hello@liveloveperform.co.uk
- Posted Monday, 16 January 2023
- By Natalie, Founder & Director
Hopefully by now you know of our new ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) Tap classes in Buckland. But do you know much about tap?
Our tap classes, like most of our classes, are aimed at ages 4+ and are a gentle introduction to the world of tap dance.
Tap originated in America in the late 19th century, with African and Irish influences. The syncopated rhythms of tap paired well with the sounds of jazz music and this soon became the most common accompaniment to the dance style.
Today, the most popular styles of tap are Jazz/Rhythm Tap and Broadway Tap - Broadway Tap being the style you see in musicals such as ‘Anything Goes’ and ‘42nd Street’. Some of the great Hollywood tap dancers include Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, The Nicholas Brothers and Gene Kelly.
In more recent years, Rhythm Tap has become more influential, with the focus on creating unusual, exciting rhythms and moving your feet quickly. Companies such as ‘Tap Attack’ keep this incredible dance style current today, and encourage young people to excel in the various elements of tap.
Copyright Clare HalseTap is a lot of fun. When tap dancers look like they’re having a fantastic time, it’s because they are!
Tap dancers are very passionate, most likely because as a style, tap is very relaxed and enjoyable. Of course it takes commitment and stamina but you’ll be sure to leave your class feeling fulfilled.
Like any dance class, in order to learn, you need to concentrate and, therefore, your focus is on your feet hitting those steps and not on any other stressors in your life. Tap provides an excellent opportunity for self-expression, as well as building confidence, creativity and musicality.
We are excited to have our ISTD teacher, Megan with us and we’re delighted to introduce this new style of dance to Live Love Perform!
