Pullback - e&a1 - brush spank SWITCHING-PULLBACK

Over The Top - 1 2 - step KICK LEG INTO THE AIR, jump over the airborne leg and land on the original stepping foot

Shim Sham - [8 a1 2 a3 4 a5 a6 a7]3 times, 8 1 2 3& &5 6 7 - [stomp spank step. STOMP SPANKS STEP, stomp spank step STEP, stomp spank step]3 times, stamp TOE STEP HOP step hop STEP jump-out jump-in

Step Riff Heel (Hop Riff Heel, Leap Riff Heel) - 1&a2 or &a*1 - step TOUCH DIG heel or step BRUSH SCUFF heel

Heel

6-Beat Riff Walk - &a1&a2 - touch scuff HEEL dig toe heel or brush scuff HEEL dig toe

7-Beat Riff Walk - &a1e&a2 - touch scuff HEEL dig toe HEEL heel or brush scuff HEEL dig toe HEEL heel

8-100 Beat Riff Walk - e&a1e&a2 - touch scuff HEEL dig toe heel HEEL heel or brush scuff HEEL dig toe heel HEEL heel, for riff walks higher than 8 - start with a riff and then add X number of sounds to get a X-beat riff walk

Riffle - &a1 - touch dig spank or brush dig spank

Riffle Step - e&a1 - touch dig spank step or brush dig spank step

Hines Riff (Split Riff) - &a**1 - touch scuff PULL dig STEP or brush scuff PULL dig STEP

Stamp Step Riff Heel Turn - 1 2&a3 or 1 &a*2 - stamp STEP touch scuff HEEL or stamp STEP brush scuff HEEL

Stamp Step Toe Heel Turn - 1 2&3 - stamp STEP toe HEEL (turning)

Paddle Turn - 1&a - spank step STEP (turning)

Traditional Quadruple Time Step - 8&1e&a2&3&4&5e&a6&7& or 8 a1e&a2 a3 a4 a5e&a6 a7 a - shuffle HOP shuffle step heel FLAP step

Buck Quadruple Time Step - 8 1e&a2&3&4 5e&a6&7 or 8 1&ea2 a3 a4 5e&a6 a7 a& - stomp (some people add a spank after the stomp) HOP shuffle step heel FLAP step

Single Traveling Time Step - 8&1&2&3&4 5 6&7& - shuffle step SHUFFLE BALL CHANGE BALL CHANGE hop STEP shuffle step (some people start it with the hop)

Double Traveling Time Step - 8&1&2&3&4 5&6&7& - shuffle step SHUFFLE BALL CHANGE BALL CHANGE hop FLAP shuffle step (some people start it with the hop)

Triple Traveling Time Step - 8&1&2&3&4 5&a6&7& - shuffle step SHUFFLE BALL CHANGE BALL CHANGE hop SHUFFLE STEP shuffle step (some people start it with the hop)

Quadruple Traveling Time Step - 8&1&2&3&4 5e&a6&7& - shuffle step SHUFFLE BALL CHANGE BALL CHANGE hop SHUFFLE STEP HEEL shuffle step (some people start it with the hop)

Crossing Wing - &a1 - start on the balls of the feet with feet together, scrape both feet outwards and into the air, then spank both feet inwards at the same time and land on the balls of the feet with your feet crossed

Single Wing (One Foot Wing) - &a1 - start on the ball of one foot, scrape your foot outwards and into the air, then spank it in and land on the ball of the foot

OPTIONAL STEPS

Backwards Cramp Roll - 1&a2 - dig DIG toe TOE

Cramprolet - 1&a - jump heel HEEL

Cramp Roll Time Step - 8 1 2&a3 a - stomp HOP cramp roll step

Criss Cross Cramp Roll - 1&a2 - step DIG heel TOE

Dig Slide  - 1 - run or push off of one leg and allow your feet to glide along the floor without leaving the floor and the front foot should have the back edge of the heel touching the floor during the glide

Flap Step Ball Change - &a1 & 2 - brush step STEP step STEP

Heel Grind Time Step - 8&a1&2&3 4&a5&6&7, 8&a1&2&3&4&5&6&7 - hop SHUFFLE STEP dig STEP spank step, hop SHUFFLE STEP dig STEP spank step, hop SHUFFLE STEP dig STEP spank step, shuffle ball change flap ball change

Hop Scuffle - 1&a - hop DIG SPANK

Maxie Ford Clunk - 1e&a2 - step SHUFFLE STEP clunk (clunk crosses in back)

Penguin - &a1 - brush spank dig (put your weight on the dig)

Scap - &1 or a1 - scuff step

Scuff Dig Toe - &a1 - scuff dig toe

Scuffle Dig Toe - e&a1 - dig spank dig toe

Scuffle Step Turn - 1&a2&a - dig spank step DIG SPANK STEP (turning)

Single Heel Stand Turn - 1 - jump up onto the back edge of one heel tap (turning)

Single Toe Stand (One Foot Toe Stand) - 1 - "jump" up to the tip toe of one foot and balance on it

Single Toe Stand Turn - 1 - "jump" up to the tip toe of one foot and balance on it (turning)

Spank Toe Step - &a1 - spank toe step

Spots - &1&2 - spank HOP toe step

Stamp Roll - 1&a2 - stamp STEP heel HEEL

JUMP TO:  Top  1  2  3  4  5  6  7

LEVEL 5 (essential steps in teaching order, optional in alphabetical)

ESSENTIAL STEPS

Shuffle Dig Toe - e&a1 or a1 a2 - brush spank dig toe

Shuffle Toe Step - &1&2 or e&a1 - brush spank toe step

Riffle Step Heel - a1&a2 or e&a*1 - touch dig spank step heel or brush dig spank step heel

Double Buffalo Toe - a1e&a2 - (cross foot in front) flap SHUFFLE TOE STEP

Double Flap Cramp Roll - a1e&a2 - flap FLAP heel HEEL

Triple Double Cramp Roll - &a1e&a2 - shuffle step FLAP heel HEEL

Irish Pullback Flap - a1e&a2 - shuffle SINGLE-PULLBACK flap

Irish Pullback Flap Heel - &a1e&a2 - shuffle SINGLE-PULLBACK flap heel

Maxie Ford Toe - 1e&a*2 - step SHUFFLE TOE STEP toe (last toe crosses in back)

Double Maxie Ford Toe - a1e&a*2 - flap SHUFFLE TOE STEP toe

Buffalo Pullback - 1e&a2 - (cross foot in front) step (leap) SHUFFLE switching pullback

Double Heel Stand - 1&a2 or &a*1 - dig DIG step STEP (group sounds tightly together)

Shiggy Bop (Shovel, Heel Slide) - &a1 - with your weight on one foot scuff that foot forward, dig, STEP

Crossing Drawback - &a1 - spank HEEL step (cross over the left foot)

Double Drawback - &1&2 or a1 a2 - spank HEEL flap

Triple Drawback - a1&a2 - spank HEEL shuffle step

Scuff Heel Step - &a1 - scuff HEEL step

Switching Pullback Toe - &a1 - start on one foot, push off the floor into the air and as your foot leaves the floor do a spank then STEP on the other foot, toe

Treadmill - &a1 - brush SWITCHING-PULLBACK

Pullback Toe - &a1 - pull both feet into the air, hit both toes at the same time, land on both feet at the same time

Dwing - 1e& - dig/WING

Swing - 1e& - step/WING

Twing - 1e& - step/WING

Single Wing Toe - e&a1 - start on the ball of one foot, scrape your foot outwards and into the air, then spank it in and land on the ball of the foot, TOE

Double Wing (Separated, Staggered, Alternating) - &a***1 - start on the balls of the feet with feet together, scrape both feet outwards and into the air - one before the other, then spank both feet inwards - one before the other, then land on the balls of the feet - one before the other

Switching Wing - &a1 - start on the ball of one foot, scrape your foot outwards and into the air, then spank it in and land on the ball of the other foot

Traveling Pendulum Shuffle - &a1&a2 - brush spank TOE brush spank HEEL

Shuffle Flap - &1&2 or e&a1 - brush spank brush step

Shuffle Toe Toe Step - a1&a2 - brush spank toe TOE step

OPTIONAL STEPS

Alexander Clunk - &1&2&3&4 or a1 a2 a3 a4 - flap HEEL heel SPANK heel CLUNK heel

Backwards Wing - &a1 - start on the balls of the feet with feet apart, scrape both feet inwards and into the air allowing one foot to cross in front of the other, then brush both feet outwards at the same time and land on the balls of the feet with your feet apart

Click Buffalo - 1e&a2 - (cross foot in front) step (leap) SHUFFLE click-left-toe-tap-to-right-heel-tap STEP

Double Cincinnati - &1&2&a3 or &a1e&a2 - spank HEEL shuffle HEEL flap

Drawback Heel - &1&2 - spank HEEL step heel

Dub Dub Dig Toe - 1&2& - dig TOE dig toe

Heelo - 1&a - heel HEEL toe/STEP (traveling right, toe and STEP are at the same time)

Jordan Pullback - 1e&a2 - pull PULL step heel STEP

Jumper - 1 2&3 - jump-out hop heel STEP (cross behind) (travel to the right)

Lopsided Cramp Roll - 1&a2 - step STEP heel heel

Maddie Mill - 1&a - clunk SWITCHING-PULLBACK

Radiohead - &a1 - scuff SINGLE-TOE-STAND step

Rod Roll - 1&a2 - step STEP HEEL step or step STEP HEEL stamp

Scuffaloeo - 1&a2&a - dig spank step DIG TOE step

Scuffle Toe Slap Heel - &a1&a2 - dig spank TOE brush touch HEEL

Shayberbom - 1&a - step SCUFF SMACK (STEP)

Shuffle Ball Change Heel - a1&a2 - brush spank step STEP HEEL

Spat - &a*1 - spank single-toe-stand FLAP

Spear - &a1 - toe HOP HEEL

Spiel - 1&a - dig SPANK toe

Toe Stand Shuffle Step - &a1 - brush spank toe (stand)

Tori - 1&a - jump-together HEEL touch-out-to the-side

Twister - 1&a2 - HOP shuffle step/DIG (do the step and DIG at the same time)

JUMP TO:  Top  1  2  3  4  5  6  7

LEVEL 6 (essential steps in teaching order, optional in alphabetical)

ESSENTIAL STEPS

Shuffle Dig Step Shuffle Toe Step - &1&2&3&4 - brush spank toe STEP brush spank dig STEP

Shuffle Toe Pullback Ball Change - a1e&a2 - brush spank toe SWITCHING-PULLBACK STEP

Double Toe Buffalo - a1e&a*2 - (cross foot in front) flap SHUFFLE TOE toe STEP

Double Buffalo Toe Pullback - a1e&a*2 - (cross foot in front ) flap SHUFFLE TOE

Riffle Cramp Roll - &a1e&a2 - riffle step STEP heel HEEL

Irish Shiggy Bop (Irish Shovel) - a1&a2 - shuffle SCUFF DIG step

Irish Wing - a1e&a2 - shuffle SINGLE-WING step

Double Maxie Ford Toe Pullback - a1e&a**2 - flap SHUFFLE TOE switching-pullback toe

Double Toe Maxie Ford - a1e&a**2 - flap SHUFFLE TOE toe STEP toe

Double Waltz Clog Toe Pullback - a1e&a**2 - flap SHUFFLE TOE switching-pullback step

Hop Riffle - 1e&a - hop RIFF SPANK

Pendulum Riffle - &a1&a2 - touch (or brush) dig spank (cross other foot), touch (or brush) dig spank (uncross)

Riffle Dig Toe - a1&a2 or e&a*1 - touch dig spank dig toe or brush dig spank dig toe

Bombershay Toe - 1e&a - step SPANK DIG TOE

Shuffle Pullback Heel - e&a*1 - brush spank SWITCHING-PULLBACK heel

Flam - *1 - do a step followed by a heel with hardly any space between them

Hoofer’s Shuffle - &a1 - hit the outside of the ball tap, straighten the leg for a split second and let the ball tap brush a tiny bit to the side, tap the ball tap in place or slightly to the other side

Shuffle Heel Step - e&a1 - brush spank HEEL step

Double Pullback Toe - 1e&a*2 or &a***1 - pull PULL toe TOE step STEP

Switching Pullback Flap - &a1 - start on one foot, push off the floor into the air and as your foot leaves the floor do a spank then FLAP on the other foot

Single Wing Heel Toe - 1e&a2 - start on the ball of one foot, scrape your foot outwards and into the air, then spank it in and land on the ball of the foot, heel, TOE

Switching Wing Toe - &a*1 - start on the ball of one foot, scrape your foot outwards and into the air, then spank it in and land on the ball of the other foot, toe

Wing Toe - &a*1 - start on the balls of the feet with feet together, scrape both feet outwards and into the air, then spank both feet inwards at the same time, hit the toes of both feet and land on the balls of the feet with your feet together

Same Side Wing - &a1 - start on the balls of the feet with feet together, scrape both feet outwards and into the air towards one side, then spank both feet inwards at the same time and land on the balls of the feet with your feet together

OPTIONAL STEPS

Annalisa's 8-beat Riff Walk - e&a1e&a2 - touch scuff HEEL dig toe SPANK STEP stamp or brush scuff HEEL dig toe SPANK STEP stamp

Bam Bam - &a1 - stamp SCUFF jump-out

Blur - 1&a2&a3 - step SHUFFLE STEP scuff dig toe

Clapull - &a1 - pull both feet into the air, clap, land both feet on the floor at the same time

Clunker - 1&a2&a - clunk HEEL TOE smack (step) HEEL heel

Ditto - 1&2&3& - dig TOE spank TOE dig toe

Dodo - 1 2 - HOP/toe (both at the same time), HEEL/toe (both at the same time)

Drawbershay - 1e&a - step SPANK heel DIG

Farmer - 1 a2 - heel stand, spank STAMP

Flabbergast - a1&a2 - brush step DIG heel STEP

Hit - 1 - HEEL/step (at the same time)

Jackhammer - &1&2 - spank stamp SPANK DIG

Jimmy - &a1 & 2 - scuff dig CHUG/drag-right-dig-out-to-side step STEP

Jinnyshay - a1e&a2e - spank step SPANK DIG stamp SPANK DIG

Megamines Cramp Roll - &a1e&a2 - riff HEEL dig DIG toe TOE

Nicaela Quick - a1e&a2 - spank TOE touch dig toe STAMP

Rise - 1e&a*2 - pull toe step FLAP stamp

Scopper - 1e&a2 - dig spank DIG step STEP

Scout - 1&a2 - scuffle scuff jump-out

Scuffit - 1e&a - dig spank scuff step

Scuffout - 1&a2&a3 - dig spank HEEL scuff HEEL TOE smack (step)

Shay Roll - a1&a2 - spank dig HEEL toe TOE

Shuffle Heel Step Heel - a1&a2 - brush spank HEEL step heel  

Shunk - &a1 - brush spank clunk/STEP (do the clunk and step at the same time)

Skunk - &a*1 - scuff, hit the inside of the toe tap, hit the inside of the heel tap, HEEL

Spackle - 1e&a2 - spank toe DIG TOE smack (step)

Squiggly Wiggly - 1e&a*2 - dig spank toe DIG step STEP

Steel - 1e&a2 - dig spank scuff dig toe

Stephunky - 1&a2 & - step SPANK heel TOE toe

Sugar Bop - a1&a2 - spank dig (turn foot inward) TOE toe (turn outward) STEP

Swiffle (Tessa Backdraw) - 1&2&3& - spank HEEL toe HEEL step heel

Toto - 1&a2&a3 - toe SINGLE-PULLBACK toe HOP HEEL smack (step)

Tucker - 1e&a2 - step SHUFFLE pull jump

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LEVEL 7 (essential steps in teaching order, optional in alphabetical)

ESSENTIAL STEPS

Hop Shuffle Hop Scuffle Hop Riffle Hop Stomp Spank - 1&a2&a3e&a4&a - hop RIFF SPANK hop DIG SPANK hop BRUSH SPANK hop STOMP SPANK

Step Riff Brush Heel - 1e&a2 - step TOUCH DIG BRUSH heel or step BRUSH DIG BRUSH heel

Toe Dig Bombershay - 1&a2&a - toe SPANK DIG dig SPANK DIG

Drawback Flam - &a*1 - spank HEEL flam

Switching Pullback Flap Heel Toe - &a**1 - start on one foot, push off the floor into the air and as your foot leaves the floor do a spank then FLAP HEEL on the other foot, toe

Treadmill Heel - e&a1 - brush SWITCHING-PULLBACK heel

Buffalo Wing - 1e&a*2 - (cross foot in front) step (leap) SHUFFLE switching wing

Maxie Ford Wing - 1e&a**2 - step SHUFFLE switching-wing STEP toe (toe crosses in back)

Double Waltz Clog Wing - a1e&a**2 - flap SHUFFLE switching-wing step

Frap - &a1 - touch (brush if traveling) dig (scuff if traveling) step

Frap Cramp Roll (NOT flap) - a&1&a2 - frap (riff step) STEP heel HEEL

Scuffle Pullback - e&a1 - dig spank SWITCHING-PULLBACK

Buffalo Scuffle - 1e&a*2 - (cross foot in front) step (leap) SHUFFLE scuffle STEP

switching pullback

Irish Pullback Heel Flap Heel - &a1e&a*2 - shuffle SINGLE-PULLBACK HEEL flap heel

Single Pullback Toe - &a1 - pull toe step

Irish Pullback Toe Flap - &a1e&a2 - shuffle SINGLE-PULLBACK-TOE flap

Hot Toe - 1e&a***2 - step SHUFFLE TOE scuffle STEP toe (last toe crosses in back)

Waltz Clog Scuffle - 1e&a**2 - step SHUFFLE scuffle STEP step

Scuff Front - a1 - scuff both feet at the same time then land on the balls of both feet at the same time

Double Scuff Front - 1e&a or &a*1 - scuff SCUFF step STEP

Frapback - &1&a2 - spank HEEL frap

Cincinnati Flam - &1&2&3 or &a1&a2 - spank HEEL shuffle HEEL flam

Joe Toe Pull - 1e&a*2 - pull PULL toe step heel STEP

Pullback Dig Toe - &a1 - pull both feet into the air, land on the back edge of both heels at the same time, drop both toes at the same time

3 Sound Pullback - &a1 - pull both feet into the air, tap your toe taps on the floor while in the air, land on the balls of the feet

Pullback Shuffle Step - 1&a2 - pull both feet into the air, shuffle both feet at the the same time while in the air, land on both feet at the same time

Single Pullback Opposite Toe - &a1 - pull TOE step

Switching Toe Pullback - &a1 - start on one foot, push off the floor into the air and as your foot leaves the floor do a spank, toe, then STEP on the other foot

Pendulum Wing - &a1 - BRUSH single-wing, SPANK single-wing

Scissor Wing - &a1 - start on the balls of the feet with one foot in front of the other, scrape the front foot backwards and into the air while at the same time scraping the back foot forwards and into the air, then spank the foot in front and brush the foot in back at the same time and land where you started

Five Count Wing - 1e&a2 - start on the balls of the feet, scrape your feet outwards and into the air, then spank them in, then brush them out again, then spank them in again, then land on the balls of the feet

Five Count Single Wing - BONUS STEP - 1e&a2 - scrape the outer edge of one ball tap outwards and into the air, then spank it in, then brush it out again, then spank it in again, then land on the ball of the foot

Heel Flam - 1 - drop one heel just slightly before the other

Jump Flam - 1 - propel yourself into the air and land so that the ball of one foot hits the floor just slightly before the other foot

OPTIONAL STEPS

Baloney - 1e&a2 - pull PULL step heel TOE

Brittanyshay - 1e&a2 - step SPANK TOE step DIG

Broken Riff - 1e&a**2 - riffle HEEL hit-outside-of-toe-tap hit-outside-of-heel-tap HEEL

Clickety Clank - 1&a2&a3 - step SHUFFLE click STEP HEEL clunk

Click Pullback- BONUS STEP - - &a1 - pull both feet into the air, click the inside of each foot together, land both feet on the floor at the same time

Click Wing - &a*1 - start on the balls of the feet with feet together, scrape both feet outwards and into the air, then spank both feet inwards at the same time and click them together in the air, then land on the balls of the feet with your feet apart

Drawman - &a1 - spank HEEL step/TOE (at the same time)

Faluffalo - BONUS STEP - a1e&a**2 - (cross foot in front) flap SHUFFLE single-pullback-end-with-a-flap FLAP

Maddalo - BONUS STEP - 1e&a*2 - (cross foot in front) step SHUFFLE pullback-to-toe STEP

Riff Raff - 1e&*2&a*3 - HEEL riffle HEEL riff TOE step

Rooster - &a**1&2 - hoofer’s shuffle HOP HEEL step heel

Rorymeister - 1&a2&a - stamp TOE TOE toe step STEP

Ruffle - 1e&a**2 - touch dig spank toe STEP HEEL smack (step) or brush dig spank toe STEP HEEL smack (step)

Sh-sh-sh-shuffle - BONUS STEP - 1e&a2e&a3 - STEP shuffle (as you shuffle push off the left foot into the air) shuffle shuffle (while in the air - yeah I know) step STEP

Sloppy Joe - 1&a2&a3 - dig DIG spank TOE dig toe STAMP

Teeler - BONUS STEP - 1e&a***2 - pull PULL toe TOE dig DIG step STEP

Toe Stand Wing - &a1 - start on your toes with feet together, scrape both toes outwards and into the air, then spank both toes inwards at the same time, then land on your toes with your feet together

Toro - 1&2 - stomp scuff smack (step)

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NOTES

This tap dance syllabus is designed to give you a rough idea of what level each of these steps can be taught at. Like any syllabus, it is flexible. Some classes move very quickly and others more slowly. Also, I doubt anyone will get to each step in every level. I know I certainly don't. I try to hit the important ones and the rest are optional if I get around to them.

Charismatic and free dance step

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In the Palace of Pioneers and Schoolchildren named after N.K. Krupskaya, admission to the creative association "School of Russian tap dancing and American tap dance (tapdance)" is announced. School-age children and adults are welcome. Classes are taught by laureates and diploma winners of the competition of humor and variety artists (Moscow), finalists of the Minute of Glory project Alexander Novikov and Lyubov Kamysheva.

The curriculum at the School is aimed at familiarizing with the art of step dance from classical performance to modern improvisation. Depending on the age and personal interest of students, different levels of mastering the program are provided: general cultural and professionally oriented. Students are supposed to participate in city and regional holidays, presentations, festivals.

The program is implemented as part of paid educational services (on an extrabudgetary basis).

Interesting and important about the step

Foot dance has several names: tap dance, step, jig. Connoisseurs say that the true ancestors of tap dance are Irish jig and African dances with their characteristic syncopated rhythm, sliding and shuffling movements. Tap is a charismatic and free dance. Tap rhythms are very musical and very contagious! Hearing them, I want to jump up and tap something on my own. And this turns out to be difficult. Tapdance is quite complicated. Even simple elements are not obtained immediately. It is not enough to make the movement technically correct. You also need to do it very quickly and so that the heels clearly beat the rhythm. It will take a lot of effort to master it, but the result will pleasantly surprise you!

Tap dancers are not only dancers, but also musicians, where the musical instrument is the legs. Tapdance is a way of self-expression. Like jazz musicians in improvisation, dancers tap out the rhythm that their mood, heartbeat and rhythms of life tell them.

Step classes are useful for all dancers, regardless of direction. And not for the sake of interest or broadening my horizons, but to replenish my dance base. It can be "shifted" to any modern style: R&B or hip-hop. In tap dance, you can “play” with your feet any rhythm you like. The qualities that a tap dancer needs to have are a good sense of rhythm and coordination of movements. This develops musicality and harmonious plasticity, brings up lightness, ease, naturalness of movements. It is a great way to improve coordination, stimulate the heart and strengthen the whole body as a whole. According to the professionals of the American Center for Physical Exercise, step dancing is completely safe and does not harm the human body, and absolutely everyone, regardless of age, height, weight and physical fitness. Therefore, we can say with confidence that everyone can enjoy tap dancing, enjoy every moment of the dance and not be afraid of unpleasant consequences. Tap dancing is an excellent workout that develops a sense of balance and the ability to keep the balance of the body, control your own movements. And it is also a good option for a cardio warm-up, an alternative to aerobics, a treadmill or an exercise bike. So tap dancing can also be recommended to those who want to lose weight and at the same time get a considerable charge of positive emotions. After all, unlike running on a track and regular aerobics, step is not only useful, but also fun and interesting!

If you have any questions, please contact the teacher Lyubov Aleksandrovna Kamysheva

(contact tel. 89049705960)

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Sport Irish step. Classes in Nizhny Novgorod

Irish solo dances in hard shoes (eng. hardshoe dances, hard) is one of the directions in sports Irish dances. The world famous Irish step (tap dance), without which no Irish dance show can do.

Tap - spectacular dance and music

This style of Irish dance became popular thanks to the world-famous dance shows Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. Hard is one of the most complex and spectacular varieties of tap dance, in which the dancer not only plastically realizes the sounding music, but also directly participates in the creation of its rhythm and melody. Hard is performed in shoes with sonorous heels and heels made of special materials.

Irish step training in Nizhny Novgorod

Real Irish step in Nizhny Novgorod will be taught at the Kelty School. Kelty provides training in all areas of sports Irish dances. Traditionally, novice dancers first master the basics of sports dancing in soft shoes, and only when their legs are strong enough, they begin to learn technically more complex dances in hard shoes (in stepovkas). Dancers with a good dance or athletic background and a strong desire to learn Irish step can take up hard almost immediately, combining training with soft shoes.

Classical Irish Hard Shoe Dances are danced to tunes and time signatures such as

  • jig (jig),
  • reel,
  • hornpipe (hornpipe),
  • various traditional sets.

In competition, it's classical Irish music. Kelty's dance performances also use any type of contemporary music.

Sports step for children and adults

Solo dances in hard shoes are successfully practiced by dancers of various ages: from children 6-7 years old to their grandparents. All dancers have different physical abilities. But according to our experience, after a year of hard training, every dancer can adequately perform at international Irish dance competitions in Moscow, St. Petersburg and many other cities. For several times official competitions in Irish dancing have been held in Nizhny Novgorod.

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