Tap Steps: Main Index

• Steps Here
• Steps Elsewhere
• Tap Syllabus
  • Dance Associations
  • Al Gilbert Tap Syllabus

By the way, it's best to find a great teacher, take workshops, etc. to get a range of techniques and explanations of steps. Steps and combinations described online are best used as reinforcing your lessons, getting ideas, etc.

Steps Here

• Paddle and Roll
  
  
• Shim Sham Shimmy
  
  
• Basic Timesteps
  
  
• Other Steps
  
  
• Tap Glossary and Notations
  
  
• Tap Instructional Videos
  
  

Steps Elsewhere

• United Taps - Rod Howell's site containing short video clips of various tap steps, available for fast and slow Internet connections and in slow and fast versions for beginners or intermediate dancers.
  
  
• Bob Macke's Web Site
  
  
• Off Jazz Dance World - video clips of steps (in France)
  
  
• History Of Swing Dancing: African Influences - an interesting chart with illustrations of characteristics of African dance
  
  

Tap Syllabus

Dance Associations

While a number of the top teachers have syllabi, the following are societies whose syllabi are used as reference in competitions:

• Dance Masters of America
• International Dance Teachers Assoc. (IDTA) - based in UK.
• Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) - based in the UK.
• Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing - based in Australia

Al Gilbert Tap Syllabus

In addition to the syllabus sources listed above, Al Gilbert has a graded system which includes eight levels of tap steps. It is a graded level of tap and technique on records or CD's. It goes from preschool, grade 1 through grade 9. There are graded routines including ballet, tap and jazz routines. He also has across the floor tap combinations (4 levels). He has a graded jazz system (through grade 4). The graded specific routines already choreographed with music can be used for yourself or classes you teach.

For more information contact:

Al Gilbert Stepping Tones Records

PO Box 35236

Los Angeles, CA 90035

323-965-5500

One online source of the syllabus boxed sets is Music Works Unlimited, which describes the sets as "binders contain each CD along with laminated notes & instructions."

If anyone has more information on tap syllabi, let me know.

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