Tap Dance – Grooves – Intermediate

For anyone who has ever wanted to express the more musical and percussive aspect of tap dance, this shorter intermediate course breaks down some of musics most essential grooves that have been translated into the Rhythm Tap Dance genre. Taking you through some drumming-like rudiments such as paradiddles, backbeats and then also exploring a more straight ahead feel as well as a more funky feel. Examining a six into four polyrhythm and adding some half-time feels within that. This course breaks down the jazz ride beat with some ornamentation and a more latin based groove utilising the ‘off’ beat. There are also two short grooving steps to learn which act explore weight change, timing and demand a competent level of coordination to play well.

This course is more about establishing your grooves whereby you as a tap dancer could also be considered a musician. You can develop the ability to play alone, alongside a band or with other tap dancers. The ability to groove opens you up to a world of possibilities both on and off stage. You can stand there and hold time for a band or make music for another dancer and as you begin to ornament your grooves, you are able to fully express yourself within tap dancing.

By the end of this course, you will be able to accompany musicians, groove along to music and establish a solid time feel. Time and feel are very under appreciated facets within the genre of tap, but when you remove some of the more complex steps and just focus on the music, you gain the upper hand in this arena. Once a solid sense of time has been established, it frees you up to dance, play better music and communicate your ideas successfully to the world.