Tap Dance
Features of the Irish tap dance
is a project transforming a dance into geometric and spatial presentations. The project starts by selecting a kind of dance, a dance troupe, or a dancing performance as the target of transformation, and the dance I pick is – the Irish tap dance.
Steady on the upper body Different with the British and American tap dance, the Irish tap dance doesn’t have upper-body movements. The dancers usually put their hands on their hips or stick them on two sides of the body, making dance steps only on their legs and feet. (Yet, this custom is sometimes broken by modern choreographers like Michael Flatley.)
Irish tap dance is derived from the traditional folk dance – the jig, which is prevalent in Britain and Ireland. And it has been well known since the creation of Riverdance performed by Michael Flatley in 1994, and the following work Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames, making Irish tap dance famous and popular.
Preparing position of legs In Irish tap dance, the legs usually start and end in a position of “crossing” – putting the left foot in front of the right foot. Movements of legs and feet Steady on the upper body, the Irish tap dance focuses on quick movements of legs and feet. The dancers step, tap, jump, spin, and wave their legs up and down, making typical tip-tap sounds by wearing metal-sole tap shoes.
Riverdance – one of the iconic works of the Irish tap dance.
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Body pose.
Movements of legs and feet.
