| Tap dance enjoyed the height of its popularity in the | | | | metal plates. |
| 1930s and 1940s. However, it's still practiced by many | | | | Question Three. Who were some of the earliest |
| young dancers. Anyone studying tap should know its | | | | famous tap dancers? |
| history. For example, | | | | Answer. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson was one of the first |
| (1) African-American slaves created an early form of | | | | dancers to become well known for tap. He began |
| tap that was an inspiration for the current art form, | | | | dancing professionally at the age of 6, and joined his |
| (2) metal taps weren't always used, and | | | | first dance troupe in 1886. In 1891 when he was 12 |
| (3) one of the most famous movie dance routines | | | | years old, he joined a traveling dance company. |
| was a tap dance routine. | | | | Robinson spent his entire life dancing and performing, |
| Read this article to expand your knowledge of tap | | | | but he didn't perform for a white audience until he |
| dance. | | | | was 50 years old. |
| Tap dance is one of the few dances that also | | | | The Nicholas brothers were also famous tap dancers. |
| engage the ears. It's like a dance that creates its | | | | They first gained attention as featured dancers at |
| own music. Very few dances fit into this category. | | | | Harlem's famous Cotton Club. They were so popular, |
| Are you interested in studying tap? Or maybe you | | | | until they were the only act allowed to socialize with |
| just want to know more about it? Here are some | | | | the white patrons. After leaving the club, the |
| questions and answers to get you informed. | | | | brothers appeared in movies and television shows. |
| Question One. Where did tap dance come from? | | | | Question Four. Were all popular tap dancers |
| Answer. Tap dance is believed to be a mixture of | | | | African-American? |
| dances from various cultures. African-American slaves | | | | Answer. At one time, the answer to that question |
| are credited with starting an early form of the dance | | | | would have been yes. But dancers such as Fred |
| in America. They used their hands and feet to make | | | | Astaire and Gene Kelley proved that dancing skills |
| music because they weren't allowed to play African | | | | weren't limited to one ethnic group. Astaire and Kelley |
| drums. | | | | were well-known for their dancing skills, which |
| Question Two. What did tap dancers do before | | | | included tap. |
| metal plates were available? | | | | Just the Beginning |
| Answer. Dancers wore wooden clogs on leather | | | | The history of tap dance can't be condensed into |
| shoes. The heel or toes were used to strike the | | | | one short article. There's much more to learn. If |
| wooden clogs against the floor. It produced a musical | | | | you're interested in this art form, take time to read |
| sound, although different from the one produced by | | | | and learn more about it. |