Katie Holmes "Taught" Ellen How to Tap, and It Was…Sad

November 28, 2014

Remember when Maddie Ziegler taught Jimmy Kimmel a thing or two from Sia’s “Chandelier” video? Well, the producers at “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” tried something similar, and though I hate to say it, it didn’t go as well. On Monday, Katie Holmes appeared on Ellen’s show to promote her new film, Miss Meadow. Ellen brought up a moment from the movie, in which Katie, playing the title character, tap dances. Ellen said she wishes she knew how to tap, and just like that, the two of them filed across the stage for a very quick lesson. (Katie played the part of the teacher.)

They had props—but not a whole lotta chops. (photo by Michael Rozman/Warner Bros)

OK. You know DS LOVES when Ellen’s show features dancers. I mean, we just can’t get enough appearances from tWitch. And we even love when non-dancers, like Jesse Tyler Ferguson, do silly dance things on her show—like campaign to appear on “Dancing with the Stars.” But Katie Holmes’ tap lesson just makes us a little bit sad, tbh.

Maybe the joke is that Katie doesn’t really know what she’s doing either. Like when she says, “I think the thing about tapping is, you just kinda—,” Ellen cuts in: “Make noise?” “Yeah,” says Katie. Can you hear my heart sinking? Tap dancing is fun. Tap dancing is challenging. And as you know, tap dancing takes a lot more than just making noise.

Luckily for us all, Ellen saves the bit with her hilarious take on the flashiest step she knows—a wing. Watch the clip below, and let us know what you think. Am I being too critical of the lesson? Or should tap dancers everywhere stand up for their art?