Reviews (3)

Great for Rythm Tapping
I was trained in traditional and flash tap dancing, so I knew very little about rhythm tap. This book goes over the basics of tap and many traditional tap steps. What makes it so great, though, are the in-depth explanations of rhythm, dynamics, syncopation, accents, and new forms of tap, including rhythm tap and orchestrated tap. The explanations are clear and easy and the practice exercises are excellent. This is a must-have book for anyone wishing to expand their tap knowledge and artistry.

Excellent how to book, but it's no dictionary
I'm an advanced tapper who just recently began teaching an intermediate tap class. I decided to find a dictionary of tap in case one of my students asked me about a step I may not know. I ordered this book and realized that it was no dictionary. So if you're looking for a dictionary I suggest looking somewhere else. It is a wonderful how to book though! For instance it talks about syncopating the beat, has pictures of proper placement of your your foot on shuffles, tons of combinations, etc. I suggest this book to tap teachers of all levels and students interested in bettering themselves!

A must-have for tap teachers and students
This book has been a wealth of ideas and information. I use many of the drills and combinations in my classes. They are clearly notated and easy to understand (which is unusual for a "book" on tap dance). I would recommend this book for anyone at an intermediate level or higher. Well worth the money! ... Read more

Book Description

The Souls of Your Feet is a comprensive guide to the art and language of tap dance. Complete with basic technique and creative variations, this guidebook shows the beginning dancer how to build a strong foundation in this wonderful American artform as well as expand the experienced dancer's choreographic and improvisational creativity.Traditional tap dance figures and choruses to include The B.S. Chorus and The Shim Sham Shimmy are some of many basic structures covered in this guidebook. Numerous references are made to the legends of tap dance including Charles "Honi" Coles, Brenda Bufalino, Jimmy Slyde, Sarah Petonio, Savion Glover and many others securing the artform to itshistorical roots. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

One of the most complete tap books available!
Great Book on Tap! Highly Recommend it!

A word of caution...
This book helped me a LOT, I have to admit to that. But experienced tap dancers beware: looking at words that describe steps can be extremely frustrating when you can't visually see them done. Acia has written some wonderful pearls of wisdom within this book, and I highly reccommend it to any serious tap dancer

Wonderful!
Thanks to Acia M. Gray for writing a book that's not just somebody elses steps! I was so excited to see that this book gives tools to make up your own stuff. I will say that some of the terminology is different than I'm used to but it clarifies tap dance in a way that makes sense and lays down a foundation on which to play! An intelligent guide to the "language" of rhythm with your feet.

A treasure for the open minded
This book is a must for beginners. Ms. Gray's definitions make sense. The concepts if taught from the beginning, carry the dancer easily into the advanced levels. Those who do not like the book are struggling with their own closed minds not any shortcomings on Ms. Gray's part. If we all had learned tap with these unique concepts so many bad habits would not have to be "re-learned." I have taught tap for 19 years and all my students have adapted the curriculum provided in "The Souls of Your Feet." The historical descriptions and resource information have proven invaluable as well.

Very confusing
It was more confusing than any other book I have ever read about tap or any other type of dance. ... Read more

Book Description

Born to save tap

Fuh-duh-BAP! Fuh-duh-duh-BAP! A new language, a new sound. Savion Glover has redefined tap dancing, and it can never be the same again. He speaks to the world with a power and ease that has stunned and captivated millions. This exciting biography captures that essence--often in Glover's own voice--and treats readers to an inside look at his work while also providing a brief yet compelling history of tap dancing. Reverberating with the rhythm of a unique musical language, the book includes more than 50 photographs and features an eye-catching two-color design.

"He's the greatest tap dancer to ever lace up a pair of Capezios or any other tap shoes."-- Gregory Hines in the Foreword to Savion: My Life in Tap

2001 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)

"He's the greatest tap dancer to ever lace up a pair of Capezios or any other tap shoes."--Gregory Hines in the Foreword to Savion: My Life in Tap ... Read more

Reviews (6)

For all you tappers out there
Hello to all those tappers out there - I love all of you - Including you Savion. My name is Vaughan and I am actually Australian. My mother taught me how to tap ever since I could stand on two feet. Now, I'm 19 years old. And I'm a professional tap dancing teacher in Japan. Let me just say that I could relate a lot with what Savion was talking about. His views on tap and the way he wants it to go.

It's a fun book to read - with some great action tap shots of Savion throughout his life. The layout is very original, and very creative - it was nice to take my mind off my uni degree for a couple of hours and learn about this extremely successful tap dancer. Someone who I didn't know too much about, but now somehow believe that I've known him all my life.

It's a great art - Tap Dancing. And I wish there were people who could indulge themselves in a couple of professional / guest classes. I go around all of Japan teaching in my holidays, and I try to get as many people involved. Maybe because not many people do it, thats what makes it so unique. Thanks Savion - for following your dreams and publishing this book. It was a great read.

Your fellow Tap Dancer... Vaughan

Best book I've read for a long time
I couldn't put this book down. As a tapper, who is into hoofing and rythm tap, this book was amazing. It explains not only Savin's life and his career but how he uses his shoes to do what he does. This book brings an element of percusion into the dance world that needs to be more widely used.

His Voice Is Finally Heard
We've been hearing his wonderful rhythms for years, now we finally get to hear his voice. What a true inspiration! This book just makes you want to jump up and start moving your feet. Believe me, this book is not just for children. I used it as required reading for my advanced tap class at the local college.

Keep Rockin Savion!
Great design, photos, behind the scenes of one of the greatesttap dancers, Savion Glover! All the info on Savion in one quick read- great for all ages.

Way to Go Savion!
Thank you sir for sharing your wonderful inner world of rhythm with the world! You are an inspiration to all of us who make a living lacing up those tap shoes everyday. Your loving and pricelesss contribution to this wonderful artform are greatly appreciated and honored. ... Read more

Book Description

The language of tap dancing is as rich and varied as that of any art, and different choreographers, teachers and performers often use different terms for exactly the same step. The various names of all steps and clear descriptions of them are collected for the first time in this reference work. The emphasis is on all variations of a name, from universally recognized terms to simple "pet" names that individual performers and choreographers have created, with extensive cross-references provided. Each of the steps is fully described, with appropriate counts, explanations and history. Many antique and unusual steps such as the Patting Juba, the Quack and the Swanee Shuffle are included. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Very thorough!
This book is a great asset for all tappers. It is filled with almost every version of every step known to tappers. I can sit for hours flipping through this book and trying new things. I also find the historical information very interesting. As a dance teacher, this book is a must-have. I am sure it will continue to serve me well all throughout my career.

One of the few tap dictionaries left with clear definitions.
There aren't many TAP dictionaries out there, and out of the few I know of, this one is an asset to have by my side in my dance studio. It has clear definitions and explanations on how to perform the steps. It's got a touch of history for the curious, and has become a trusty companion. I like that it contains different terminology from places all around. A definite five star book!

highly recommended for all dance collections
From Backstage 9/18/98 review by Jennie Schulman "....intensive and comprehensive. In addition to detailed descriptions of all the basic steps extant, there are fascinating details of many of their origins. There are also varied descriptions of the social dances from the 19th Century to our own era, many of which were interpolated into tap.The Tap Dance Dictionary is highly recommended for all dance collections.

A Great Resource
A great way to learn new tap steps while you're traveling on an airplane or otherwise too tired to hoof'em. Also, the most complete reference of steps both old and new. The historical anecdotes that accompany some steps make for interesting reading. A Highly recommended addition to your dance reference bookshelf. ... Read more

Book Description

Tracing the development of tap dancing from ancient India to the Broadway stage in 1903, when the word "Tap" was first used in publicity to describe this new American style of dance, this text separates the cultural, societal and historical events that influenced the development of Tap dancing.

Section One covers primary influences such as Irish step dancing, English clog dancing and African dancing. Section Two covers theatrical influences (early theatrical developments, "Daddy" Rice, the Virginia Minstrels) and Section Three covers various other influences (Native American, German and Shaker). Also included are accounts of the people present at tap’s inception and how various styles of dance were mixed to create a new art form. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Choice Award Winner
In January 2004, Tap Roots: The Early History of Tap Dancing was given the Choice Award for Outstanding Academic Text by the American Library Association. The book was selected for "excellence in scholarship and presentation, the significance of its contribution to the field, and its value as an important treatment of the subject." The Choice Award is given to titles that the American Library Association considers the "best of the best." ... Read more

Book Description

As the official reference manual of the Dance Masters of America, this tap dance resource contains more than 1,500 up-to-date entries about every facet of this uniquely American art form. It provides a history of tap dance as well as the dancers who defined it. This manual also includes a comprehensive dictionary of tap and dance terminology with a special section devoted to teachers. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

timesteps
this book has an amazing review of the 65 time steps...however, i just learned that there are 200 more (someone is hiding them)...so i was wondering how you submit these time steps to the official book, and if you're allowed to just make up new ones. thanks so much!! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

get this, think about the rest later
when this book used to be out of print, legions of ambitous tap dancers - including myself - were searching used-book stores across the country to find a copy. i know some who ended up copying every single page in the lincoln center library. the reason is very simple: there is no other book on the subject that even comes close to gathering this much information on the history of tap dancing. even though historians may argue about some details, the book is usually considered the standard by all the tap pros i know and whoever reads it will have a good understanding of where the art form comes from, what the important issues are, what stages of development tap dancing went through, who the important dancers of different times and styles were, and what the characteristics of different styles and approaches in tap dance are. if you want to know about the history of tap: get this book. otherwise you will find yourself digging through the shelves of rare book stores when it is out of print again.

Great teaching tool
This is a fantastic book! In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I made my college advanced tap class read it, as well. They were truly inspired by this book and have gained a renewed since of determination as far as entering the field of "commercial entertainment" with an emphasis on tap. Each person has a truly unique account of how it was back in the day, when people actually went to "tap clubs" just like we would go to dance clubs nowadays. What an experience to see this exciting time through their eyes.

Not just for tap dancers!
This book is wonderfully written with first-hand accounts about show business during the first half of the 1900's. It is not just for tap dancers, but for anyone interested in getting a feel for the way of life during that period. The amount of information I learned about vaudeville, movie musicals, and even black history in America is much more than I expected when I picked up this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone!

Read!!!!
I just dont understand why tap dancing is disapearing it is the most intruiging type of dance i have ever taken and am still taking...hoping to go pro someday since i am only a teen. To make a long story short this book and it's amazing Gregory Hines has inspired me to go for my dreams, and to keep tap dancing alive. ... Read more

Book Description

An informative, highly illustrated guide for students and teachers of dance and anyone interest in the art of “foot percussion.” ... Read more

Book Description

Tap dance innovators and stars Harold and Fayard Nicholas are the focus of this biography that not only tells of their performances with Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway and their many appearances in films, but also examines their choreographic contributio ... Read more

Reviews (2)

What a disappointment!
How anyone could take the most facinating subjects in the world (the Nicholas Brothers) and make it dull, dead, BORING is beyond me! But this author has done it. I hope she has another career goal, because her writing is just awful and she conveys NO excitement, fun or even history. She glosses over Fayard & Harold's actual history and instead focuses on describing each tap step of each routine--and even to me, as a tap dancer, DULL! I want to hear their stories, for goodness' sake. I KNOW their dancing!

A scholarly analysis, but not a biography
I would recommend purchasing Ms. Hill's treatise on the dance and historic origins of the Nicholas Brothers' dance styles and choreography. However, those who seek a detailed biography will be disappointed, as this book was aimed to be a scholarly work, not a biographical one. The book has little mention of their personal life, marriages, divorces, activities apart and completely ignored many foreign films they made in the 1950's. Harold's marriage to Dorothy Dandridge is mentioned only in passing, and his extensive career in Paris for a decade was only lightly researched. No personal family interviews were apparently done. Although excellent as a dance resource, those seeking a more well-rounded insight on the personality and life of these two genious entertainers will be better served by a biography, which Ms. Hill's book does not aim to be. It will make a great companion work to a still much-needed in-depth look at their lives. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must-read for all hoofers!
This book is essential in every tap dancer's personallibrary. A must read for allhoofers! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I was disappointed
I assumed...which may have been wrong on my part... that I might get a book showing and stating basic tap steps for the beginner....a bit of a guide to enhance a beginner or confirm what a beginner may just have begun to learn. Instead,it explains what to expect if you'd like to start tap dancing..the class, what the shoes look like, that practising could result in a show. My daughter has just turned 5 and found this book 'boring'. I think it is more suited to a 3 year old... a means of encouraging dance maybe. ... Read more