Tap Dance Lessons

Choose a Level

Or scroll down for everything you need to know to learn tap dancing!

Beginner

No experience required (or if it's been a while).

BEGINNER

Adv-Beginner

For those with 1-2 years tapping experience who already have the basics down.

ADV-BEGINNER

Intermediate

For those with 2-4 years tapping experience looking for a little more speed and rhythmic variation.

INTERMEDIATE

Int-Advanced

For those with 4+ years experience ready for a challenge (and a workout!).

INT-ADVANCED

Advanced

You know who you are!

ADVANCED

Help!

Not sure what level to choose? I'll help you choose - plus free exchanges if you get the wrong level. Email me:

rod@unitedtaps.com

If you'd rather, you can browse our full product list.

Tap Dance Lessons Overview

Tap dance lessons are at the heart of your tap dance journey. They're where you learn basic tap steps, hone your rhythm, and put it all together into actual tap dancing! They're also a ton of fun.

My lessons include warm-ups, detailed breakdowns of tap moves, step-by-step technique, and fun short tap dances called combinations or choreography.

I take my time to teach everything clearly and in a way that’s easy to follow. With my written notes and careful explanations, you'll never feel lost or confused.

Every tap dance lesson builds on the one before it, so you'll have a feeling of actually progressing and getting better. It's structured learning, and it's so much better than spending hours trying to learn from random YouTube videos.

Also, you'll never be alone - I'm just a call or email away, and I've even jumped on Zoom to help students nail a tricky step (they got it!).

What You Need for Tap Lessons

If you're going to learn how to tap dance (or improve your skills), you're going to need a few things.

Tap Shoes - Okay this is an obvious one, but can you get started without them? Kind of. You can learn beginner tap moves and get the general idea, but without tap shoes, you won't be able to hear if your sounds are clean and you won't have the same feel of your feet hitting the floor. In fact, using regular shoes with an all rubber sole can make it hard to do certain tap moves like a brush or shuffle. You can start without tap shoes if you have to, but grab a pair as soon as possible—they’re essential for any tap class.
A Tap Floor - If you're attending a live tap class, a floor should be provided. If you're tapping at home, you have to figure out what to tap on. DO NOT TAP ON CEMENT. Period. It will damage your knees, ankles and back. And just putting a piece of wood (or tile) directly on top of the cement isn't any better. If your tap floor is on top of cement, it MUST have a cushioning layer. The portable tap floor I recommend (coupon code UT) has a nice cushion to protect your body.
A Tap Teacher - Finding a good tap teacher can be a challenge. You want a teacher that can break down tap moves and explain technique clearly. You want them to teach at a pace you can follow and ideally they'll have some charisma to keep class fun and upbeat. If you can find that in a live class, go for it! If not, I encourage you to try some tap dance lessons with me!
Workout Clothes - Ideally, you'll wear something breathable so you don't overheat. Your outfit should also not interfere with your movement or be touching the floor, as you don't want to be stepping on it while you're dancing. Be prepared to sweat and consider a headband to keep the perspiration out of your eyes.
Water - Dehydration is no joke, so bring plenty of water and keep it handy. A lot of dance studios only allow water inside the dance room, so be aware of that if you're wanting to bring a flavored drink.
An Open Mind - If you're learning how to tap dance for the first time, expect it to be a little awkward or tricky at first. It will still be fun, but don't expect everything to be smooth and polished right off the bat. If you've tapped before, be prepared for the teacher to use different terminology and to have different approaches to teaching and technique.

Tap Dance Lesson Benefits

There's no better way to stay young than tap dancing! Tapping is a full-body workout that builds strength, balance, coordination, and stamina.

Many people even use use tap dance to recover from an injury or to strengthen weak knees, legs or ankles - and it works! "Use it or lose it," as the saying goes..

But tapping doesn't just boost your body - it supercharges your brain. Learning and remembering steps and choreography improves your memory. Coordinating your movements with music sharpens timing and spatial awareness, keeping your mind agile and focused.

"New research finds that undertaking structured dance of any genre is generally equal and occasionally more effective than other types of physical activity interventions for improving a range of psychological and cognitive outcomes."

University of Sydney article about the cognitive and psychological benefits of dance.

And let's be honest, nothing puts a smile on your face like a good tap dance session:) It even helps you sleep better, and a good night's sleep makes everything in life feel better (the older I get, the truer that is!).

Weight Loss & Increased Energy

Stronger Muscles &
Increased Stamina

Sharper Mind & Better Balance

Tap Dance Lesson Safety

Tap dancing is a pretty low-risk activity in general, but there are few things you need to be aware of so you don't injure yourself.

Tapping on Concrete - Yes, I’ve said it before—but it’s worth repeating. Never tap directly on concrete or on a floor (wood or tile) laid directly on top of concrete. You have to have a layer of padding between the concrete and the floor you're tapping on. Without it, you're risking damage to your joints and back.
Slippery Floors - Some studios (and homes) have gorgeous wood floors but they're also really slick. First of all, I recommend you have rubber put on the bottom of your tap shoes if you haven't already done so. That adds considerable stability. Secondly, if you are on a slippery floor, keep your feet directly underneath you. This may sound obvious, but the further away from your body you step out, the more likely you are to slip and fall. I grew up doing recitals on waxed tile (basically ice), and after I fell, I learned really quick to keep my feet directly underneath me.
Stressing Your Body - You have to listen to your body, especially if you're just starting. If something starts to hurt, don't push it - it's only going to make it worse and that makes it harder to tap at the next class or practice session. Sure, you'll work new muscles and a little soreness is okay - but don't let it get out of hand. Also, don't pound your feet on the floor so hard. Some people naturally tap light and others are pounders (I was always a pounder and my teacher warned me about it). If your tendency is to tap dance on the more forceful side, I caution you to ease up. You want your body to last so you can keep tapping for years to come!
Turning in Tap - Depending on your tap class, you may be asked to do turns - spinning while making tap sounds. Some adults I’ve taught skip turns entirely because they’re prone to dizziness, and I respect that. If you do turn, learn to spot - a technique where you focus your eyes on a single point to avoid getting dizzy. Your teacher should walk you through it. And again, keep your feet underneath you while turning to stay balanced and safe.

How To Learn Tap Dance in a Live Class

If you're taking a live tap class, I want to give you some pointers to help you learn as easily and enjoyably as possible.

Get the Gist - If you're just starting out, aim to get the general feel of each move first. Trying to perfect everything right away can lead to frustration - and ironically, slow you down. Focus on the mechanics: how the move works, how it feels. Once that’s in place, you’ll be able to refine it without derailing your progress. Having said that...
Technique Matters - This is going to sound like I'm contradicting what I just said about "getting the gist." I'm simply pointing out that as soon as you do have the general feel of a step, start paying attention to technique. Are your heels up or down? Where’s your weight? How are your knees, ankles, even your toes behaving - too tight or too loose? Good technique might make things harder at first - but long term, it unlocks fluency and freedom in your footwork.
Don't Just Follow - This is such an easy trap to fall into - just following what the teacher does without thinking for yourself. A very easy way to prevent this is to simply stop watching the teacher after they've shown you a move or combination. If you can't do it without watching their feet - you don't actually know it for yourself. If that's the case, watch their feet again but this time with the intent of memorizing it so you can do it on your own.
LISTEN TO YOUR FEET! - This is huge. But it’s not just about hearing sounds - it’s about knowing what your feet should sound like. What rhythm are you aiming for? Which sounds should pop, and which should whisper? Is there a clean tap or a deliberate scrape? Once you know how it should sound, you can listen close to find out if you've got it right. Students who master this skill often progress 2–3 times faster than those who don’t.

How To Learn Tap Dance From a Video

Learning how to tap dance from a video is a very different experience from learning in a live tap dance lesson. Even with video, you can still make great progress, have a lot of fun and get wonderful exercise. Here are some helpful tips.

Choose Videos Wisely - If you tried to learn chemistry by reading page 1 of Textbook A, then page 2 of Textbook B, followed by page 3 of Textbook C… you’d be lost by page 4. Yet I see people try to learn tap dance this way all the time—jumping between random YouTube lessons from different teachers, with no logical progression. Then they wonder why they can’t tap fast, why pullbacks feel impossible, or why they’re stuck.

If you're serious about learning tap dance from a from a video - choose a structured lesson series - one that builds step-by-step, reinforces previous concepts, and actually guides you through an entire level (or several). And don't settle for a library of 300 videos that wasn't specifically designed to progress your skills from one video to the next (here's a dead give away - if none of their videos review or reinforce what you learned in previous videos, then it's not going to progress you).
Take Your Time - Learning tap dance isn’t a race. Many of my students repeat each video lesson two or three times before moving on, and often catch something new with each repeat. The goal is confidence, not just completion. As a general rule: when a lesson starts feeling easy - or even boring - you’re probably ready for the next one.
Don't Just Follow - Yes, this one again! It's just as easy (maybe even easier) to just follow a video and to never think or dance for yourself. Just as I suggested for a live class - try doing the moves and combinations without watching the teacher and see if you can do it. If not, you know you're just following. The beautiful thing about video, is that you can pause it and work on memorizing the step or combination for yourself. Once you think you've got it, push play, look away and see if you really know it.
Eventually Go Wide - By "wide" I mean "wide variety." In other words, once you’ve finished a full series and feel solid in your skills, branch out. Learning from multiple teachers gives you new vocabulary, fresh techniques, and a greater range of tools to use as needed. The more styles and strategies you absorb, the more musical and expressive your tapping will become.

Get Started Today

Select a level below to start tapping today!

Beginner

No experience required (or if it's been a while).

BEGINNER

Adv-Beginner

For those with 1-2 years tapping experience who already have the basics down.

ADV-BEGINNER

Intermediate

For those with 2-4 years tapping experience looking for a little more speed and rhythmic variation.

INTERMEDIATE

Int-Advanced

For those with 4+ years experience ready for a challenge (and a workout!).

INT-ADVANCED

Advanced

You know who you are!

ADVANCED

Help!

Not sure what level to choose? I'll help you choose - plus free exchanges if you get the wrong level. Email me:

rod@unitedtaps.com

If you'd rather, you can browse our full product list.

Need help deciding? Email me!

Tap Dance Lessons

Choose a Level

Beginner

Adv-Beginner

Intermediate

Int-Advanced

Advanced

Help!

Table of Contents

Tap Dance Lessons Overview

What You Need for Tap Lessons

Tap Dance Lesson Benefits

Tap Dance Lesson Safety

How To Learn Tap Dance in a Live Class

How To Learn Tap Dance From a Video

Get Started Today

Beginner

Adv-Beginner

Intermediate

Int-Advanced

Advanced

Help!