Tap: The New Endangered Species?
On my first couple stops on the competition circuit this season, I was privileged to adjudicate so many talented dancers who threw their hearts and souls into their routines. The passion the dancers exuded reached beyond the judges’ table, past the audience, through the doors and out into the parking lot.
My abundant praise does not come without equivalent criticism, though. As I watched entry after entry, something started to irk me.
Let me preface my diatribe by expressing my utmost respect and adoration for innovative choreography. Pushing the envelope and experimenting with new ways to move is the only way to grow and evolve as artists. But at the same time, I worry that many teachers are so eager to dive into this new realm of “contemporary dance” that they are sacrificing the fundamentals. And the consequences of that are devastating—as contemporary styles spread like wildfire, the classics are slowly disappearing.
Sadly, one of the most endangered genres in the world of competitive dance is tap. Among 200 plus entries at one competition I judged, less than 10 percent were tap numbers. For the mathematically challenged out there, that means fewer than 20 tap routines—a rather shocking statistic.
Paige Cassidy, Cassandra O'Keefe, Victoria Pendak and Hannah O'Brien from Gen's Dance Studio performing
I realize my experiences are limited to the specific competitions I attended, and that elsewhere on the circuit tap may be flourishing. However, it seems, at least from my correspondence with studio directors and other judges, that tap is struggling to maintain its relevance in a world craving change.
I spoke with dancer, choreographer and adjudicator Rachel Coppola to find out why.
“I think that part of the problem is that it’s sort of a dying art form, certainly as far as a Broadway art form. There aren’t really any big tap shows right now,” she explains. “There used to be ‘Crazy for You’ and ‘42nd Street,’ and even when you used to watch movie musicals where there were big, huge numbers, there was a lot of tapping. I don’t think that it’s seen enough today. If it’s not seen, it’s not being appreciated. And then it’s not being taught.”
I also spoke to Gen Woodward, artistic director of Gen’s Dance Studio in Concord, NH, and she told me that exposing her students to tap is of paramount importance, especially in the current climate.
“It’s a lyrical and modern world right now,” she sighs, “but I make all my students start with tap early and keep them in it so they will keep doing it. I make it funky and fun, and keep the music current. That way, they’ll stay interested.”
*Choreograph winning tap numbers with Coppola’s tips:
1. Don’t be afraid to take on big production numbers.
2. Keep it exciting by incorporating formation changes.
3. Remember that tap dancers are also musical instruments.
4. Use the music wisely; add syncopation, match the rhythms exactly or go a cappella.
5. Most importantly, have fun!*
Although tap seems scarce on the circuit, the truth is that this American art form is alive and well in other dance circles. It’s only a matter of time before tap experiences another resurgence and the competitive dance world shuffles along for the ride. In the meantime, keep on tapping!