QUESTIONS and ANSWERS     

How can you tap at home without having a tap studio?

When tapping at home, you can use a 4-foot by 6-foot sheet of 5/8-inch T-111 that is placed on top of carpet with the rough side down or you can use a 4-foot by 6-foot portable tap mat on top of carpet.  Portable tap mats are light (about 25 pounds) and they can be rolled up when not being used. Most of the better tap mats are made of oak, have a canvas backing, and cost about $400.  If necessary, regular plywood can be substituted for T-111.  You can make a tap board for about $20, and the one I’m using now is over two years old.

You can get an outstanding workout at home on a tap board or tap mat, and getting exercise by tapping your feet is a lot more fun than using a treadmill or jumping rope.  If you have a tap board or tap mat, three other things that will make your tapping easier and more enjoyable are (1) a good source of music, (2) a good fan, and (3) a large mirror so you can see yourself while you tap.  All of the basic steps used in tappercise can be done on a 4-foot by 6-foot tap board or tap mat.     

What are the best tap shoes for tappercise?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question.  Shoes that are good for one person might not be good for another person.  As a rule:  (1) tap shoes for tappercise need to be pliable, comfortable, and durable, (2) lace-up shoes with a thick sole seem to work better and last longer than slip-on shoes with a thin, flexible sole, and (3) taps with three screws are usually more reliable than taps with only one screw.  Even though tap sneakers are popular in some areas, many people do not like the way they sound or the way they fit.

I use So Danca TA 700 professional tap shoes for all of my tapping because they give me good support, I like the way they sound, and the screws are less likely to fall out or be torn loose from the shoe because of a patented locking system that anchors the screws in place.  Another feature I like is that you can buy them with the taps already attached.  It makes no sense to buy expensive tap shoes that come without taps unless you have access to someone who knows the correct way to mount the taps.

What do you need to know about keeping your taps in good shape?

If you are using tap shoes that do not have anchors to keep the screws in place, you should frequently check the tension on your screws and you should purchase a tap-shoe repair kit that includes a screwdriver, replacement screws, leather tap-bits, and super glue.  I still carry a tap-repair kit, but I haven't used it to repair my own shoes since I started wearing tap shoes that have built-in anchors.

How tight you should keep the screws that hold your taps in place is not an easy question to answer because some people believe that keeping them loose improves the sound and other people are satisfied with the sounds they get when the screws are tight.  I keep the screws on my tap shoes tight because it decreases the risk of losing a screw or losing a tap.  When it comes to the quality of the sounds you are making, too much muscle tension in your legs, keeping your knees too straight, not enough flexibility in your ankles, poor balance, and not having mastered the step are usually more important than whether your tap screws are loose or tight.

How loud is loud enough?

As the name implies, tap dancing is about tapping the floor not pounding the floor.  Keeping your sounds clear and distinct is far more important than making them loud.  Pounding the floor instead of tapping the floor is hard on your joints, and makes it difficult to shift your body weight quickly.  Staying on the balls of your feet and tapping instead of pounding will help you keep your body limber and your movements quick and precise.  If you can hear the tapping sounds you are making above the music you are using, the sounds you are making are loud enough.

If your goal is to make your tapping sounds louder, try to do it by using more ankle movement and less leg movement.  Doing stretching exercises to improve your ankle’s flexibility (range of motion) will sometimes produce dramatic increases in the quality of your sounds.  Other techniques that you can use are (1) stay relaxed until you are ready to make a sound, (2) use muscle tension to maintain your balance and focus your energy when your foot strikes the floor, and (3) relax your muscles after your foot strikes the floor. 

Is tappercise a form of tap dancing?

Tappercise is a form of tap dancing because it uses tap dancing steps and it places high value on many of the same skills that are valued by tap dancers.  Although tappercise emphasizes exercise more than complex rhythms, your sounds should be clear and distinct and you should try to stay on beat.  In addition to the health and fitness benefits that come from moving your body, breathing harder than normal, and getting your heart beating faster than normal, tappercise will give you a good background if you decide to broaden your horizons and study other forms of tap dancing, such as rhythm tap or tap that uses jazz, ballet, or hip-hop movements.
 
Where can I find products that relate to tappercise or tap dancing?

That depends on what kind of products you are looking for.  If you have access to the Internet, which you probably have if you are visiting this web site, a Google or Yahoo search is a good starting point.  You can also check phone books for tap-dancing schools or stores that sell tap dancing supplies.  Internet bookstores, local bookstores, and libraries are a good source for tap-dancing books, and you can find several places on the Internet that sell tap-dancing DVDs.  My favorite place on the Internet for tap-dancing DVDs and other tap-dancing items is Jim Taylor's Hollywood Tap Mall (www.hollywoodtapmall.com), which is also where I bought my tap-shoe repair kit.

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