You must be wondering, with so many dance styles, like ballet, hip hop, street dance, jazz, ballroom, and more, what makes tap dance unique?
Is it the legendary tap masters like Bill Robinson and Fred Astaire who attract audiences? Or is it simply the infectious joy and rhythm tappers bring to their performances?
Tap dance is a popular, fast-paced percussive dance that became a staple in various performances and movies starting in the early 1930s.
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Without much ado, let's explore the rich history of tap dance in pop culture and the famous tap dancers with their iconic moves.
How Has Tap Dance Evolved Over Time?
The tap dancing history is rich. Tap dancing originated in America during the early 19th century. It emerged as a unique blend of Irish and African-American dance forms. When enslaved Africans were deprived of their traditional percussion instruments, they turned to the art of percussive dancing so they could express themselves and preserve cultural identities. This dance style blended with clog dance from the "British Isles" helped create a distinctive form of rhythm and movement. In the early days, tap dancers wore shoes with wooden soles, sometimes even attaching pennies to the heel and toe for added resonance.
Following the Civil War, tap dance gained popularity as an integral part of traveling minstrel shows.
The Evolution
The 20th century brought significant evolution to tap dance. It became a prominent feature of famous "Vaudeville variety shows" and played a crucial role in the cultural flourishing known as the "Harlem Renaissance." Tap dancers started working with 'jazz musicians,' infusing their movements with improvisation and intricate syncopated rhythms. This era also saw the widespread adoption of modern tap shoes featuring metal plates, often referred to as "taps," affixed to the heel and toe.
Despite the creative opportunities that Broadway and Vaudeville provided for African-American tap dancers, racial segregation persisted, with white and black performers often separated in their performances.
While tap dance's popularity waned in the latter half of the 20th century, it experienced a resurgence in the 1980s, thanks to Broadway tap dance productions such as "The Tap Dance Kid" and "42nd Street."
Tap Dance In Hollywood
From the 1930-1950s, tap dance songs and sequences became a staple of television and movies. Renowned tap dance movie stars like Shirley Temple – who made the 'film tap debut' at the tender age of six – and Gene Kelly – who kickstarted a balletic style to tap – became household names. Famous for seamlessly blending tap and ballroom dance, Fred Astaire insisted on capturing his dance scenes in a single take with a wide camera angle. This innovative cinematographic approach became the standard for capturing the magic of tap dancing in movies and television for decades to come.
What Role Does Tap Dance Have In the Pop Culture?
With its energetic and rhythmic style, tap dance has significantly influenced pop culture over the years, making it a popular choice in various forms of entertainment.
Here are a few examples of tap dance's presence in pop culture:
- Movies & Musicals: Tap dance has been a staple in many Hollywood movies and Broadway musicals. Iconic films like Singin' in the Rain, 42nd Street, and The Artist featured some of the best movie dance scenes. Musicals like "A Chorus Line" also incorporated tap as part of their choreography.
- Television: TV shows often feature tap dancing in various forms. For example, the popular American reality television dance competition show "So You Think You Can Dance" showcases tap dancers as contestants, and shows like "Glee" and "Smash" include tap dance routines in their episodes
- Animation: Animated films and TV shows also include tap dance. Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" featured a memorable scene with Lumière and Cogsworth tap dancing. In the TV series "SpongeBob SquarePants," the character Squidward is known for his tap-dancing skills.
- Music Videos: Many music videos incorporate tap dance into their choreography. Artists like Beyoncé ("Check On It") and Fred Astaire ("Puttin' On the Ritz") used tap dancing in their music videos.
- Commercials: Tap dance videos are often featured in commercials to promote various products and brands. These advertisements use the infectious rhythms of tap to create memorable and engaging content.
- Video Games: Some video games include tap dance as part of their gameplay or as a mini-game, introducing the art form to a younger generation
- Live Performances: Tap dancers and tap companies continue to perform in theaters and live shows around the world, keeping the art form alive and relevant
Tap dance remains a vibrant and influential part of pop culture, evolving and adapting to contemporary tastes while preserving its rich tradition and history.
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Who Are the Famous Tap Dancers and Their Iconic Tap Moves?
| Popular Tap Dancers | Iconic Moves/Contributions |
|---|---|
| Bill Robinson | Staircase dance with Shirley Temple in "The Little Colonel" (1935) |
| Fred Astaire | Innovative tap dance routines in classic Hollywood musicals like "Top Hat" (1935) and "Swing Time" (1936) |
| Gene Kelly | Athletic and energetic style of dance, known for "Singin' in the Rain" (1952) |
| Gregory Hines | Known for his smooth and improvisational style, iconic moves include the "soft shoe." |
| Nicholas Brothers | Acrobatic and gravity-defying dance routines, such as the "Jumpin' Jive" in "Stormy Weather" (1943) |
Tap dance has a rich and fascinating history, filled with creativity and innovation that predates Hollywood's rise. Most of these groundbreaking moments unfolded before the era of tap-dancing movies and were performed live in front of enthusiastic audiences. But as Hollywood entered its golden age of cinema, tap dance also enjoyed a remarkable creative peak. When these two worlds collided, tap dance became an unstoppable force in American culture and beyond. Dancers became actors, and actors had to hone their tap dancing skills to shine on the big screen.
Nevertheless, here are the five popular tap dancers and their iconic tap moves:
1. Bill Robinson
Bill Robinson started his dance journey in minstrel shows, breaking barriers as one of the first African-American tap dancers to perform without "blackface." Adapting to changing tastes, he transitioned to Broadway, vaudeville, Hollywood radio programs, and television. Robinson's most famous routine involved gracefully navigating a staircase, creating complex tap rhythms on each step.
2. Jeni Le Gon
Jeni Le Gon made history as one of the "first black women" to become a tap soloist in the early 20th century. She defied conventional practices by performing in pants instead of skirts. This helped her develop an athletic and acrobatic style that incorporated moves like flying splits and mule kicks – reminiscent of the male dancers of her time.
3. Gregory Hines
Born in 1946, Gregory Hines was a multifaceted talent: a tap dancer, actor, choreographer, and singer. He graced the screen in various notable works, including "Wolfen," "The Cotton Club," "Running Scared," "The Gregory Hines Show," and his memorable role as Ben on "Will & Grace."
Before Hines, tap dancing was declining, relegated to Las Vegas variety shows and occasional TV mentions. Hines breathed new life into the genre, infusing it with fresh innovations for a new generation of dance enthusiasts worldwide. He created attractive improvised tap rhythms, sounds, and steps, much like a skilled drummer, varying his steps based on the sounds produced.
4. Fayard & Harold Nicholas
Popularly called "The Nicholas Brothers," Fayard and Harold Nicholas were a dynamic duo celebrated for their unique dancing styles, including "flash dancing." Their exceptional talent and creativity helped earn them a reputation as the best tap dancers of their time.
Renowned choreographer 'George Balanchine' was so impressed by their skills that he invited them to perform in his Broadway production of "Babes in Arms." By 1991, the Nicholas Brothers had made 60 contributions to the tap-dancing community. Their distinctive style, characterized by flexibility, strength, and fearlessness, often led people to believe they were trained ballet dancers.
Believe it or not, tap dance's enduring appeal in pop culture is a testament to its timeless charm and versatility.
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5. Savion Glover
Born in 1973, Savion Glover is best known for his role in the Broadway hit "The Tap Dance Kid." Glover seamlessly blends classic moves influenced by his teacher' Gregory Hines' with his contemporary style. Not to mention, he won various 'Tony awards' for his Broadway tap dancing choreography.
In the world of tap dances, these artists and their iconic moves have left an incredible mark, even in today's pop culture.
Learn to Tap Dance With Superprof
From its humble beginnings to its pivotal role in Broadway, Hollywood, and contemporary dance, tap dance remains an art form that attracts audiences and inspires new generations of performers.
Want to learn how to tap dance? Dancing shows, old dance movies – especially tap dance movies – and YouTube tap dancing videos can help you cover everything from understanding your tap shoes to mastering basic steps and combining them into sequences.
But if you want to grasping tap dancing effectively and quickly, hire a private tap dance tutor from Superprof – one of the best online tutoring platforms in the US and beyond.
Their tutors can guide you not only through your learning journey and answer your questions but also help you solve any problems that come up. They can be your main source of dance education or provide advice between your regular classes.
Become the next Bill Robinson or Gregory Hines by watching tap shows and tap dance movies and hiring private tap dance tutors from Superprof!
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