history and origins of tap dance?

Question

i have been asked to write a 500 word essay on the history and origins of tap anyone got any advice on where to look, or just anything that i can work from for this essay.

Answer 1

The American style of rhythmic foot stomping known as tap dance was born in the United States during the 19th century, and today is popular all around the world. The name comes from the tapping sound made when the small metal plates on the dancer's shoes touch a hard floor. This lively, rhythmic tapping makes the performer not just a dancer, but also a percussive musician.

Answer 2

There have been alot of theorys but the truth is that it actualy originated from Irish dance. Though some believe it is from the traditional sweedish clog dancing it actually derives from an evolved version of Irish Dance. That is why there are so many similarieties found between Irish Dancers of today (Riverdance, LOTD) and tap dancers. The main difference is the way the feet face and the upper body. In tap the upper body is highly free but in traditional irish it remains still to show a dancers ability to control ones body. Also if you were to compare an Irish Dancers tap shoes (known as hard shoes) they are strikingly similar to that of tap. If you were to compare and contrast tap with Irish Dance you will see many similarites and will also see how one has evolved from the other

Answer 3

Look uip Clog Dancing.This originated in Europe omongst working people who wore wooden soled leather shoes"Clogs".
They emigrated to America where it was performed at parties sometimes on a wooden board.
Over time this style was adopted and modified incorporating african styles and moves by Black Americans for Minstrel and Vaudeville shows, then further refined in the 20's and 30's in Harlem,New York.Look up "The Cotton Club"or "Duke Ellington".

Answer 4

The librabrary and the internet will be full of useful tools. Start by looking at bio's maybe of choreographing and teaching greats like Martha Graham or Bob Fosse or Gregory Hines. Go to a local dance school and talk with the dancers...
It is a marvelous subject...

Answer 5

Have you ever seen Jumpin' Jack Flash entertaining the queues outside the cinema at Leicester Square? Cigarette in his mouth, looking bored as hell, but his feet are making a wonderful sound.
That's tap!

Answer 6

in the early days when cavemen learned to keep fire sometimes they let it burn down to the embers. and one morning in og's cave he stumbled into the embers and started jumpng around and slapping his feet no the ground. that waked the others and they started slapping their hands together right to the time of his romping and stomping. he became very popular. soon word got around what fun og was and he was invited to do his little dance in other caves. he was paid with tusks and meat and other riches. and later others watched and copied him and it spread around the world. people are still romping and stomping like og.

Answer 7

somebody, when the world was in black and white, had a stuck nail on the shoe, made some noises, started dancing , and thats that

Answer 8

Go to Harlem Street and ask our brothers there, and you will definitely get the right answer.

Answer 9

one place to start for general info would be old vaudeville in the USA

however, this may lead to another continent, not sure

Answer 10

have a look at this web site - http://www.tapdance.org/tap/referenc.htm