During the mid -1800's many Irish immigration arrived in America, fleeing from starvation, bringing with them their own dance rhythms and steps. The next 60 years or so would see a fusion of cultures the development of blues and jazz music alongside percussive dance.
One of the earliest known "rhythm" dancers was WILLIAM HENRY LANE, also known as "JUBA".
By the 1840s his unique rhythmcal style of dance was hugely popular, and he was one of the very few black performers. His style of dance was an intricate fusion of African steps, jigs, shuffles and slides, finger snapping and clapping.

    WILLIAM HENRY LANE

In tap dance you have to put on tap shoes.
Tap shoes are important for tap dance,because without tap shoes we can`t do dance well. Tap shoes have a metal plate called taps (bowl) on the toes of the sole, and heel (heel) stomps the floor.
tap shoes

Tap dance have two basic step.One is Shuffle. To do this footwork, you have to hit the tip of your toe to front and rear.These two videos footwork are very easy and basic.

One more step call Flap.When you do this step, you have to kick and put,because Flap make two sounds.

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 My tap dance teacher`s name is Kaoru Tomita. She is the most famous tap dancer in the world. I really respect her. She has two studios.One is in Takadanobaba, in Tokyo. One more is Tokorozawa, in Saitama.
She also appeared in commercials on TV, such as for Itouen and Suntory.

I learned to tap dance at the Tokorozawa studio. I am very happy because a famous tap dancer taught me to tap dance.

famous tap dancer

1. SABUROU NAKAGAWA　（中川　三郎）         1916~2003

He is called the `father of ball room dancing`.
He is founder of JAPAN TAP WORLD.
He went to NWE YORK city university at he was 17.
Then he learn tap dance at there, and appeared in BROADWAY musical theater for the first time in JAPANESE, and pursus the success.




2.ELEANOR TORREY POWELL              1912~1982

She called the `Queen of taps`.
She has already appeared on numerous reviews and musicals on BROADWAY taking advantage, and completed an athletic dance style at 17 years old.
In 1935 she move a base to HALLYWOOD.



3.SAMMY DAVIS JR                      1925~1990

He taked the first stage at 3 years old.
He release his first record in 1954, and get a lot of highly regarded in America.
He can do tap dance too, and came to Japan announce his tap dance many time.
Also he appear many CM at TV in the JAPAN.


































My teacher TOMITA KAORU has a concert in TOUKYOU RIZUMU GEKIJYOU at NOVEMBER 2th and 3th. I never see that but I want to see in the near future.