Tap Dance - Steps from the Masters

Tap dance rhythm and timing unfold through counts—one, two, and three—in a close-up sequence inspired by Bill Robinson from the masters course on tap dance.

Explore John Bubbles, father of rhythm tap, in a go-to step breakdown with lap toe heel heel variations and clips from the Lucy Show, Broadway, films, and Buck and Bubbles.

Break down fast, high tempo tap steps, including the five beat press, roll brush step, toe heel patterns, and wing change, as demonstrated by John Bubbles.

Explore Chuck Green's be cool tap step, including pickup toe heel, toe chug, and a weight-shifting turn that creates an eight-bar phrase with a ninth, illustrating how he improvises.

Explore tap dance rhythm through a close-up with Chuck Green, counting beats and steps to deliver cool, expressive movement that makes you feel the music.

Study Eddie Brown’s paddle toe and heel sequences, 16th-note phrasing, and stamping patterns to reveal timing, musicality, and rhythmic choices from his solo.

Learn Eddie Brown's paddle toe heel technique in close-up detail, following the 1-2-3-4 rhythm to practice precise tap steps.

Explore Teddy Hale's crossover step through a detailed breakdown of heel step, spank, flam, toe heel flam, and flam flam, ending with a break and shuffle.

Watch Teddy Hale perform a close-up crossover step in tap dance, following a rhythmic count of 1-2-1-2-3 to refine footwork and timing.

Explore Jimmy Slyde's Latin step breakdown from a famous tap solo, tracing the swing-to-Latin mood shift and the toe–heel–paddle sequence.

Explore Jimmy Slyde's latin step through close-up instruction, counting rhythms with patterns like one two, one two, three four, and the sequence 12a1234 to master tempo and coordination.

Watch Sammy Davis Jr. and Gregory Hines trade steps on stage, using stop time, riffs with toe-heel patterns, stamp paddle toe finishes, and playful, quirky humor.

Analyze Gregory Hines's jail scene in tap, breaking down toe, heel, toe sequences, pedal, and evolving short and long rhythmic phrases across right and left sides.

Explore steps from the masters of tap dance with close up timing cues and counts, featuring Gregory Hines in the jail scene from Tap the Movie.

Explore Gregory Hines's tap step from the street scene in tap the movie. Break down drop on the left foot, shuffle, spank change, heel chug, toe heel, ball change patterns.

Master tap rhythm by counting aloud from one to four and practicing steps, as shown in a close-up street scene.

Explore Gregory Hines's call-and-response tap breakdown, featuring flam-like stamps, chugs, scuffs, heel-toes, and triplet phrasing that emphasizes rhythm, timing, and dynamic onstage storytelling.

Join me as you learn some of the steps from the masters of tap dance, and begin your journey through this great art form.