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Tap dance started over 200 years ago in the United States. Today, you can find Tap Dancers all over the world. You can see them perform on TV, stage, in movies, or even in the studio. | |
| Tap dance is a blend of European and African dance styles. English and Irish dances, such as jigs clogs, and step dances, give tap its basic technique. It was popular in vaudeville in the first part of the 20th century (1900-1940). |
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These shows were held
in theaters. The shows were made up of short comedy skits, songs, and
dances.
This style of dance is different because tap dancing is making music with your feet. How do they make music with their feet? They wear special shoes. These shoes have metal taps on the heels and toes. Tap dancers strike the floor in different ways to make different pitched sounds. |
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| A good pair of tap shoes is very important to tap dancers. Sturdy oxfords with taps are the best kind of shoes for beginners. These shoes provide good balance and good sound. Women who perform tap in chorus dancing sometimes has to wear high-heeled tap shoes. If you are in a musical, the shoes you wear is determined by your costume. |
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| You need to wear clothes that allow you to move easily when you tap dance. Some tap dance teachers may require that you wear a leotard and tights. Sweatpants and T-Shirts also work well for tap. If you wear pants, you must make sure that they do not over your shoes. If the pants are to long, you will step on them and muffle the sounds your taps make. | ||
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All dancers start by warming up. The purpose of the warm-up is to get the blood moving through the muscles. In the warm-up, you use many basic tap steps. The warm-up is done to music that has a moderate speed or tempo. | |
| Its a great way to exercise. You have to be in good physical shape to do it well, so it makes you fit. Tap helps with concentration because concentration plays an important part in tap. It also helps you understand music because when dancers put their taps on they become musicians too. Lastly, its fun. |
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