Tap Dance

What Is Tap Dance?

Tap dance is an American art form developed through the synthesis of African rhythmic stepping traditions and Irish and Scottish step dancing. It uses metal plates attached to the heel and toe of the shoe to create rhythmic sounds that transform the dancer into both performer and musician.

The style encompasses Broadway tap — theatrical, energetic and showman-oriented — as well as jazz tap, which emphasises subtle rhythmic improvisation and musical conversation. Rhythm tap prioritises the percussive and improvisational aspects over theatrical movement.

Tap has a rich tradition in musical theatre and film, with iconic performers from Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly to Gregory Hines and Savion Glover shaping its evolution.

Learning Tap Dance in London

Tap dance has a long tradition in London's theatre community and is widely taught across the city's performing arts schools and dance academies. The style is popular among those training for musical theatre as well as adult recreational dancers.

Regular tap jams and performance opportunities connect London's tap community and provide important spaces for improvisation and creative development.

Tap dance classes in London are available at all levels and most performing arts studios. Beginners are introduced to basic steps — flap, ball-change, shuffle and time step — before progressing to more complex combinations.

The style is suitable for children and adults alike and is often offered as part of a broader theatrical dance curriculum.