Tap & Dance For The National Tap Dance Day

Pulse

oi-Anjana NS

By Anjana Ns

Tuesday, May 24, 2011, 17:37

If you wish to put some steps with your partner then here is a good chance as May 25th is celebrated as the “National Tap Dance Day". The dance is a popular American art form and was marked in the American calendar after it was presented to US congress on September 15th, 1988. The folk dance was a part of the American law when President George H. W. Bush signed it on November 7th, 1989. Tap Dance Day is also celebrated in India, Japan, Australia and Iceland.

The idea of having such day was the dream of Carol Vaughn, Nicola Daval, and Linda Christensen. May 25th was termed appropriate for the Tap Dance Day as it is the birthday of the famous tap dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. On this day, many events are conducted to allow the youngsters showcase their talent. The dance is celebrated in different ways like the troupe may be asked to perform on streets and teach the "Shim Sham Shimmy" to passers by. The folk dance also differs from city to city in the US.

About The Dance:

The dance form is performed by tapping shoes on floor, like as if an instrument is played. The musical form has two major variations, rhythm tap and broadway tap. Rhythm tap focuses on the musical side while broadway tap on the dance side. The dance has its origin in both Irish step-dancing, and black slave dances (Juba). The folk art got popular in the 19th century.