The history of tap dancing: where it started, where has it come and what the future looks like

Tap dance is a unique form of art expression, counting on the melodic sounds of the dancer’s shoes hitting the floor as they execute each movement. The sound, made by the metal on a tap shoe’s toe and heel, can be heard differently depending on the style or brand of shoe, but the main theme throughout this entire class of dance is the rhythm of the tapping alongside the movements of the dancer.

Tap dancing is thought to have originated in the 1800s, influenced by traditional English and Irish dancing, and became popular in the United States as part of vaudeville entertainment. These shows were theatrical entertainment shows that put together a variety of separate acts and scenes in one sitting, allowing the audience to experience a multitude of dancing and singing. A popular tap routine during vaudeville shows in the 1900s was the Shim Sham, which involved a shuffle step without lifting the feet.

There are two main forms of tap, known as Broadway tap and rhythm/jazz tap. Broadway is the style you’re most likely to see during live theatre, focusing heavily on movement and dance. 42^nd Street, Billy Elliot and Singin’ in the Rain are some of the world’s most popular stage musicals that incorporate tap dancing into their shows.

Rhythm/jazz tap is different, concentrating more on music and its place in the history of Jazz culture. This style came from Jazz clubs during the 1940s.

Outside of musicals, tap is regularly performed a cappella, and the performance relies on the sound of the metal shoes hitting the floor. The Hoofer style of tap makes sole use of the feet, and little movement in the hands or arms. Show tap, on the other hand, makes full use of the arms, and is more likely to be used in stage productions.

By the 1930s, tap dancing was synced with Lindy Hop, an American dance trend out of New York City that infused jazz dance and swing.

National Tap Dance Day is celebrated annually on May 25 in the U.S. This date is the birthday of one of history’s most loved tap dancers, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, who rose to fame in the tap dance industry during the early 1900s.

Along with Bojangles, other famous tap dancers include Fred Astaire, Master Juba, John W. Bubbles and Sammy Davis Jr.

Tap remains a popular form of dance today, and is still taught at dance schools across the world. There’s even an indie-pop brand from Nebraska, known as Tilly and the Wall, who use a tap dancer in place of a drummer.

While tap dancing took a hit during the 1950’s and ‘60s as rock’n’roll music took over, it’s taken its place in the dance industry as a classic technique, and is still a part of many musicals, shows and dance competitions all over the globe. People love to dance tap as it differs from other disciplines, allowing the performer to make an impact on their audience with the rhythm and beat of their shoes.