10 Tap Dance Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

Drawing from her extensive experience as a soloist, choreographer, and teacher in over 250 cities, Acia Gray crafted this guidebook to both ground beginners in fundamental tap dance techniques and ignite creativity in seasoned performers. You’ll explore classic tap figures like The B.S. Chorus and The Shim Sham Shimmy alongside choreographic and improvisational insights, all rooted in rich historical context referencing legends such as Charles "Honi" Coles and Savion Glover. The book’s structure offers practical sequences and rhythm explorations, making it suitable whether you’re aiming to build a solid foundation or deepen your artistic expression. If you’re serious about understanding tap’s language and lineage, this is a thoughtful resource that respects tradition while encouraging personal discovery.

Drawing from his extensive experience choreographing over 300 theatrical productions, Mark Knowles assembled this detailed lexicon of tap dance steps and terminology. You’ll find a thorough catalog that clarifies the diverse and often confusing names for tap steps, along with counts, histories, and cross-references — from familiar moves to rare ones like the Patting Juba and Swanee Shuffle. This book is less about teaching you how to tap dance and more about giving you the precise language and background needed to understand and perform each step correctly. If you're serious about mastering the vocabulary and nuances of tap dance, this dictionary is an indispensable reference.

This tailored book provides a detailed exploration of foundational tap dance techniques and step mastery, designed to fit your unique background and skill level. It offers a personalized framework that emphasizes core tap fundamentals, rhythmic precision, and step execution, cutting through generic advice to deliver content relevant to your specific goals in tap dance mastery. The book addresses the nuances of footwork, timing, and movement dynamics, fostering a comprehensive understanding that supports both beginners and intermediate dancers. By focusing on your individual context, it ensures targeted progress through clear explanations and practice strategies that build confidence and technical skill in tap dance.

When Brian Seibert first explored the layered origins of tap dance, he uncovered a rich cultural tapestry woven from African rhythms and British Isles step traditions. Drawing on his expertise as a New York Times dance critic, Seibert guides you through tap's evolution from underground performances to vaudeville stages and Hollywood screens, spotlighting figures like Master Juba and Savion Glover. You gain a nuanced understanding of the art form's complex racial dynamics, stylistic shifts, and its place within American popular culture. If you want to grasp tap dance as more than movement—as a story of cultural exchange and resilience—this book offers clear-eyed insights without romanticizing its past.

What started as a detailed exploration of a buck dance challenge in 1900 evolved into a sweeping cultural history that traces tap dance's journey through American society. Constance Valis Hill, drawing from her experience as a jazz tap dancer and scholar, guides you through decades of tap's evolution from Afro-Irish percussive roots to contemporary forms, highlighting styles like buck-and-wing, ragtime stepping, and hip-hop influenced hoofing. You'll discover the crucial roles women played in shaping tap, often overlooked in dance histories, with profiles of pioneers such as Ada Overton Walker and Chloe Arnold. This book is best for anyone eager to understand tap dance not just as performance but as a dynamic social and musical conversation.

When Simeon Weedall first discovered the deep connection between tap dance and authentic musical expression, he set out to capture that essence beyond flashy footwork. Drawing from three decades on stages from West End to New York, he offers you a guide focused on the heart of tap: improvisation, rhythmic subdivision, and personal voice. You’ll explore how to craft solos that resonate like spoken language, moving past mere routines to true musicianship. This book suits tap dancers eager to deepen their artistry, whether you’re refining your solo skills or seeking to embody the spirit behind every step.

This personalized tap dance guide offers a focused daily practice plan designed to accelerate skill development over 30 days. It provides a tailored framework of step-by-step exercises and rhythm drills that fit your specific experience and goals, cutting through generic advice to target your unique learning curve. By emphasizing consistent daily actions, the book addresses both technical precision and musicality, fostering rapid improvement in tap fundamentals and stylistic expression. Its tailored approach ensures the content fits your particular background and desired pace, helping you build confidence and agility efficiently within a structured, practical schedule.

When A. C. Gilbert first realized that tap dance instruction lacked a definitive reference, he drew on over fifty years of experience to create a unique resource. This book teaches you the precise terminology, notation methods, and historical context of tap dance, making it invaluable for educators, choreographers, and serious students. You'll find detailed explanations of tap styles, music influences, and famous performers, along with guidance on reading and writing dance notes. It's designed for those who want to deepen their technical understanding and teaching capabilities rather than casual enthusiasts.

Barbara Duffy, a tap dancer and teacher with nearly three decades of experience leading improvisation classes worldwide, offers a deep dive into the art of tap dance improvisation. Drawing from her extensive practice in New York City and beyond, she presents a collection of physical, mental, musical, and emotional exercises designed to enhance expressiveness in tap dancers at any level. You learn how to break free from rigid choreography and tap into spontaneous creativity, cultivating both technical skills and emotional connection. This book suits anyone eager to expand their improvisational vocabulary and find personal freedom in their tap dancing.

When Beverly Fletcher first realized the depth and complexity of tap dance terminology, she created this manual to clarify and preserve the art form's language and history. You’ll find over 1,500 detailed entries covering everything from foundational steps to the evolution of tap dance pioneers, along with a dedicated section for instructors. This book equips you with a precise vocabulary and historical context, making it especially useful if you teach, study, or choreograph tap dance. Fletcher’s work is a straightforward reference that bridges past and present, ideal for anyone serious about mastering the craft’s terminology and traditions.

When Paul Draper challenges the traditional views on tap dancing, he offers more than just steps—he redefines how rhythm and expression intertwine in this precise art form. Drawing from his extensive experience as a celebrated dancer and teacher, Draper navigates beyond basic techniques to explore the musicality and emotional depth tap dancers can achieve. You’ll find insights into phrasing, timing, and the subtle nuances that elevate performance, with chapters dedicated to blending technical skill and personal style. This book suits dancers ready to deepen their understanding of tap as a communicative medium, rather than just a series of movements.

Cheryl M. Willis, Ed.D., draws on her extensive background as a tap dancer and scholar of African American studies to explore the dynamic careers of Edwina "Salt" Evelyn and Jewel "Pepper" Welch, two women who redefined tap dance during the Big Band era. Through detailed interviews and historical context, you gain insight into how these performers navigated and challenged the racial and gender barriers of their time. The book offers a unique lens on the cultural and rhythmic aspects of tap, highlighting the duo's influence on a predominantly male-dominated art form. If you’re interested in the intersections of performance, history, and social dynamics within tap dance, this biography gives you an intimate and textured understanding.