GLOSSARY OF TAP STEPS
Here is a glossary of some of the steps used during a 'Tapaerobics' class. Don't worry if you don't pick them up in your first class! They are repeated throughout the class in different combinations and you will notice yourself picking them up in just a few weeks even if you have never tapped before! These are just a few steps to help you practise if want to pick them up even faster!
Shuffle
A shuffle is a combination of a forward and backward tap.
To practise:-
1. Stand on your left foot (hold onto a chair for balance if you need to) lifting your right foot slightly behind.
2. Bring your right foot forward brushing the ball of your right foot on the floor as it passes your left foot. You should be using your ankle joint to create the forward motion. This is a forward tap.
3. Now bring your right foot backwards brushing the ball of your right foot on the floor as it passes your left foot, again using your ankle joint to create the motion. This is a backward tap.
4. Now try both actions together - forward, backward. Continue to increase the speed until you can comfortably create two sounds "duh duh" each time. These two sounds are known collectively as a shuffle. (Don't forget to practise both feet!)
Tap Spring
A tap spring is a combination a forward tap and a spring.
How to do it:-
1. Follow steps 1 & 2 of the shuffle (forward tap).
2. Now spring onto your right foot lifting your left foot slightly behind. Congratulations! That is a tap spring. Repeat the same motion commencing with your left foot. Continue to repeat and build up the speed.
Shuffle Spring
A shuffle spring is a combination of a shuffle and a spring.
How to do it:-
1. Dance a shuffle with your right foot.
2. Spring onto your right foot.
3. Repeat starting with your left foot.
4. Now try dancing a shuffle spring to the side. Extend the right foot slightly to your right side and perform a shuffle (you will be shuffling using the inside edge of your right foot). Then dance the 'spring' bringing your right foot back to the centre and repeat with the left foot.
Shuffle Ball Change
A shuffle ball change is a combination of a shuffle and a ball change.
How to do it:-
1. Dance a shuffle with your right foot.
2. Step back onto the ball of your right foot (taking the weight of your body)
3. Step onto the left foot (replacing the weight of your body to your left foot).
4. Try dancing 3 shuffle ball changes on your right foot. Then stamp with your right foot to change feet.
Ball Heel Walk
A ball heel walk is a combination of a ball dig and a heel beat.
How to do it:-
1. Lift your right foot up and place the ball of your right foot with a dig action slightly forward of your body (as if taking a step forward). This is a ball dig.
2. Keeping the ball of your right foot connected to the floor push your heel down so it is flat to the floor. Take the weight of your body onto the right foot. This is a heel beat.
3. Now repeat with the left foot. Ball heel walks can be done forwards (as described in steps 1 & 2), on the spot (without travelling), backwards or sideways. Remember to keep the ball of the foot glued to the floor before dancing the heel beat.
Tap Ball Heel Walk
A tap ball heel walk is a combination of a forward tap, ball dig and a heel beat.
How to do it:-
1. Dance a forward tap with your right foot (as described in step 1 & 2 of the shuffle)
2. Dance a ball heel walk.
3. Repeat on the left foot. Tap ball heel walks can also be danced to the side.
Tap Step Ball Change
A tap step ball change is a combination of a forward tap, step, ball change.
How to do it:-
1. Dance a forward tap with your right foot.
2. Step forward onto the ball of your right foot.
3. Step onto the ball of your left foot (behind your right foot).
4. Step onto the ball of your right foot (don't travel on this step).
5. Repeat the whole thing with your left foot.
Pick Up
A pick up is a ball tap danced literally as you pick your foot up. This step is not easy and takes a while to master.
To practise:-
1. Stand on your left foot and dig the back edge of your right heel in front of you on the floor.
2. Now pick your right foot up at the same time tapping the ball of your foot on the floor so you make a 'tap' sound. The movement should come from the ankle.
3. Replace your right heel back on the floor to repeat to practise.
4. Practise 4 pickups with your right foot then after the 4th pick up, step back with your right foot releasing the ball of your left foot (keeping the back edge of your left heel on the floor) so that you can repeat the exercise with your left foot.
5. Once you can perform the pickup action easily try just doing one pickup and one step back. Work to increase the speed so that you can walk backwards in time with the music adding a tap sound every time!
Stamp Stamp Pick Up Step Pick Up Step
This combination of steps is used throughout the Tapaerobics class.
1. Stamp forward with your right foot.
2. Stamp forward with your left foot.
3. Release the ball of your right foot to perform a pick up with your right foot.
4. Step back right foot releasing the ball of your left foot.
5. Pick up with your left foot.
6. Step back with your left foot.
Riffs
Riffs are basically fancy ways of walking forward. During a Tapaerobics class I may refer to this as a 'Walk' at first for those who haven't tapped before. Here is how to do a 3 beat riff:-
1. Standing on your left foot, perform a forward tap with your right foot.
2. Now dig the heel of your right foot into the floor in front as if you are about to take a stride/walk forward.
3. Lower the ball of your right foot to the floor making a tap sound (keep the right heel in contact with the floor) transferring your weight onto the right foot so you can repeat the riff with your left foot.