JINPARN 1

Laura Jinparn

Julia Johnson-Thick

Tap III

December 1, 2014

Origins of Tap

Tap developed from a mixture of clog and step dancing with West African

dancing and drumming. Slaves in the southern United States were attracted to

the rapid toe and heel action from Irish jig. They integrated West African step

dances like “Juba” dances and “Ring Shouts” into different European percussion

dances. The African dance styles became more formal while the European

elements became more fluid and rhythmic. As a result, American tap was born.

William Henry Lane was born a free man in 1825. He was a well-known

dancer in New York City when he was just a teenager. Lane was known for

integrating rhythmically complex dancing into his superb Irish jig and clog

dancing. In 1840 to 1890, Minstrel shows became the most popular form of

American entertainment. The shows were made up of a variety of jokes, songs,

dances, and music. Later, Barney Fagan became known as the “Father of Tap” in

the Minstrel shows. In the 1920’s to the 1930’s, black dance teams became very

popular for their acrobatic and satirical acts.

 JINPARN 2

The term “Tap” became popular in about 1902. In the late 19th century,

two tap techniques emerged: a fast style in wooden-soled shoes (also known as

Buck-and-Wing) and Soft Shoe, a smooth, leather-sole style. By the 1920’s, metal

plates were added to the soles and the bottom of the heels. John Bubbles

popularized a slower, more syncopated style of Tap dance. Popular dance teams

were Slap and Happy (Harold Daniels and Leslie Irvin) and Stump and Stumpy

(James Cross and Harold Cromer). Jazz contributed greatly to the rhythmic

complexity of tap, and Bill “Bonjangles” Robinson became America’s most

famous Tap dancer.

Tap dancing was further expanded in the 1930’s, 1940’s, and 1950’s.

Popular dancers who revolutionized the tap style were Fred Astaire, Paul

Draper, Ray Bolger, and Gene Kelly. Gene Kelly added ballet and modern dance

movements to the tap style. With the death of vaudeville during the 1930’s,

performers turned to tap dancing with dangerous acrobatics. The Nicholas

Brothers, Harold and Favard Nicholas, were the most respected Tap performers

who used flash tap dancing. Flash tap was a style of tap dancing that

incorporated incredible tricks into regular tap moves. For the next decades, tap

dancing popularity was increasing. In the 1989, Congress made May 25th

National Tap Dance Day. Today, Tap continues to evolve into a variety of

different styles. Tap dancing is finally being recognized as a form of dynamic art

with a range of diverse individual styles.