Anyone can dance, and everyone should!

Tap Facts

~~~OLD IS NEW AGAIN~~~

Tap Dancing Resurgence Rises in Bird Rock!

Tap Dancing has been around since the 1800's and has long been a staple vaudeville and the stage. In the last couple of years the popularity of tap dancing has experienced a strong resurgence, especially among kids who have seen the award-winning, animated tap-dancing penguin movie, "Happy Feet". And while seeing their kids out there on the dance floor, many adults remember the joy they experienced when they took tap lessons so many years ago, along with dancers they admired such as Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, and Ginger Rogers. Well now it's time to get back in the game! With dancers like Gregory Hines and Savion Glover, America is still the breeding ground for tap innovation. As the young dancers learn from the more seasoned, they inject the dancing with their own new steps and styles.

Here Are 10 GREAT Reasons To Try Tap Fever:

  1. Great Work-Out! Tap dancing is one of the best cardiovascular exercises you can get. Your heart rate goes up with the constant movement. In fact, a typical hour of tap dancing is likely to burn between 350-400 calories, depending on the speed of the routines. Dancing three times a week is as beneficial (if not more) as spending the same time on an exercise bike, and it's much more fun.
  2. Improved Metabolism! Tap dancing is a high-energy exercise which works the leg muscles the most, and can be accentuated by the rest of the body. Your muscles are worked a lot more than you might realize. And more muscle means a faster metabolism.
  3. Disease Control! The proof is documented. Studies have shown that dancing can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes and osteoporosis. (Bone requires a weight bearing activity to stimulate growth.)
  4. Stayin' Alive! The American Heart Association reports that every 15 minutes someone dies as a direct result of heart problems caused by physical inactivity - even though just 30 minutes of activity each day has been shown to help stave off heart disease and other problems. Express Creativity! The dancer is literally tapping out his or her own rhythms. Improvisation can really bring out your artistic side, and it's easy to get the hang of it once you've learn just a few basic steps.
  5. Alone Or Not! Tap dancing only requires some basic instruction and minimal equipment to get the hang of it. While you can certainly tap dance with a partner, tap dancing is just as gratifying when done alone.
  6. Develop Balance! The more you dance, the better your balance will become. Learning how to shift your weight while on the balls of your feet can drastically help build stability and steadiness in other activities throughout your life.
  7. Dance Like The Stars! Share this talent with celebrities like Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Ginger Rogers, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Shirley Temple, Sammy Davis Jr., Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, George Hamilton, Richard Gere, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Mario Lopez, Alfonso Ribero, Joey Lawrence, Tony Danza, Alyssa Milano, John Travolta, and even Michael Jackson, who have all indulged in tap classes. No matter how young or old, anyone can do it.
  8. Relieve Stress! Remember that old advice about punching a pillow when something upsets you? Tap allows you to strike the floor instead. Also, you can never be in a bad mood while tap dancing. Even if you arrive to class after a terrible day, your frown will quickly turn upside-down.
  9. It's Fun!!!!! Hey, if that's not enough motivation to pick up a pair of tap shoes, I don't know what is… Forget all that boring time spent in the gym. You deserve to enjoy the activities that keep you in shape.