Tap Glossary

Grade 1

Basic Rhythm The regular occurrence of an accented beat or beats in a phrase of music

Step One sound. The transfer of weight through the ball or the whole of the foot

Stamp One sound. Heavy down beat on the flat of the foot, knees flexed. May be done with or without weight

Spring One sound. A springing movement from one foot landing on the ball of the other foot with the knees flexed

Hop One sound. A springing movement from one foot ending on the ball of the same foot, with the knees flexed

Jump One sound. A springing movement from two to two feet, or one to tow feet, landing on the balls of both feet with the knees flexed

Shuffle Two sounds. A forward and backward tap in less than two counts

Ball Change Two sounds. A change of weight from ball to ball, or ball to flat, to the count of &1 or less

Straight Tap One sound. With ankle movement only, strike the ball of the foot sharply on the floor, down and up

Forward Tap One sound. With ankle movement only strike the ball of the foot sharply on the floor, forward and up

Backward Tap One sound. With ankle movement only strike the ball of the foot sharply on the floor backward and up

Toe Tap One sound. Strike the floor sharply with the tip of the toe down and up

Forward Brush One sound. As in forward tap but broader in movement the swing coming from the knee and hip

Back Brush One sound. As in the backward tap but broader in movement the swing coming from the knee and hip

Ball beat One sound. Lift the ball of the foot from the floor and make a downward beat. May be done with or without weight

Heel beat One sound. Bending the knee lift the heel from the floor and make a downward beat. May be done with or without weight

Ball dig One sound. Raise the foot and dig the ball into the floor, knees flexed. May be done with or without weight

Heel dig One sound. With the toe uptilted raise the foot and dig the heel into the floor. May be finished down or carried forward.

Parallel arm Both arms carried in the same direction, always the same distance apart

Stomp One sound. Raise the heel of one or both feet, push the weight forward making a heavy heel beat, with the knee or knees flexed

Tap spring Two sounds. A forward tap and spring on to the ball of the foot

Tap step Two sounds. Beat the tip of the toe sharply on the floor and leave it down

Flap Two sounds. A forward tap and a heavy downward beat on the flat of the foot, the knees flexed. May be done with or without weight

Co-ordinated Both arms carried in the same direction. The lines eventually meeting

Arm

Jazz Parallel Contracted parallel arm line.

Jazz Contracted co-ordinated arm line

Co-ordination

Stroll A rhythmic walk taken over 2 counts

Grade 2

Oppostion Arms carried in opposite direction to each other

Arms

Jazz Opp Contracted opposition arm line

Arms

Accent The emphasising of one beat more than another

Pattern The shape of the movement

Pick up One sound. Uptilt the ball of one foot and strike the ball of the foot sharply back and up

Pick up step Two sounds. A pick up and a step back

Pick up hop Two sounds. A pick up and a hop on the ball of the other foot

Pick up spring Two sounds. A pick up and a spring on to the ball of the foot

3 beat riff Three sounds. Forward tap R, heel dig R, ball beat R

Hot foot Bend L knee. Raising R foot off floor, small step onto R foot, bend R knee raising L foot off floor, small step onto L foot with or without weight. Use a rhythmic buoyant knee action throughout. Can start by raising L foot

Time step A group of steps to a set rhythm which can be repeated

Break A group of steps to change from one foot to the other

Grade 3

Heel tap One sound. By bending the knees lift the heel from the floor and strike the heel sharply down and up. Weight on supporting or working foot

Ball tap one sound. Lift the ball of the foot from the floor and strike sharply down and up. Weight on supporting or working foot

Scuff One sound. A sustained stamp carried forward and up

Pick up change Two sounds. Stand on one foot with the toe uptilted, pick up and land through the ball of the other foot

Drop One sound. A springing movement from one foot landing on the whole of the other foot with knees flexed.

3 beat wing Slide the outside of the foot sideways along the floor, inward tap and ball dig

Preparation

Relaxation To release tension and all conscious effort in the muscles

Poise An uplifted feeling in the upper part of the body

Grade 4

Cramp roll 4 sounds. A spring, ball dig and 2 heel beats on alternate feet

Pick up on 1 Two sounds. Stand on one foot, pick up and land through the ball of the same foot

Foot

Three beat Three sounds. Slide the outside of the foot sideways along the floor, inward tap and

Wing ball dig with elevation taken on both feet

Pull back Four sounds. A pick up and pick up change ending with a movement of a single sound

Syncopation The irregular occurrence of an accented beat or beats in a phrase of music

Pressure wave A wave action taken in any arm line showing resistance

Grade 5

Toe clip Three sounds. Stand with the feet slightly apart. Uptilt the toes and clip together ending with ball beats RL or LR

Heel clip Three sounds. Stand with the feet slightly apart. Raise the heels and clip together ending with heel beats RL or LR

Elevated Three sounds. Clip the heels together with elevation and land on the balls of the feet

heel clip RL or LR

4 beat wing Four sounds. A three beat wing ending with the movement of a single sound. Eg. Toe tap, toe beat, heel beat etc.

Intermediate

Syncopation The irregular occurrence of accented beats in a phrase of music

Time Time signature i.e. 3/4, 4/4 etc.

Tempo The speed of the music

Tacit A complete break in the music, generally two bars or more

Stop Timing The playing of only one or two beats in a bar of music

4 beat riff 4 sounds. Forward tap and heel catch R, heel dig and ball beat R

3 beat wing change 3 sounds. As 3 beat wing the first two sounds on the R foot and the following one on the L

4 beat wing change 4 sounds. As 3 beat wing change ending with a movement of a single sound (eg toe tap, heel beat etc.)

Pendulum wing 4 sounds. As 3 beat wing preceeded or followed by a brush (candidates expected to perform a series of pendulum wings on 1 foot, max 8)

Cramp Roll 4 sounds., A spring, ball dig and two heel beats on alternate feet.

Theatre Terminology

Choreographer Creator of Dance Design

SM Stage Manager

DSM Deputy stage manager

ASM Assistant stage manager

MD Musical Director

Dance Captain Person who rehearses the dancers

Swing Dance A versatile dancer who has to be prepared to take the place of any performer at short notice

Terminology from theatre craft grades will also be required