Tap isn’t old-fashioned, but the way some instructors’ approach it, it seems to be. I think it’s time to say goodbye to classic tap numbers and amp up routines with new music and new formations while still staying true to tap’s form and traditions:
1. Amp Up the Music
Unlike ballet or jazz, tap has two musical components – the music itself and the sounds of each and every tap. A good routine understands the synergy that must exist between the two. To spice up and “amp up” your tap routine, try amping up your music choices.
Opt for musical selections that are fast and percussive. For an added touch of originality, try different non-traditional musical selections from around the world that you wouldn’t necessarily expect to see combined with tap. For example, Latin, Afro-beat, and Bollywood are all great examples of percussive music that’s original and poised for the added element of tap.
2. Change is Good
When choosing your music, pick a song or piece that has lots of rhythm changes. With tap, you want to keep the audience and the dancers on their toes, so avoid boring repetitiveness. Remember, you want to surprise the audience and give your dancers a chance to show off their skills, a repetitive beat isn’t going to do that.
In addition to varying rhythms, try varying formations. That means no dancing in one spot or lumping dancers into a single group that never changes. Instead use circles, diagonals, switch spots and constantly changing group formations to keep your routine visually interesting. Switch up the location of groups and the number of dancers in each formation – it will make your choreography a lot more interesting.
3. Keep it Pure
When you ask a lot of choreographers how they might spice up a tap routine, they’ll often suggest mixing in elements of jazz, ballet, hip hop or lyrical to add something new. But sometimes the most dramatic decision you can make is to keep the choreography as pure as possible – that means all tap and strong, forceful tap at that. With everyone else diluting the form, you’re sure to stand out.
This same idea of purity can be applied to costumes as well. For tap, I prefer costumes that never hide the feet or distract from them. It’s important to remember that in tap it’s all about the sound and the movement, so opt for costumes that are eye-catching, but still focused on the dance.
By the way… we have a large variety of leotards for women and dance apparel for men that would work perfectly in your next tap dance recital.
