History of Tap Dance in Performance
- Date: December 07, 2004
- Level: College, Undergraduate
- Grade: A-
- Length: 4 pages (881 words)
- Essay rating:
- Keywords:
tap dancing, irish jig, clog, popularity, africa, deep roots, ...transport ships, entertainment venues, juba, minstrel, levee, africans, stylized, rhythms, counterparts, cousins, dances, shuffle, tremendously, dancers
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Subject > Art Essays > Performing Arts
History of Tap in Performance
The art of Tap dancing has amazed audiences for ages from Broadway to Hollywood. The creation of the modern and highly stylized Tap venue holds deep roots in widespread and culturally diverse nations from Africa to several places in Europe. Percussive dancing including Clog and the Irish Jig are closely related European cousins while Africa holds counterparts in Juba and Shuffle Dances. Tap was brought over to the Americas by enslaved Africans dancing what became known as "ring shouts", aboard transport ships. Since the Civil War, Tap grew tremendously in technique and popularity and soon became a predominant routine seen in the growing popularity of entertainment venues across ...
... the first Tap dancer to include and combine all works of dance genres from Ballet to Ballroom, and also the first to incorporate the use of his arms and upper torso as ornamentation to his footwork. Fred's unique style and musical perfection quickly fashioned him as the greatest romantic dancer and later the biggest Musical Hollywood star. His works in direction and choreography can be seen in films such as SAY IT WITH FIRECRACKERS and NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT. In both of these films Fred became famous for the use of multiple props to add to his footwork. His mostly celebrated movie musical was ROYAL WEDDING, in which
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