Introduction to Tap presented by Quynn Johnson
From Kennedy Center: Teaching Artists Present · 2020
10 min2nd3rd4th5thDance
Summary
Tap dancer Quynn Johnson introduces the basic sounds and steps of tap, where your feet keep the beat. Part of the Kennedy Center's Teaching Artists Present series — clear a safe space and have students dance along with the teaching artist.
Viewer safety
All ages
Our rating is a quick teacher-to-teacher guide — preview before showing.
Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
This class gives students a full-body dance experience.
- Which movement felt easiest, and which was the hardest?
- How did the music or rhythm change the way you moved?
- What is one step you could teach a friend?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: locomotor (traveling) movement, non-locomotor (in-place) movement, rhythm, phrase.
Try it: Dance along, then invent a short movement phrase with a beginning, middle, and end and show it to a partner.