#tap advice

[wheredreamsareborne]

Tap Advice

So, I’ve recently started to tap dance again, but it’s been a long long time since I did last so I need to practice to keep up with my class. I have extra tile squares from when we remodeled my house. So would those work as a dance surface or should I really go with laminate and plywood? God I’m so out of practice when it comes to tap I don’t even know anymore

[booyahtapdancing]

Hi! I have a question for you. I have had a pair of Bloch Slip-On Tapflex shoes for almost 7 years now. Don't get me wrong, I adore them, but I have some issues with them. I have had to add padding because they are a bit big, but I find that lately I've been having to grip my toes to do a lot of movements, especially at higher tempos. Is this a sign that I need new tap shoes? And if so, which is better, full sole or split sole? Thanks!

7 years is a long time to make tap shoes last, so that’s awesome! haha but yeah I would say it’s probably time, especially if you’re slipping in them enough to add padding. I’ve done a lot of things to make tap shoes last as long as possible too, but sometimes you just have to give in. 

With split sole vs full sole (since you already have split) it really depends on preference and feel. Full sole does have a better sound quality because the shoe is more solid, but the feel of them is different. If you’ve never used full sole before I would definitely try on a pair and move around to see how they feel. And if you go to a dance store they can usually help with sizing too to make sure you’re completely comfortable in the shoe.

Hope this helps :)

[booyahtapdancing]

Learn to Tap Dance Online

Hey everyone!

I've gotten a lot of questions during my time on tumbr, about learning how to tap dance and if there are any good video's on youtube that can teach you how to tap at home. I've decided to create a playlist on youtube taking you though the basic and advanced tap steps (the video's are in order of difficulty). 

I've included a lot of video's from Mahalo with tap dancer Tahlia Morgan. She makes a lot of really detailed video's that I think are great for beginners. I will also try and include a few video's from other tappers to fill in some gaps. I'll continue adding to this list as I find more videos and I hope everyone learning online finds this helpful. If anyone has suggestions of videos to add, message me :)

Click for Playlist

Youtube has needed a playlist like this for a long time and I want to make it good. So let me know if any beginners are confused about the moves in the videos. This will help me fill in gaps in the tutorials.

[booyahtapdancing]

Hey! I have a quick question. I've been doing all my tap dancing at school (I attend a Musical Theatre School), but of course I want to practice at home, and I'm plannning on buying some wood because my floor is made of ceramics and I already broke it (oops!). Which type of wood do you recommend me? Thank you in advance, love your blog! ♥

Definitely some kind of hardwood flooring, or even plywood works really! You could also get a portable tap floor but those can get pricey. You're tap teacher might have more specific recommendations if you're interested in the more portable made specificly for tap options.

[booyahtapdancing]

Hi , Here's my little problem, I just received my first tap dance shoes, It's a little problem to learn it by myself, do you have some advice or things like that for beginners? that would be so nice from you :) thnks a lot !

I think balance is the hardest thing to find when you first start tap dancing, so remember to bend your knees and make clear sounds with your taps. Are you learning off video’s online? I know there are some out there that are pretty useful.

[booyahtapdancing]

Hey, do you know what kind of wood is good to use as a tap floor if you live in an apartment and don't want to bother the downstairs neighbor or if your just really CHEAP and don't want to pay for an official tap floor? I found something, i think its called temp hardwood but it seems thin, I'm not so sure about it yet. okay Thank You in advance.

I used to use a few pieces of that hardwood flooring that clips together and that was pretty good for tapping.

Maybe if you find some kind of hardwood that clips together you can put it on a cheap rug or something to muffle the sound. That way it doesn’t bother the neighbors.

Also, I’m not sure that it matters how thick the wood is. Especially if you’re just using it to practice. As long as it makes sound and it’s not to slippery for you I think it should be fine. :)