Tap Dancing One of the first original American

Tap Dancing “One of the first original American art forms”

Early Tap Dance ● Influences: Irish Dancing, British Clogging, African. American Ceremonies ● Shoes have aluminum plates on the heel and toe ● Starting in Five Points, NYC ● Master Juba - first tap dancer to dance shows ● 1900 s - appeared in films ● 30 s - 40 s started appearing on Broadway ● Traditional tap was forgotten for as an art form in favor of Broadway shows ● “Hoofers” are what traditional tap dancers call themselves

Gregory Hines ● 1946 - 2003 ● American tap dancer, choreographer, singer, and actor. ● Successful Broadway career. ● Responsible for promoting tap dancing and creating interest in the art form in the 1970 - 80 s. ● In this video, he demonstrates the “Shim -Sham”.

Modern Tap Dancing - Going Back to the Roots ● Tap dancing was originally about creating rhythms and individual expression (with or without outside music). ● It became popular in variety shows and on Broadway, losing some of it’s unique, expressive qualities and focusing on a choreographed group dance number. ● For a while, it fell out of popularity and the art form was almost forgotten. ● Modern Tap Dancers are returning to the expressive roots of the genre and adding other influences to create their own styles.

Savion Glover “The Man Who Saved Tap Dancing” ● Born in 1973 ● American tap dancer, actor, teacher, and choreographer ● Broadway debut at age of 12 ● Advocate of traditional style tap dancing - “hoofing” ● Helped revive the genre ● In 1992, Glover became the youngest ever recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant. ● Tony Award for Best Choreography, in addition to a Drama Desk Award.

Tap Dance Rebirth ● The Syncopated Ladies is a female tap dance group that gained popularity when they made a tribute video to Beyonce, and the singer saw it and promoted it online. ● Tap dance has long been a male-dominated genre of dance, so it is unusual for a female tap dance choreographer and her group to be well-known and celebrated. ● Thanks to The Syncopated Ladies, more young women are becoming interested in learning to tap dance. ● Chloe Arnold, choreographer: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=GEMdy. Br. SN 6 E