Tap dance is a uniquely American art form combining African rhythmic traditions with European clog dancing, experiencing cycles of mainstream popularity and underground preservation throughout its 200-year history.

Origins

Roots (1800s):

• African American: Juba dance, ring shouts, rhythmic foot patterns
• Irish/English: Clog dancing brought by immigrants
• Fusion: Emerged in 1800s as African Americans and Irish immigrants lived in close proximity (Five Points, NYC)

Key figure: Master Juba (William Henry Lane, 1825-1852) - first Black performer to achieve fame in predominantly white venues

Golden Era (1920s-1950s)

Vaudeville & Broadway:

• Bill “Bojangles” Robinson: Most famous tapper, appeared in films with Shirley Temple
• The Nicholas Brothers: Gravity-defying acrobatic tap
• Savion Glover’s predecessors established tap as mainstream entertainment

Hollywood:

• Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers: Elegant, ballroom-influenced tap
• Gene Kelly: Athletic, masculine style (“Singin’ in the Rain,” 1952)
• Eleanor Powell: Power tapper, rapid-fire footwork

Jazz Age: Tap was THE popular dance form—essential in entertainment.

Decline (1960s-1970s)

Why tap faded:

• Rock and roll replaced jazz/swing
• Youth culture preferred social dances (twist, disco)
• Broadway shifted toward concept musicals (less dance-focused)
• Gregory Hines: Called this period “the dark ages of tap”

Tap survived primarily through:

• Hoofing clubs (underground tap jams)
• Veteran tappers teaching small groups
• Black tap tradition preservation

Revival (1980s-1990s)

Catalysts:

• “Tap” (1989 film): Gregory Hines, Sammy Davis Jr. reintroduced tap to audiences
• Savion Glover: Young prodigy brought tap back to Broadway

Broadway shows:

• “Black and Blue” (1989): Tap dance revue
• “Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk” (1996): Savion Glover’s groundbreaking show blended tap with hip-hop

Result: Dance studios began offering tap classes again after decades of absence.

Styles & Traditions

Rhythm tap (hoofers):

• Prioritizes sound/rhythm over visual
• Improvisation-heavy
• Jazz music accompaniment
• African American tradition
• Artists: Savion Glover, Jimmy Slyde, Buster Brown

Broadway tap:

• Visual presentation priority
• Choreographed formations
• Theatrical performance context
• Artists: Ann Miller, Eleanor Powell, Chloe Arnold

Modern fusion:

• Tap + hip-hop
• Tap + contemporary
• A cappella tap (no music, just sounds)

Contemporary Tap (2000s-Present)

Mainstream moments:

• So You Think You Can Dance: Featured tap regularly, introduced to Gen Z
• “Happy Feet” (2006): Animated film centered on tap-dancing penguin (Savion Glover choreographed, performed tap sounds)
• “La La Land” (2016): Emma Stone & Ryan Gosling tap number sparked renewed interest

Modern tap stars:

• Dorrance Dance: Michelle Dorrance, MacArthur “Genius Grant” winner (2015)
• Chloe Arnold: “Syncopated Ladies,” all-female tap crew went viral
• Ayodele Casel: Contemporary tap innovator

Social media:

• Instagram/TikTok tap videos bring it to new audiences
• But less viral than hip-hop or contemporary due to sound complexity

Tap vs. Modern Dance Culture

Challenges:

• Requires special shoes (tap shoes)
• Needs appropriate floor (wood, not damaging)
• Rhythm/musicality difficult for beginners
• Less “sexy” than hip-hop or contemporary in competition dance

Advantages:

• Unique—stands out in competition
• Musical training benefits
• Rich historical tradition
• Growing appreciation for preservation

Cultural Preservation Efforts

Organizations:

• American Tap Dance Foundation
• International Tap Association
• Tap Legacy Foundation

Focus:

• Documenting elder tap masters before they pass
• Teaching authentic rhythm tap traditions
• Fighting cultural appropriation (ensuring Black tap history is credited)

Issue: Tap’s African American roots sometimes erased—important to center Black tappers who preserved art form during “dark ages.”

Tap in Education

Schools/conservatories:

• Still taught in most dance studios (though less popular than hip-hop, contemporary)
• Music programs incorporate tap for rhythm training
• Theater programs require tap for musical theater

Decline: Fewer students choose tap as primary focus vs. past generations

Legacy

Tap dance is a uniquely American art form—born from cultural fusion, shaped by Black innovators, popularized by Hollywood, preserved by dedicated artists.

Cycles:

• Golden Age (1920s-50s): Mainstream dominance
• Decline (1960s-70s): Underground preservation
• Revival (1980s-90s): Savion Glover renaissance
• Modern era (2000s+): Niche but respected art form

Tap represents living history—every tapper is part of unbroken lineage back to Master Juba. Its survival depends on each generation learning from the last and passing it forward.

Sources:
American Tap Dance Foundation
NEA - Tap Dance History
The New York Times - Tap Revival