Tap Dance 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 dancing is a pretty low-risk activity in general, but there are a 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.

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 would 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 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 giveaway: 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.