Tap dancing. *sigh*?

Question

when are some people gonna learn that its not just a bunch of little girls in feathers and sparkles skipping around a stage and that it takes alot of work? i don't think tap is taken seriously... it used to be... but not anymore. just my opinion... anyone feel the same?

Answer 1

I don't have much to add to what you wrote, other than that I totally agree.  Here's a YouTube video with tap dancing legends the Nicholas Brothers, to cheer us both up.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8yGGtVKr...

The Nicholas Brothers come in at about 1:35 seconds into it, and watching them should change the minds of any doubters - their musicality and athleticism are totally impressive.  There have been many amazing tap dancers since their time, including today, but these guys are still my favorites.

Answer 2

Hi there,

Finally!  Someone shares my opinions.  I'm not a tap dancer myself, but I'm an observation connesouir of sorts.  Goodness gracious, if I could do that kind of dance half as well as any dancer I see on the stage, I would never stop!  I am so impressed by tap dancers and respect them a great, great deal.

That's the tough thing about being a dancer.  We bring it on ourselves, in a way, that people don't think it's difficult to be a dancer.  We work so hard, but make it look like it's the easiest thing in the world.  Naturally, when they see the big smiles on our faces, they assume it's not difficult and that anyone can do it.   Behind that smile, believe me, our toes are about to fall off and our arms are tired and we're sick of doing this dance because we've been doing it over and over at least three times a week to get up on stage and look elegant and pretty for these people, when they don't even know how much it hurts!

Whenever anybody says to me, "But dancing isn't that hard.  Anyone can move.", I invite them to my ballet class.  A few of them have actually come.  You can tell by the time the first sentence comes out of my teacher's mouth, they know they're in trouble.  Probably because the first sentence is something like:

"Okay, tendu, pique, push over, double flat close fifth.  And do that front side back, and then increase the extension by 45 degrees each time.  By the fourth count of eight your leg should be above 160 degrees.  Now grande battement en cloche, three, four, five, six, seven, possé eight, and balance en attitude for a billion and a half counts.  Ready?  Five six seven eight..."

I just relish the look.  However, not everyone can be proved that way, and it's just a pride thing that we dancers have to live with.  Fortunately, there are still people (me, for example), who stand in awe while a tap dancer works her little tap-dancer behind off and probably sweats off five pounds.

So for what it's worth, I still respect tap dancers, probably more than I respect myself.  Keep dancing!♥

Answer 3

hey,

first of all i would just like to say that tap is by far my favourite type of dancing. when my mum got me into dancing as a kid i hated jazz and told my mum i wanted to quit it and only do tap. though i am definately not normal. =D

I am now an assistant tap teacher and i help teach 6 and unders and also 8 and unders classes. Where i dance there are much more kids doing tap than modern/contemporary and jazz and barely enough teachers (hence the 14 year old teacher. me!).

It is so much harder than it looks but it is really coming back. The kids love it and they tell me it is their favourite class (some of them even say they wish they had more than one class a week).

Tap is making a comeback! yay! =D

I do so much dancing but teaching and learning tap are definately my favourite times of the week, especially teaching.

I always do it around the house (and get told to shutup by my brothers and parents) because i can never seem to stop and often i dont notice im even doing it.

Tap is begginning to be taken seriously and i am so glad.

The one thing i love is when i go shopping with my mum and i push the trolley. i tap as i walk and i love it when parents with kids come up to me and ask where i dance.

i advertise of course.

=D

sorry for the long answer but i absoloutely love to tap.

kaila

ps: did you know that there are no good myspace layouts for tap and about a thousand really nice ones for ballet. grrrr.

that annoys me.

Answer 4

I love dancing so i understand how you feel...i also got that kind of opinion from when I cheered...people don't think its a sport but to the people who do it it is

Answer 5

Aw, yeah. I used to take tap, but it was incredibly hard. For me anyways. I had to quit anyways :(

Answer 6

I've been taking tap for 20+ years and love it!  While I'm not nearly as good as a professional, I enjoy being with other adults who have the same interest.  Remember, Ginger Rogers did all the steps Fred Astaire did, but in high heels and on the left foot!