"Why Tap Dance?"
Me: Why not?
You: Well, because it's pretty cheesy. And outdated.
Me: There are different styles of tap dance. Whatever kind you're thinking of, I'm doing the other kind.
You: ????
Me (patiently): Look, if you think tap dance is lame, you're probably picturing stuff you've seen in black and white movies from the 1930s and 40s: Busby Berkeley, Ann Miller, "Broadway Melody of 1948." You might also have a mental picture of the Rockettes, or maybe some top hat-and-cane act in Las Vegas, or Arthur, the tap dancing guy from the Lawrence Welk Show. Collectively, they represent a style I think of as "dork tap." That's not where I'm headed. It's too precious. The style I intend to learn is more street, more "rhythm tap."
You: What's the difference?
Me: In dork tap, the dancer remains upright, up on tippy-toe, and usually seems fey. Rhythm tap dancers typically hunch over more and seem more grounded: picture Gregory Hines, or Xavion Glover from "Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk." Descendants of that style include Tap Dogs and Stomp. See? Cooler, huh?
You (shrugging): I guess. So is Fred Astaire dork tap or rhythm tap?
Me: Astaire is in a class by himself. He isn't dork tap or rhythm tap, dude, he's god tap.
You (unimpressed): Fine. I still think tap dancing is vaguely silly.
Me (exasperated): Look, tap dance is about rhythm. Rhythm is addictive. Rhythm is compelling. If I pound out the rhythm to "Shave and a haircut," look how hard you have to work to not pound out "two bits." Rhythm is primal and timeless and always in fashion. Is Buddy Rich silly? Is Ginger Baker silly? Is Ringo Starr silly -- OK, ignore that last example. The point is, tap is like drumming! Only with your feet! Tap swings and rocks!
You: Okay, okay, calm down. You like rhythm. I get it. But what's the big deal? Why dance?
Me (catching on): Ah. You must be white. Only white people ask that question. Especially Scandinavians.
You (indignant): Hey ... you're white!
Me (sighing): Yeah. But at least I'm trying to get over it. ##
You: Well, because it's pretty cheesy. And outdated.
Me: There are different styles of tap dance. Whatever kind you're thinking of, I'm doing the other kind.
You: ????
Me (patiently): Look, if you think tap dance is lame, you're probably picturing stuff you've seen in black and white movies from the 1930s and 40s: Busby Berkeley, Ann Miller, "Broadway Melody of 1948." You might also have a mental picture of the Rockettes, or maybe some top hat-and-cane act in Las Vegas, or Arthur, the tap dancing guy from the Lawrence Welk Show. Collectively, they represent a style I think of as "dork tap." That's not where I'm headed. It's too precious. The style I intend to learn is more street, more "rhythm tap."
You: What's the difference?
Me: In dork tap, the dancer remains upright, up on tippy-toe, and usually seems fey. Rhythm tap dancers typically hunch over more and seem more grounded: picture Gregory Hines, or Xavion Glover from "Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk." Descendants of that style include Tap Dogs and Stomp. See? Cooler, huh?
You (shrugging): I guess. So is Fred Astaire dork tap or rhythm tap?
Me: Astaire is in a class by himself. He isn't dork tap or rhythm tap, dude, he's god tap.
You (unimpressed): Fine. I still think tap dancing is vaguely silly.
Me (exasperated): Look, tap dance is about rhythm. Rhythm is addictive. Rhythm is compelling. If I pound out the rhythm to "Shave and a haircut," look how hard you have to work to not pound out "two bits." Rhythm is primal and timeless and always in fashion. Is Buddy Rich silly? Is Ginger Baker silly? Is Ringo Starr silly -- OK, ignore that last example. The point is, tap is like drumming! Only with your feet! Tap swings and rocks!
You: Okay, okay, calm down. You like rhythm. I get it. But what's the big deal? Why dance?
Me (catching on): Ah. You must be white. Only white people ask that question. Especially Scandinavians.
You (indignant): Hey ... you're white!
Me (sighing): Yeah. But at least I'm trying to get over it. ##
posted by ScottPinzonTest at 1:05 AM
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