Tag: tap dance

Pullback, shuffle, and Maxie Ford are tap terms you’ve probably heard all the time. But what about shed, cypher, and trading? Those are all words that have to do with a tap jam. You may think you’ve never jammed before, but if you’ve ever participated in an improvisation circle at the end of a tap […]

Happy National Tap Dance Day, friends! We’re marking the occasion by catching up with one of our favorite talented young tappers: Larry Saperstein. The “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” star began taking tap classes at 12 years old, studying at the American Tap Dance Foundation, where he quickly discovered his love for the […]

You’re in tap class and the teacher breaks down a complex phrase. You think you understand it, but when the music comes on, the speed and intricacy of the combination seem like more than your feet can handle. It can be discouraging to feel as though your technique fails you as the tempo picks up, […]

Savion Glover is one of the biggest names in the dance world, and perhaps the biggest in the tap world. The trailblazing hoofer’s hard-hitting, rhythmically intricate style has fundamentally altered the tap landscape. Glover is also a master teacher. But during his many years on the scene, he’s never appeared regularly at a major dance […]

The tap dance world has been home to extraordinary talents for multiple generations. Who are some of the best tappers of all time? Here are 13 tap dancers sure to inspire you. Bill “Bojangles” Robinson Bill Robinson—yes, Mr. Bojangles himself—is, of course, at the top of our list. His legacy inspires dancers to this day. […]

Hoofer Jared Grimes‘ expert musicality and dazzling sounds have made him a true tap icon. Born in Jamaica, Queens, NY, Grimes started taking tap lessons at age 3 from his mother. After moving to North Carolina a few years later, he began studying all genres of dance at Dance Connections in Greensboro, and attended competitions […]

Dorrance Dance’s Elizabeth Burke’s dynamic technique and intricate musicality have made her a tap-scene standout. A Chapel Hill, NC, native, she trained with the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble, led by her mentor, Gene Medler. She’s an alumna of The School at Jacob’s Pillow and graduated from Marymount Manhattan College with bachelor’s degrees in political […]

Nick Young has been making music with his feet his whole life. Young grew up at his mother’s studio, Young Dance Academy, in Oak Creek, WI, and at competitions like New York City Dance Alliance. He caught his big break with “So You Think You Can Dance,” making it to the Top 20 on Season […]