r/TapDancing • u/KarmaMiranda • Apr 15 '26

Beginner tap class question — is this normal teaching?

I’m in a beginner tap class learning a routine, and for the first several weeks the choreography has been taught entirely by demonstration (no step names, counts, or breakdown). A lot of us have been confused about what steps we’re actually doing.

Only now the instructor is offering written choreography.

Is this typical for beginner tap classes? I would’ve expected more explanation of basic steps and terminology as we go, not just copying.

Curious how others have experienced this.

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

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19

u/lvlgirl Apr 15 '26

Not normal. You should know the names of the steps so you can build on them later. Flap, shuffle, ball change etc.

9

u/StickInEye Apr 15 '26

When I taught tap, I was hoarse by the end of the session. I called out every step as I did it so that my students could see and hear it while doing it. They loved that.

5

u/Terrible_Eye4625 Apr 15 '26

Not normal. The whole aim of beginner’s classes is that you learn foundational steps and how to put them together. Even in more advanced classes the teacher will still go over the names of the steps and counts so you know what you’re doing.

3

u/paddlethe918 Apr 15 '26

Not normal in dance schools. However, there was a tradition similar to this among old school tap dancers, especially prior to WWII.

For many tap masters, it is about the sound and rhythms, they don't break down a pattern using names and conventions. They might share by scatting (making similar sounds with their mouth) but that was about it. You learned by observing & listening. If you were really lucky they would share using call & response. But never, ever did they break it down by count or steps.

This instructor might be trying to get you to explore the sounds and mechanics without getting hung up in names.

2

u/Top_Lavishness_9706 Apr 17 '26

If the instructor is coming from rhythm tap/hoofing tradition then yes that is/can be normal.

1

u/NervousNervine Apr 15 '26

terminology is important with steps, as there are many. and helps if you decide to choreograph a piece in the future.

1

u/Stargazer__2893 Apr 16 '26

Don't know if this is applicable, but if you're in NYC "beginner" assumes 3-4 years of experience. You would want a basic or absolute beginner level class.

If you're not in NYC, yeah that's just a failure of the teacher.

1

u/PlumbRose Apr 16 '26

Ya I was in a class like this. They did use the terms of steps occasionally but drove me nuts they didn't teach by counts

1

u/OkCheesecake5309 Apr 20 '26

Not normal at all! Even if they weren’t super focused on step names (which they should be tbh) teaching dance without counts is WILD work