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National Tap Dance Day

Take a tap dance class, see a show, or watch a tap film to appreciate this form of rhythmic dancing that has its roots in 19th Century slave communities.

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Drive enrollment in tap dance classes and studio memberships by celebrating the cultural heritage and fitness benefits of tap dancing during National Tap Dance Day.

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History

National Tap Dance Day officially began in 1989 and celebrates the heritage and origins of the dance genre, along with the notable tap dancing greats, including Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, the Mark Brothers, and more.

Tap dance first appeared in the 19th century as dancers from across the world combined their ideas in the New World. At first, tap dancing was a marginal activity that began in slave communities. Owners would take instruments and drums away from slaves so they began improvising, using their feet instead to act as percussion.

Over the years, they developed their techniques and many began to wear clogs in an attempt to create better sounds when they tapped their feet on the floor. Before long, tap dancing developed into a distinct art form, separate from traditional dancing styles imported from overseas. Tap dancers developed a unique sense of timing and rhythm. They learned how to move and tap their feet at the same time, laying the foundation for the tradition we have today.

Slaves could afford little more than clogs. But as tap dancing slowly leaked out into the wider community over the following years, shoemakers began experimenting to make the best kind of shoes. They needed something light, stable, and that would make a loud, audible sound when their foot hit the floor.

Eventually, they came up with the idea of attaching wooden soles to shoes, but many of the early designs failed to provide tap dancers with enough stability. Dancers would slide all over the place onstage. It wasn’t ideal. Others experimented by sticking pennies to the heels of shoes so that the dancer could make a tapping sound but still keep a grip.

During the Civil War, tap dancing became increasingly popular. Traveling showmen would tour around the country, often with slaves in tow. By the turn of the 20th century, it had become a major component of the creative output of various communities. Tap dancers, for instance, would often support jazz musicians, thanks to their ability to keep time to complex rhythms. Many made appearances at Broadway and Vaudeville shows.

Hollywood soon took up tap and began incorporating it into films, starting in the 1930s. Gene Kelly and Shirley Temple both became overnight tap sensations, inspiring generations of people to begin experimenting with the dance style. Likewise, Fred Astaire became famous for combining tap with traditional ballroom motifs. His sensational “single-take” dance performances soon entered the public consciousness, and we’ve been living with the aftermath ever since.

When Congress was developing the language around National Tap Dance Day, they came up with some interesting and flattering ways to describe it. Citations from the original senate text reveal how top lawmakers considered tap to be a joyful and powerful aesthetic and how it was a “manifestation of cultural heritage.”

The purpose of National Tap Dance Day is to celebrate tap as an art form. Representatives of the tap communities lobbied the government to create a day in the calendar dedicated to the dance in February 1987. Just a few months later, George H. W. Bush signed the day into law and it has been observed ever since.

National Tap Dance Day is a global phenomenon that inspires cultures all over the world. Over the years, it has grown in popularity, and by the time of the 2016 celebrations, the event generated more than 27 million mentions on social media!

How to celebrate

Join Some Tap Dancing Events

Some cities have celebratory tap dancing shows and displays to mark the occasion, so, if you want to join in the celebrations, go along and join in the fun. Here you can take part in big events designed to bring everyone in the local community together and learn a lot about the artform too. Instructors and enthusiasts will often provide free lessons and instructionals for anyone who wants to take part. There are also live performances from the good and the great on public stages, as well as the occasional lecture on the history of the dance.

Take a Tap Class

Alternatively, take a beginner tap dancing class, and get your toes tapping. You can approach your local dance studio and encourage them to put on a performance, perhaps recreating a scene from an iconic movie or show. Learning to tap dance can be a rewarding experience. Most people need around one hundred hours of practice to make progress and feel competent with doing it, but everyone learns at their own rate. It is incredibly good exercise, so after about 20 minutes, you’re already working up a sweat.

Improve Your Tap Dancing

The trick for getting good is learning a few basic moves and then stringing them together. Drills, therefore, are an important part of the training. You want to feel confident doing certain moves. Once you learn the fundamentals, it is easy to improvise on the dance floor and show off to your friends. The best approach is to keep repeating the basics and then add a new move each time you do a practice session.

Get the Family Involved

You can even combine the celebration of National Tap Dance Day with healthy living and family bonding, getting everyone involved. Tap Dance, therefore, can easily become a part of a sustained health kick. It helps with coordination, rhythm, cardiovascular endurance, and even flexibility.

Dress the Part

Another fun way to celebrate National Tap Dance Day is to make costumes, practice your routine, and amaze and thrill onlookers with your skills. Tap dancing costumes were traditionally quite reserved. But in recent years, they’ve taken on a certain degree of flair. It is not unusual for women to wear frilly outfits, complete with cane and top-hat. Men traditionally wore long trench suits with and without hats.

Share Your Skills

In recent years, many people have turned to social media as their outlet for celebrating National Tap Dance Day. You could create a video showing off your tap dancing skills or just having fun. You could even host a tap dancing live stream allowing everyone to join in. Your instructional video might encourage even more people to take part in this interesting and exceptional day. Tap Dancing is a genuine cultural phenomenon and deeply entwined with major events in history. For generations, people have used the artform to escape some of the hardships of life and enjoy themselves, even under dire circumstances. National Tap Dance Day, therefore, is a chance to celebrate not only the aesthetic, but also the lives of the people who first made it popular. While legends like Bill “Bojangles” Robinson dominate the occasion, there’s also a need to reflect on the lives of the millions of people who helped the dance flourish throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. So, how will you celebrate National Tap Dance Day?

FAQ

What are the main cultural roots of tap dance?

Tap dance developed in the United States from a blend of African American rhythmic footwork and percussive traditions, Irish and British clog and step dancing, and influences from other immigrant communities. Enslaved Africans used body percussion and complex rhythms when drums were restricted, while Irish and English workers brought jig and clog techniques. Over time, these forms merged in urban spaces, on plantations, and in 19th‑century minstrel and vaudeville stages to create the distinct art form now known as tap dance.

How do rhythm (hoofing) tap and Broadway tap differ in style and focus?

Rhythm tap, often called hoofing, focuses on intricate footwork, polyrhythms, and musicality, treating the dancer like a jazz percussionist who “plays” the floor. Broadway or show tap emphasizes clean lines, upper‑body choreography, and visual spectacle, and is usually integrated into larger musical theater numbers. Rhythm tap is commonly performed to live jazz or contemporary music in clubs and concert settings, while Broadway tap is most often seen on stage in musicals and revues.

Is tap dancing good exercise compared with other cardio activities?

Tap dancing provides moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise that can be comparable to brisk walking or low‑impact dance aerobics, depending on intensity. Research on dance in general shows improvements in cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance, balance, and coordination, and tap in particular challenges both lower‑body strength and cognitive skills through complex rhythms and patterns. For many adults, a structured tap class offers an accessible, weight‑bearing workout that also supports bone health and can be adapted to different fitness levels.

At what age can children safely start learning tap dance?

Most dance educators recommend that children begin structured tap classes around ages 5 to 7, when they can follow instructions, manage basic coordination, and tolerate short periods of focused practice. Some studios offer pre‑tap or creative movement classes for preschoolers that introduce rhythm, musicality, and simple steps without technical overload. As with any physical activity, parents are advised to choose qualified instructors, ensure properly fitted shoes, and prioritize age‑appropriate class length and difficulty.

What is the role of shoes and flooring in safe, authentic tap dancing?

Tap shoes use attached metal plates on the ball and heel to create clear, resonant sounds, and they should fit securely while allowing the toes to move. Proper tap floors are typically wood or sprung surfaces that provide some shock absorption, which helps protect joints and reduces the risk of injury. Hard concrete or tile can increase impact forces and strain, so many studios invest in raised or marley‑covered wood floors specifically designed for percussive dance.

How has tap dance been linked to jazz music and improvisation?

Tap dance and jazz developed alongside each other in African American communities, with both traditions centered on swing, syncopation, and call‑and‑response. Many historic tap dancers performed in jazz clubs and big‑band settings, trading solos with musicians and improvising rhythms to match live music. Contemporary tap artists often treat improvisation as a core skill, using the feet to create spontaneous rhythmic dialogue with jazz ensembles or recorded tracks.

Is tap dance practiced outside the United States today?

Tap dance is now taught and performed on every continent, with active communities in countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, and Australia. International festivals, workshops, and competitions bring together dancers from many nations, who blend traditional American tap with local music and movement styles. This global exchange has produced new hybrid forms while still recognizing the African American roots of tap as a percussive dance idiom.