Famous Tappers

Throughout the years, tap dance has gone through a complete transformation into a multi-faceted technique that can be adapted to fit the needs of any performance venue. 

Here are just a few examples, throughout history, of tap icons and their styles:

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are one of most iconic and recognizable tap duets of the past.  The starred in a total of 10 movies together from 1933 to 1949. Their dancing ranged from a ballroom waltz to an early swing style, and even included a bit more of a rhythmic style that was not regularly performed by women in the 1930's.  Both Fred and Ginger would go on to have very active solo careers. 

I will get into the history of Fred and Ginger in posts to follow shortly.

“It’s as if my left heel is my bass drum and my right heel is the floor tom-tom. I can get snare out of my right toe by not putting it down on the floor hard, and, if I want cymbals, I land flat on both feet, full strength on the floor.” - Savion Glover

Savion Glover does a lot of his work a capella (without a layer of music in the background).  The best way to describe his work is rhythmic, grounded, "hard-core", and intricate. Savion provided the choreography and tap sounds for the movie Happy Feet, and is a Tony Award-Winner for his Broadway show Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk. Savion is currently touring both nationally and internationally with an ensemble of dancers that he handpicked to portray his style and rhythms.

The world lost a legend when Gregory Hines passed away in 2003.  Hines was a Tony Award-Winning dancer, choreographer, and actor whose style was a mix between contemporary tap and "hoofing".  Gregory's mentors included the great Sammy Davis Jr.