Tap dance is taught at studios across America, and this lively, rhythmic movement style dates back to the 17th century. Use the guide below if you want to start taking lessons and are curious about the history of tap.

Origins

In the 1700s, British and West African people living side-by-side in the American south gradually merged two of their folk dances into early tap. Since the Irish jig and the African spiritual movements, known as juba or gioube, both involved rhythmic stomping and slapping, they began trading steps and building on each other.

Neither form had strict steps or codified movements. Instead, they encouraged creativity and were focused on building a community among poor, often ostracized people groups.

Growing Popularity

By the 1800s, popular traveling minstrel shows began relying on tap to help them tell stories and entertain their audiences. They used hard-soled shoes or hobnailed boots to create the sounds that punctuated their movements. The dancers began attaching metal taps to the heels and toes of their shoes in the late 1920s.

Tap gained popularity, and people started holding competitions where the contestants' steps were observed, mimicked, and reinvented. This kept the art dynamic and forced students to become skilled at quick copycatting.

With the arrival of film, movie stars, such as Shirley Temple and Fred Astaire, started to spread the style’s fame as they combined tap moves with better-known ballet and ballroom steps. A lull in popularity in the 1950s was quickly followed by a resurging interest in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

Today’s Tap Dance

The bold, attention-grabbing art of tap is celebrated on May 25 every year with a national holiday. Teachers and students acknowledge its complex history and honor the people who created, honed, loved, and preserved this art. Tap encourages every dancer to showcase their individual style and character, so it's likely to remain a popular movement for many years.

If you’re interested in learning more about tap dance, reach out to Kick It Up Dance in Long Beach, CA. This studio provides a fun learning environment for dancers of all ages, including little ones as young as 3. They're now offering virtual lessons in addition to their in-person classes, making it easy to learn remotely from home. Learn more about their classes online, or call (562) 430-1812 to start the enrollment process.