There are many different forms of dance in this world. Today you are also able to watch many styles performed on several competition television shows such as "So You Think You Can Dance" or "Dancing with the Stars". If that creates excitement for you, it is never too late to learn to dance. You may have taken lessons as a child in ballet or modern dance but you can continue that instruction in your later years as well. Dancing is a great form of exercise that allows for a lot of fun. Tap dancing has an interesting history and is still very popular today. You can pick up a pair of adult tap shoes in Towson, MD, in your town, or online. Before you know it you will be dancing your heart out. History of Tap Dance Tap dancing is considered the most "American" of all dance types. Many cultures blended together to create the form of tap dancing you are familiar with today. Irish immigrants brought their clog dancing to America and it was eventually combined with African tribal dances, where feet were stomped to drum rhythms as well. In the 1880's this high energy and spirited form of dance was being performed on the Vaudeville stage. For 50 years, into the 1930's, these acts were very popular. There were mostly variety shows at this time and each act was independent of the others, so many dance numbers were preformed. Tap began in bare feet, just pounding out the rhythm on wood floors. Eventually metal taps were attached to shoes in the 1915's. This allowed the sound to be louder, and more complicated, and different rhythms could be heard. Tap didn't require much else; shoes alone could create the dance. There are some famous names that you can associate with tap dancing. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson is one of those. He started in small shows in Virginia and eventually moved to New York. That is where he challenged another dancer to a buck tap dancing contest that he won. That is all it took to get his career moving. He performed on Broadway and eventually made it to Hollywood to dance in movies in the mid 1930's. Shirley Temple danced with him in "America's Little Darling" and the two of them created a love for tap among many movie goers. Fred Astaire and his sister Adele also moved to New York and were trained in tap. They were a very successful pair until Adele retired and he started to dance with Ginger Rogers, and yes they tapped. In the 1950's Gene Kelley moved the style forward again as he added other dance moves to his tap routines. Tap Dancing Today Tap dancing is still popular today. You can take classes at many dance studios and there is no limit to the age of the students. It is a fun, fast paced, style of dancing. There is something so inviting about creating your own beat. Tap and Irish dancing have close roots and you have seen much success with shows such as "River Dance". If you watched closely a penguin in the movie "Happy Feet" was quite a tap dancer as well. Modern flamenco dancers also use foot and heal beats when performing. Styles and venues may change but the basics of this exciting dance have not. This is still an fast and vibrant form of dancing. If you want to try something new and fun pick up a pair of adult tap shoes in Towson, Md, or at a dance store near you. Then put on those shoes and dance!!
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