Tap Dance - a dance that conquered America

Tap Dance - a dance that conquered America

"Music of the feet" - literally so you can describe the tap. For this dance it is not necessary to use musical accompaniment - the rhythm is beaten off with special shoes with metal plates on the sole. This is the main advantage of the genre: a unique dance pattern is available even for blind people. After all, they hear it. Who first began to beat tap, we suggest to learn from our article.

Tap story

In another way, this dance is called the American steppe, because the United States is considered the birthplace of the genre. This direction was the main highlight of Broadway, and then Hollywood. Frequent and rhythmic tapping shoes with metal taps captured the minds of Americans, despite the Great Depression that swept the country in the late 20s and early 30s of the XX century. People enjoyed going to musical performances to admire the performance of their favorite dancers. Who was "guilty" in such a rush?

The origins of the steppe are traced in the ritual dances of the indigenous people of America - the Indians. Their movements during ceremonies really resemble a tap dance rhythm. But the true "parents" of the trend are still the cultural traditions of the Negroes and the Irish, who settled the lands of the New World in the 18th century. The blacks brought African rhythms to America, and the Irish brought jig. During improvised matches, which were organized by immigrants, racial and other stereotypes were dissolved in the struggle for the best performance of the dance of wooden soles. Peculiar competitions remained in the shadow of the general public until 1830, which is considered the year of birth of the steppe.

In 1830, the famous Irish dancer, speaking under the pseudonym of Pope Rice, showed the public a new dance. He combined the jig with some elements of African rhythms, in particular, he borrowed certain movements of the legs, shoulders and arms. Papa Rice was greeted with applause - so a tap dance appeared that excited America.

Until the 20s of the last century, the steppe was inextricably linked with Broadway and the artists who masterfully performed this dance. One of the main steppeas who were on the stage was an African-American Bill Robinson. The dancer managed to achieve something incredible at that moment - to win over the white audience. After all, according to the rules of racial segregation of those times, black should have danced only for black, and white for white. Robinson changed these traditions. But not only this is remarkable for his figure in the development of the steppe. A kick with a toe of a shoe, a sliding kick, a dance on the stairs - all this is his “hands” business, for which modern tap dance fans say thanks to him.

With the development of the film industry, step dance acquires a different status. Now the style becomes the main focus of musical comedies. There are new idols tap dance. Frederick Austerlitz or Fred Aster became the main star of Hollywood musicals, although initially skeptical of his candidacy: a balding actor, he doesn’t know how to play, unless he dances a little. But the young man was able to charm film producer David Selznik and show his talent to the whole world. Aster’s merit is that he didn’t just perform the step. He masterfully combined it with the choreography of classical dance, creating a special aesthetics of style.

Who in Hollywood got a palm among black taping actors? It was Sammy Davis Junior, who began his career at the age of 3. A talented African American won the love of the public and attracted her with his incredibly masterful movements.

Post-war time is considered golden in the development of the steppe. The war is over - you can relax and enjoy the play of actors of musicals performing a step. The names of Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Ginder Rogers do not leave the posters, and the great stepists do not cease to beat a clear rhythm, turning the dance into art.

In the early 50s, the genre is experiencing a period of stagnation. The government imposed a tax on large orchestras, the music of which accompanied the majority of the step-dance. Musicals are no longer profitable - producers are looking for new ideas for scenarios. Thus, the step remains on the sidelines of the film industry, which was due to its development, giving way to ballet scenes.

In the late 60s, Broadway was dominated by big dance events: the directors begin to revive old musicals, including tapestries. At the same time on television launch several programs about steppe. All this leads to a revival of style, a new wave of its popularity. At the same time, the steppe ceases to be perceived simply as entertainment. Virtuoso shoe tapping became the subject of art - fans of the genre began to open step-dancing schools, and festivals and competitions among steppeas were organized throughout the country.

Currently, interest in style has not disappeared. Yes, the step went from the big screens. Where is he "settled"? In small chamber institutions, where modern dancers continue to beat a clear rhythm in attempts to win the status of the most talented performer of the tap dance.

Interesting Facts

• Shoes with metal heels appeared only in the time of jazz. Originally, the steppe danced in clogs and shoes with wooden soles.
• Since 1989, every May 25, all dancers celebrate the day of the steppe. The date is not chosen by chance. On this day, was born the master of step-dance Bill Robinson. In the US, the holiday has acquired official status.
• In the movie "Little Colonel" in 1935, Bill Robinson performs his famous "stepped step" along with the movie star Shirley Temple, the youngest Oscar winner. It was the first film in which representatives of the black and white races danced hand in hand. For this reason, the film was banned from being shown in the southern states.
• During World War II, Fred Astaire inspired American soldiers with an improvised performance of tap dance. He specifically flew to London to raise the morale of compatriots before landing in Normandy.
• At the beginning of the XIX century, the step was considered to be the dance of the black population of the United States, since it was closely associated with the development of jazz. Jazz melodies as if were created for the performance of the tap dance, therefore the dance in the 20s was called "jazz" and nothing else.
• In 1920, the step became entertainment for former lovers of strong alcohol. Prohibition adopted in the United States that year, put a total ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages. In order to somehow entertain the audience, the owners of pubs invited black steppe men.
• In 2000, a record of the steppe Jerry Adams appeared in the Guinness Book of Records. This dancer covered the distance from Washington to New York in 6 hours. What is remarkable here? That he did this by beating off a tap dance. By the way - the distance between the end points was 328 km.
• There is another entry in the Book of Records, this time dedicated to the fastest steppe. 28 beats per minute is the result of Michael Rain Flatley, a choreographer of Irish descent. The record was recorded in 1989. Exactly 9 years later, the dancer broke his own record, setting a new bar of 35 beats. But not only this famous Michael Flatley. His large-scale dance shows, in particular "Lord of the dance" and "Feet of Flames", won the love of tap dance fans around the world.

• According to experts, the best and fastest steppe in the world is a woman. This title was awarded to Elinor Powell, whose career came in the 30s-40s.
• Impresses with its vigor and rhythm Irish step. This is a rather complicated style, since the number of hits with one foot varies from 4 to 6. At the same time, the body remains motionless, only legs are involved in the dance. They perform it under folk, Celtic music.
• Not spared the tap dance and Russia. Our version of the dance is called Crusher. Unlike foreign dancers, the Russian refused to shoes with metal plates. Instead, they used shoes with double soles.
• The government of the Soviet Union in the post-war years was set up negatively in relation to the steppe - the development of the genre was hampered by the Iron Curtain. Despite this, the traditions of the American steppe were actively developed by the Gusakov brothers.
• You can admire taped scenes not only in old American musicals. They are present in the Soviet films. So, Lyubov Orlova demonstrated her talent performed by a tap dance in the film "Circus".
• There is a legend that a steppe was born on a ship that carried migrants from Europe. During the journey to the distant shores, representatives of various countries came out on deck and beat off a clear rhythm about the wooden floorboards. European dancers were not inferior to the sailors, who, for better sound, came up with nailing small English coins - pennies - to the soles.

The best melodies in tapas rhythms

As we said earlier, the story of the tap dance is inseparably linked with the development of jazz music. It was used in musicals. Therefore, the best melodies are presented in old Hollywood musical comedies.

"Chattanooga Chu-Chu"sounded in the movie" Sun Valley Serenade ". In 1941, the disc with this song became the leader of the American hit parade. And the story of the song began on the train, which raced along the Southern Railway through the town of Chattanooga. The author of the lyrics is Mark Gordon, music - Harry Warren. In a musical, the song is performed by a Glenn Miller jazz band.

"Chattanooga Chu-Chu" (listen)

"Singin 'in the rain". The composition itself was released in 1929, and gained fame in 1952 after it was released on TV screens of the Singing in the Rain film comedy. Gene Kelly, who performed the step with a simple melody, was directly related to her popularity. The actor choreographed himself. In the early 2000s, the song took the 3rd place in the list of the most popular compositions in the opinion of American film critics.

"Singin 'in the Rain" (listen)

"The continental"- the main song of the movie" Merry Divorce "in 1934. The famous duet of Fred Astara and Ginger Rogers dances to her in the musical. Literally a year later, the composition won the Oscar in the nomination" Best Song "and became the first song to win in this category. Just before 1935, this nomination did not exist.

"The Continental" (listen)

Professional stepists note that for step dance there are no restrictions with regard to musical accompaniment. This is a free style that can be performed both with classical and modern melodies. It does not matter how many dancers will be involved - one, two or a corps de ballet. In any embodiment, tap dance looks fascinating and spectacular.