National Tap Dance Day

We salute one of America's oldest dancing art styles on May 25th, during National Tap Dance Day.

#nationaltapdanceday

Tap dance is a percussive dance dating back to the early 1800s, with a blend of principally African and Irish roots..

Tap dancers have often displayed a great deal of character by sound and body movement, often incorporating complicated rhythmic step sequences. Tap dancing evolved from a rigid Irish jig to a sand step, and a little bit of jazz, from clogging to wing styles, soft-shoe to the sand step, and a little bit of jazz, from a stiff Irish jig to a sand step, to a sand step, and a little bit of jazz. The vocal Ring-shout.

Famous tap dancers

Bill "Bojangles" Robinson Robinson, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson Robinson Robinson "Bojangles" Robinson Robinson
Fred Astaire
Gregory Hines
Ginger Rogers

Each of these artists brought their own twist to a dance style that continues to influence film, music, and stage.

Soft-shoe is a form of tap dance that is similar to tap dancing. Although the steps are still rhythmic, the sound is muffled as tap shoes are not required to perform the steps. The two dance steps in tap transfer to soft-shoe make them extremely compatible.

In the 1980s, the famous Shim Sham of the vaindeville era became a line dance.

How to celebrate #nationaltapdanceday

Get your toes tapping and sharing your favorite tap dance experiences. There are so many ways to express your admiration of this enthralling art form.

Give a shout out to your new tap dancer
Attend a performance. Tap dance is included in theatre performances, recitals, and spur-of-the-moment performances.
Performer! Perform! Show off your talent by wearing your tap shoes on and showing off your talent. Make a video and post it on social media
Take a class. Take a class. The Tap dance provides great exercise and gives the opportunity to share experiences with others
Teach someone. Share your tapping expertise with others who want to learn.
Learn more about tap dance Three fantastic places to start include: The following are three fantastic places to start:
Lisa Lewis' Beginning Tap Dance began by Lisa Lewis's Beginning Tap Dance
Tap Roots: Mark A. Knowles' Early History of Tap Dancing: The Early History of Tap Dancing
By Acia Gray, The Souls of Your Feet: A Tap Dance Guide for Rhythm Explorers
Tap dancing is included in many films that include tap dancing We love these: These are our favorites: We like these:
Gregory Hines appears on Tap and directed by Nick Castle, with Gregory Hines starring Gregory Hines and directed by Nick Castle
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers appear in Swing Time, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. George Stevens' Directed by George Stevens.
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone appear in La Land's starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Damien Chazelle's directedee directed him.

Let us know how you celebrate by posting #NationalTapDanceDay on social media. Let us know how you celebrate by using #NationalTapDanceDay to post on social media.

History of national tap dance day has spanned decades

A request for National Tap Dance Day was considered by Congress on February 7, 1989, on February 7, 1989. While Christensen attended George Washington University, Carol Vaughn, Nicola Daval, and Linda Christensen, all tap dancers and enthusiasts, entertained the idea for legislation. The bill came to fruition after President George H.W. Busch signed it into law on November 8, 1989. On May 25, 1989, the law established a one-time official observance of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, a major contributor to tap dance born in 1878. On May 25th, the observance has continued to be commemorated each year.

"hello, i was just reading about national tap dance day and suspect your history may have been inaccurate," i believe i was the first national tap dance day from a relative of mine. i believe he was the first national tap dance day, not related to mr. bojangles

Here is a PDF copy of the letter sent from Congress to Bill Robinson from our correspondence with Jamie S.

Jamie tells us that this cousin (Bill) is their cousin, who has since passed away, but Bill's mother would like to know that this National Day has honor and meaning to their family.

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