123 School Work

History of Tap

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  THE ROOTS OF A TAP BEAT
  
       
  Tap dance is not a form that originates from one specific place, region, or culture. But, main elements of tap dance, such as improvisation and rhythm, have their origin in Africa. When African-born people became slaves in the, they retained some of their culture in creating dances such as the Chica, the Buzzard Lope, the Ring Shout, and the Juba, and still participating in them on the states plantations, either with permission or in secret. Drums were used frequently in these dances also as a form of communication, however, laws were eventually created preventing slaves from using drums. With this new ban, slaves found other ways to make rhythms with their own bodies, called "patting Juba." This was the use of the body as an instrument by hand clapping and body and thigh slapping (a personified version of a drum). Accompanying this body percussion with stomping on the ground increased the range of multiple rhythms one person could create. Later, in accordance with tap, this stopping would be on proper wooden ground.
  
  EVOLUTION OF A TAP DANCE
  
  
  Surely enough, with the white Europeans and Africans now in proximity of each other due to slavery, cultures were going to be exposed and eventually intermingled and evolving with time. Occasionally, slave masters would request "shows" from the slaves to dance, as a form of entertainment, with the threat of a whip or lashing if there is any resistance or refusal...