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

2. 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
1900s - appeared in films
30s - 40s 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

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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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: