Calling all Fred and Gingers!

[Songbird]

Hello, I'm new to the lounge ^^ Just wondering if there are any other tap dancers here. I've been dancing for about 15 years - My first teacher, Vicky Van Zandt was in quite a few films, American in Paris and Singin' in the Rain for example I always get a thrill when I spot her in the movies and I love the old Broadway style she taught but It's hard to find tappers nowadays that do it seriously. I think it would be wonderful to find some like-minded ladies and gents to analyze some of the old footage of the greats and compare notes with. It would be awesome if we could break down some of those amazing steps and try them ourselves as well

 

[B. F. Socaspi]

I took tap for a few years, but had to quit because of grades. I'm thinking about taking it back up again. My maternal great grandpa was on Vaudeville, and my paternal grandmother and her husband do all sort of dancing to this day. She was a tap dancer.

You're lucky to have such a talented mentor!

 

[Songbird]

You should definitely take it up again! Especially since it's in the blood If you've taken it for a few years it should be pretty easy to brush up, how far did you go technique-wise? Any favorite steps/styles you remember? I myself am quite fond of Maxi fords, any variation

 

[Sunny]

I'm a tapper! I tapped pretty much from 1st grade through 12th. I wanted to continue in college, but the few like-minded people I found were into hiphop instead of Broadway style. Now I really don't have either time or venue... although it may come around eventually at church, since they've started doing musicals. (Yay!)

I thought I got pretty decent at it, but I'm afraid I don't remember the names. Or if I do, I'm not sure how to write them! I got wings pretty much down, both double and single, and I did over-the-tops, although only the right side really worked.

 

[Songbird]

Yeah, when I was in college they were all doing rhythm tap instead of Broadway but I took the classes anyway and ended up using them to improve my speed and technique. The heels always had my teacher laughing though when I had to do heel clicks - especially when I nailed them! lol. My final choreography was always full-fledged Broadway style though ^^
I think it's good to continue taking courses even if the style's a little off for your taste, you'll find that you're technique will improve in ways it never would have and you can just steal anything you like from the other style and modify it for Broadway It's also great to take Ballroom if you can't find any tap, It's helps with posture and if you can adapt it to tap well you'll find yourself looking more and more like Fred and Ginger!

As for names, I've heard too many versions of each so I forget them half the time too ^^

 

[Songbird]

Oh, and good luck with the musicals!!! That sounds so fun

 

[dhermann1]

Joseph Wiggan

I'm not a tap dancer, but a decent swing dancer. But I'd LOVE to learn to tap dance! I've seen a lot of great ones over the years at NY Swing Dance Society events. Just 2 weeks ago I saw a kid named Joseph Wiggan. Watch out for that name. They told me he's appearing in a show in France right now (must have been home for a short vacation), but anyhow he's mind boggling. And you couldn't stop him. Talk about gotta dance! Any other New Yorkers like to take lessons???? I might be game.