Tap Dancing
Tap dancing has the distinction of being a uniquely American art form, and its influence spreads far and wide across American performance art culture. From Fred Astaire to the Hoofer Club in Harlem to the 39th Annual Grammy Awards, tap has enthralled audiences for most of the 20th century and continues to do so in the current one. In this guide, you’ll find sites offering tap history, sources for tap news and reviews, and information about tap organizations and companies.
Expand All Guide SectionsHistory of Tap Dancing
Tap dancing has evolved considerably to become the art form we know today. Before there were tap ... read more »
News and Reviews of Tap
The tap dancing community may seem intimate and insular but in fact, dancers and enthusiasts alike ... read more »
Tap Organizations and Companies
If you’re looking for tap shows, events or classes, the first place to check is on the sites of tap organizations and companies. Find a company that’s touring or performing in your area, or look for festivals, workshops and other information unifying the tap community.
Dulcinea's Insight
- There’s a strong movement to increase awareness and appreciation of tap dancing. Festivals like the Tap Extravaganza in New York City occur regularly. Keep abreast of new events by reading local papers, and checking Web sites of local arts organizations.
- Many individual dancers and teachers have pages with useful information about their local tap dancing community, or their careers. For example, United Taps is the page of teacher Rod Howell. It includes a video dictionary, music and information about routines and classes.
Dulcinea's Picks
The American Tap Dance Foundation (ATDF)
is based in New York. Its mission to preserve and perpetuate tap culture and performance is pertinent for all dance enthusiasts. The ATDF cosponsors the Gregory Hines Collection (listed in the first section of this guide), hosts a robust gallery of tap photos and provides links to national tap festivals.
The National Tap Ensemble
hosts a less-than-modern Web site, but is responsible for many tap shows in its home of Washington, D.C, as well as some tours. Explore the site to learn about education outreach, or sign up for the “Tap Dance Bulletin” newsletter.
Tap Dance
, noted in the first section for its numerous useful resources, includes a list of North American tap dance companies. Search the alphabetized links and brief synopses for companies and organizations of interest.
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