GLOSSARY FOR BASIC STEPS 

Ball Change (BC) (Ball step-Ball step) This step has two parts:  (1) ball step and transfer of weight to one foot and (2) ball step and transfer of weight to the other foot.  If you shift your weight without lifting both feet off the floor, you will not get two sounds.  A ball change ends with one foot off the floor. 

Ball Step (BS) To raise the foot and then put weight on the ball of the foot to make a sound.  Other names for this step are step, one, single, and tap.   Since the word step can also mean any foot movement that makes one or more sounds—for example “I know 25 basic steps.”—this movement is being called a ball step rather than a step to avoid confusion. 

Ball Tap (BT) To touch the floor with the ball of the foot, but not transfer weight to the working foot.  After the touch, the working foot can be lifted off the floor and the color of the ball tap will be white, or left resting lightly on the floor, and the color of the ball tap will be gray. 

Brush (BR) The foot swings upward and usually away from the body after the ball of the foot strikes the floor, and it stops at the end of the arc in a raised position.  If a ball tap is divided into inner—the part behind big toe—middle, and outer, contact is usually made with the inner or middle portion. 

Cramp (CR) (jump-heel drop)  A cramp is done by jumping in the air with both feet, landing on the balls of both feet at the same time, and then dropping both heels at the same time. You can make four sounds after the jump if the balls of your feet and your heels land at different times.  This is called a cramp roll, and it has two versions.  The first is do a ball step with one foot, a ball step with the other foot, a heel drop with the foot that did the second ball step, and a heel drop with the other foot.  The other is do a ball step with one foot, a ball step with the other foot, a heel drop with the foot that did the first ball step, and a heel drop with the other foot. 

Flap (FL) (brush-ball step) This step combines a brush with a ball step.  The first sound is caused by the toe striking the floor during the brush, and the second sound is caused by the ball of the foot striking the floor during the ball step.  A flap transfers weight to the working foot after the ball step, and you can use a flap to travel across the floor.  Unlike a slap, after you do a flap with one foot, the other foot will be off the floor.  Like a slap, flaps can also be done in place.  A running flap is a brush and a jump.

Heel-Ball (HB) (heel step-ball tap) A step that combines a heel step, which transfers weight, and a ball tap, which does not transfer weight.  This step is similar to walking on your heels, and the ball tap is done after weight is transferred to the working foot.  If you do not keep your knees bent, it can be difficult to get a clear and distinct sound from the ball tap. 

Heel Click (HC) This step is done by pivoting on the balls of the feet and striking the inside edges of the heel taps together.  This step is usually done by swinging both heels inward, but it can also be done by keeping one foot stationary and swinging the other heel inward.  This is the only basic tappercise step that does not strike the floor to make a sound. 

Heel Dig (HDI) To strike the floor with the back edge of the heel tap while the ball tap is raised off the floor.  There is no transfer of weight to the heel. 

Heel Drop (HDR) With or without weight on the ball of the foot, strike the floor with the heel.  Weight may or may not be transferred to the heel.  

Heel Scuff (HSC) The foot swings upward after the rear edge of the heel tap strikes the floor and it stops at the end of the arc in a raised position. 

Heel Step (HST) Weight is transferred to the working foot after the back edge of the heel strikes the floor.  This step, which is similar to walking on your heels, can be used to travel or done in place.  

Hop (HO) Standing on one foot, springing into the air, and landing on the same foot.  You normally start on the ball of the foot, but the landing can be on the ball or a full-foot.  Hops are done with the working foot weighted.

Jump (JU) Standing on one foot, springing into the air, and landing on the other foot.  You normally start on the ball of your support foot and then land on your other foot.  Springing into the air from both feet and landing on both feet is considered a jump or spring.  Jumps are done with the working foot or working feet weighted.

Paddle (PA) (heel dig-spank) This step combines a heel dig with a spank (back brush).  The first sound is caused by the rear edge of the heel striking the floor and the second sound is caused by the ball tap striking the floor.  If you combine a paddle and a roll, you get a four-sound step that is called a paradiddle.  When done quickly, a paradiddle sounds like a drumroll. 

Riff (RI) (brush-heel scuff) This step combines a brush with a heel scuff, and both movements are done along the same continuous arc.  As soon as your ball tap clears the floor after the brush, you raise your toe, drop your heel, and let the back edge of your heel tap strike the floor during the heel scuff.  Your working foot will be off the floor after the heel scuff.

Roll (RO) (ball step-heel drop) This step combines a ball step with a heel drop.  The first sound is caused by the ball tap striking the floor, and the second sound is caused by the heel tap striking the floor.  If you combine a paddle and a roll, you get a four-sound step that is called a paradiddle. 

Shuffle (SH) (brush-spank) This step combines a brush with a spank.  The first sound is caused by the ball of the foot striking the floor during the brush, and the second sound is caused by the ball of the same foot striking the floor during the spank (back brush).  This is one of the most popular steps used in tap dancing and the old term for a shuffle was a double.  A shuffle is often followed by a jump from the support leg to the working leg.

Slap (SL) (brush-ball tap) This step combines a brush with a ball tap.  The first sound is caused by the ball tap striking the floor during the brush, and the second sound is caused by the ball tap striking the floor during the ball tap.  Unlike a flap, a slap does not transfer weight to the working foot, and you cannot use a slap to travel across the floor. 

Spank (SP) (back brush) The foot swings inward after the ball of the foot strikes the floor and it stops at the end of the arc in a raised position.  Whereas a brush tends to move away from the body and in the direction of the toes, a spank tends to move toward the body and in the direction of the heel.  A spank is also called a back brush.

Stamp (STA) You strike the floor with the bottom of the foot (full-foot) and transfer weight to the working foot.  After the weight is transferred, the working foot becomes the support foot.  The phrase “A stamp stays down” can help you remember that a stamp transfers weight to the working foot.  

Stomp (STO) You strike the floor with the bottom of the foot (full-foot), but do not transfer weight to the working foot.  After striking the floor, the working foot rebounds upward and body weight is on the supporting leg.  The phrase “A stomp pops up” can help you remember that a stomp does not transfer weight to the working foot.

Stomple (STE) (stomp-spank) This step is a stomp combined with a spank (back brush).  When doing this step, body weight is not transferred to the working foot because unlike a stamp, a stomp does not transfer weight.  Keeping your support leg bent will help you maintain your balance.

Toe Beat (TB) Flexing the knee until the foot is almost perpendicular to the floor and then striking the floor behind you with the tip of the ball tap.  A toe beat does not rebound upward after it hits the floor and produces a flatter sound than a toe tap.  This step does not transfer weight to the working foot.

Toe Tap (TT) Flexing the knee until the foot is almost perpendicular to the floor and then striking the floor behind you with the tip of the ball tap.  A toe rebounds upward after it hits the floor and produces a sharper sound than a toe beat.  This step does not transfer weight to the working foot, and is also called a toe back because your toe strikes behind your back.

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