Tap Dance

dance · music · rhythm

Metal plate shoes. Tap shoes have metal plates on the bottom of the heels and toes that create sharp clicking and tapping sounds when they hit the floor. These metal plates turn a dancer's feet into percussion instruments.

Feet make music. In tap dance, the sounds from the shoes are just as important as the dance moves themselves. Dancers can perform with no other music at all, letting the rhythm of their taps be the only sound.

Fast footwork. Tap dancers create intricate rhythmic patterns by moving their feet quickly and skillfully. The faster they move and the more complex their steps, the more interesting and musical the sounds become.

Stage favorite. Tap dance became popular in American theaters and musicals because audiences loved watching and hearing the performers create music with their whole bodies.