I am dismayed at the lack of information available for taps. Sure, they are just hunks of metal, but they are hunks that completely reshaped an art form. I continually find misinformation when searching the internet, and it appears that everyone who writes about taps has cut and pasted from the same unreliable source. For example:
“Generally, three different types of tap shoes are available: teletone, duotone and supertone.” -About.com
This is not true. Teletone and Duotone are trademarked brand names of Capezio and are not universally regarded as a type of tap, and Supertone has been applied to a number of taps from a couple different companies. To say that these are the only types of taps available is like saying all shoes are classified as either Jordan’s, Air Jordan’s, or Limited Edition Jordan’s. The worst part is that you can more or less find this EXACT SAME SENTENCE on numerous websites.
But let’s face it: the most interesting part of a tap shoe is the taps. As a kid I put flat tacks on the bottom of my sneakers because even before my first tap class I knew that it was the sound that gave tap dance its novelty. The Great Tap Shoeganza wouldn’t be complete without focusing on the tap dancer’s most versatile tool.
Before The Taps
A tap dancer does not need metal taps to produce great percussive art. By flipping through Marshall and Jean Sterns’ Jazz Dance, which is considered by many to be the tap dancer’s bible,I can’t find mention of the art form being called “Tap” until the beginning of the 20th century. Until then it was jigging, or vernacular dance, or Buck and Wing dancing, or step dancing. Wood not being available to everyone, these dances were performed in dirt, on sand, and later developed on concrete street corners.
The shoes that were used had soles of leather or were fashioned with wooden plates. In many instances, the would-be African pioneers of the art form used bare feet. Did they have a choice in the matter? I don’t know. I do know that I am grateful everyday for the spirit that kept them dancing.
Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, as stated in Vallis-Hill’s Tap Dancing America, wore “split-soled clog shoes, an American adaptation of the solid wooden clogs from the Lancashire and Lakeland regions of England.” The shoes had an attached half-sole made of wood that was “left loose, allowing for greater flexibility and tonality.”
That extra something…
Without the taps, a tap shoe is just a shoe. The addition of metal taps is that rare phenomenon; what began as a concept was agreed upon by many and has evolved into a tool as useful and versatile as any at an artist’s employ. What was a fad is now an era. Make no mistake, many tap dancers are just as finicky with their taps as they are with every other aspect of the dance.
Now That You Have The Tap, Where Do You Put It?
I personally struggle with the placement of my taps. I prefer that the tap covers as much of the edge of the toe as possible, maybe even stick out a little. But not all taps are large enough for my wide feet. Sometimes I have to move it up and to the left or the right, depending on the sole of the shoe. Of course, many of my peers aren’t as compulsive when it comes to tap placement, but, as with the dance itself, it is a labor of love.
If I don’t have enough metal on the lateral side (outer edge) of the front of my shoe, my pinky toes get really sore after practicing wings. Also, small taps make those satisfying notes you get from striking the taps against each other more elusive. Wide or narrow, long or short, the dimensions of your foot will affect the type of tap you buy and where you place it.
You have to play around. There are so many tap-to-shoe variations that it is absolutely possible to be physically and harmonically satisfied with your tap shoes.
Like a Fingerprint…
The taps produced by today’s leading manufacturers are distinctive from one another. Most of the companies that produce tap shoes also produce the tap that comes with it, and each tap has a personality all its own.
Capezio’s Tele-Tone taps are moderate in both weight and tone.
Leo’s Ultratone toe tap is thicker and fills out the edge of the shoe more, but is a little clunky.
SoDanca’s taps are slightly convex and produce a bright upper-register tone, though their edges are so sharp that your shoes may treat your floor like a grater treats a block of Wisconsin cheddar.
Consider your style. Do you prefer lighter, tinier sounding taps, or a deeper, warmer tone? Do you dance more flat-footed, or do you get up on your toes? Have you ever cracked a tap before? Matching your particular needs with the perfect tap and shoe combination is a great pastime for amateurs and an essential aide for professionals.
Got a Screw Loose?
Loose taps can drive you crazy, and I remember having to tighten my taps every five minutes when I was a kid. If only someone had showed me all of the options available for keeping the taps from falling off my shoes. No more!
Fix’em Yourself – Here is a way to make stripped screws like (almost) new. All you need are a book of matches and some wood glue. Take a small sliver of pulpy wood product, like the end of a match stick, and dip it in some wood glue. Be careful that your wood sliver is neither too fat nor too long for the screw hole. Insert it into the stripped hole and replace the original screw. The additional wood pulp will make new threads for the screw to latch onto and the wood glue bonds the new threads to the shoe.
I’ve been doing this since I was a kid, and I asked my consultant, Matthew Schroepfer from Dancing Fain Inc., if this is still an acceptable procedure to fix loose screws. He confirmed that it is, though not before warning about using super glue or other adhesive products. “Other types of glue become rigid when they dry and will crack. Wood glue never completely dries, and it stays malleable enough to flex with the screw.”
Capezio TeleTone taps with nails and soundboards
Soundboard – A soundboard is a thin, fiberboard that helps keep the metal attached to the sole. When the taps get loose the threads on the screws will catch and become retained in the fiberboard. There is a slight tonal shift produced by having your taps pressed against the fiberboard, but in my experience it is not very dramatic. Why is it called a soundboard if it doesn’t really affect the sound? I guess “supplementary affixation pad” just didn’t sell as well.
How many screws? – By now most tap dancers and shoe companies have agreed on the three screw tap, now the standard for taps. However, there are taps available that could have as many as five, six, or even eight screw holes, or as few as one. More screws equals a better attached tap, and less screws means, well, less screws to deal with.
Screws, who needs ’em? – Glue them on! That’s right, you can have the taps glued on with a good adhesive to insure that they stay in place. This will cause some tonal shift, perhaps more than the soundboard will, but if that doesn’t bother you, then just think of the peace of mind that comes with taps that will stay just how you like them… always
Photo courtesy of Shinichi Matsumoto
TAPology
Ask car geeks about their cars, and there is no nook or cranny that has not been analyzed. They can tell you the year, make, model, country of origin, sculptor who designed the exterior, the type of welds used to secure the frame, which engine he chose and why. The same goes for enthusiasts of guitars, comic books, foodies, technophiles… So why not tap dance?
Who designed the taps used by hundreds of thousands around the world? What are the differences in tone for the various brands? Even finding the right size tap for your shoe can be a frustrating process! (Size 00?) I’m interested to learn all I can about this wonderful instrument, and I’m betting that there are others out there like me. Stay tuned.
Did this deeper look into the ‘tap’ make you think differently about your shoes or how you use them?
Tristan Bruns has studied the art form of tap dance with Donna Johnson, Ted Levy, Lane Alexander and Martin “Tre” Dumas and has a BA in Music from Columbia College Chicago. Tristan has been an ensemble member of such Chicago tap companies as BAM!, The Cartier Collective and MADD Rhythms. Tristan currently produces his own work through his company, TapMan Productions, LLC, which includes the performance ensemble The Tapmen and the tap and guitar “band” of The Condescending Heroes.
If the shoe in question is the Capezio’s Tapster, then it would be difficult – the heel that the tap is screwed into is hollow with threaded cylinders inside for the screws to screw into. If the other tap’s screw holes don’t match up just right there is no way to screw it in. You could try glueing a new tap around the edges, and while I have never personally tried this I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.
-T
Robinsays
My most recent problem – a friend bought a pair of Bloch Jason Samuel Smith shoes several years ago. (they are very stiff but durable) and the metatarsal rubber pad was not glued on. I guess some people don’t like them, but students need them.
So I was asked to glue the pads on. Bloch doesn’t recommend what kind of glue to use, so I’ve tried many – Barge, Elmers, etc. None works very well. The rubber pads don’t seem to stick very well and after a few months they peel and fall off. The glue stays on the sole and has to be scraped off every time. There must be something that works – the shoes that come with pads glued on have no problems.
When my met bars or rubber pads fall off I usually use Gorilla Glue, or another super strong adhesive. That usually keeps them on for another 4-8 months (I dance kinda hard). Just follow the directions and it should work, or else a cobbler maybe has tools and epoxies that are not readily known or available to regular consumers. He/She should only charge you a couple of bucks.
-T
Shiree Pilkintonsays
Hi there. My four year old son is starting street tap this weekend. He doesn’t need shoes straight away, but I am hoping to get some before Feb 16th in Melbourne. He has watched loads of Tap Dogs on you tube and wants boots, rather than lace up shoes. Where do I begin in trying to get these boots for him? I rang blundstone to see if I could get small boots through them, so we could get the plates attached to them – but 7 is the smallest size. Heeeeeellllp! Any ideas would be hugely appreciated!
1. Buy the Capezio Tapster shoe, or a similarly priced beginner tap shoe in the $25-$45 dollar range, like Capezio’s Boys Tapster or TeleTone Xtreme.
2. You can glue taps on to any type of boot. Blundstones are a little expensive and bulky for this type of thing, so find a cheap or moderately priced children’s boot and Gorilla Glue those taps on there. His feet are going to grow out of them very quickly and a high quality boot will be too heavy, hot and unwieldy for a four year old.
Boots are very hard to dance in and it will make most steps more difficult, but if that is what motivates him, then why not. You also have to check with dance studios – they may not want a heavy boot on their dance floors, though a four year old dancers can only stomp so hard. Also, be careful of the sole that it doesn’t have black or other colored sole that will leave unsightly and sticky skid marks on the dance floor.
Good luck,
Tristan Bruns
Shiree Pilkintonsays
this is soooooo helpful! thanks Tristan. I really think that going with the tap shoes (rather than boots) is a better option – for all the reasons you mention – thanks. I will chat to him about maybe going down the Tap Dogs-look track when he is older (and has showed a commitment to tap dance!). Will try to get the shoes you mentioned in Ballarat – otherwise can you recommend a good shop in Melbourne? We will be there next weekend. Cheers – you have taken a lot of stress out of my “entry to the tap dance world” ! Shiree
I asked my friend, Thomas Wadelton, who is actually on the faculty for the Melbourne tap fest this year and he said that, while there are many dance stores in and around Melbourne, that none really stand out. So, maybe just see if some stores get good customer reviews online and go from there.
I would like to audition for tap dogs, but that is a long, expensive trip for a what if… but if I could raise the funds it would totally be worth it.
-T
Katie Ronaldsays
Are the metal taps on the tap shoes supposed to go a different colour? Mine are metal supposed to be a silver colour but are getting marked king of look on them as if they are going black.
The black stuff on your taps is compounded aluminum residue – as you dance you wear down the metal little by little and the aluminum gets compressed and forms little deposits of gunk on your taps. This is removable with products like Goo-Gone, or with a little more elbow grease some soap and water.
The residue is harmless and there really isn’t any way around it, but it shouldn’t effect the efficiency of your taps.
Thanks for reading!
-T
Nicolesays
Hi Tristan,
What a wonderful website you have and I’m glad I’ve found it. Please help!!! I’m a dance mom to an 11 year old competitive tapper. I’ve noticed that she has started developing “possibly” bunions on the outer bone of her big toes. How do you protect their toes/feet from this happening? Are there feet protectors or any products that a tapper can use to stop this from happening and possibly reverse it. Please help!!!!
Sincerley,
Nicole
There really isn’t anything specific for tap dancers, but there are a lot of products available that can help.
At your local pharmacy there should be an entire wall of foot orthotics to choose from. A favorite of mine are these little adhesive “donut” shaped discs that you apply to blisters or any area of the foot that is feeling “hot”. I go through a bunch of these when breaking in new shoes.
If there is nothing available commercially that helps then an orthopedic specialist can help. He/She will prescribe customized orthotics that should fix up everything, though try a couple of the orthotics at the pharmacy first since seeing a specialist will cost $$$.
Really, the world of orthotics is ever expanding and there should be something for every type of foot ailment.
Also, does your daughter wear socks when dancing? If not, that is worth a try.
Good luck,
-T
Laurensays
Hi, I bought some Katz taps a few years ago and I think I need to change the original taps, but I can’t just take the screws out since the heads are flat, more like nails than screws.
Any tips?
If the heads are flat then they probably are screws. I’ve never heard of Katz, so is this a vintage pair? Take them to your local cobbler and he/she should be able to get them off without a scratch.
Tap dancer extraordinaire Jason Janas has an interesting way of telling when he wants to change his taps – he feels the back of the front tap and if it is sharp (opposed to rounded) then it is time to change.
So I’ve never tapped before, but I have to for a musical that I am doing. I have a pair of character shoes; if I attach taps to my shoes, can I take them off when I’m done and use my shoes as regular character shoes again? I really don’t know anything about this. Thanks so much!
Bonitasays
Hi Tristan. I’ve just discovered your site and have a question. I took beginner adult tap in the mid 1980s and purchased shoes with a Capezio “butterfly” tap. Ended up in university for 12 tears and am getting back to tapping. Bought a new pair of slip ons and the taps were horrendous! Are Staccato taps what they used to call “butterfly?” Three screws which never need(ed) tightening and they stayed loose for a brighter tap. They’re also thicker than the new Capezio taps which arrived with the slip ons. I have no idea where to look to replace these taps! Thanks for any assistance,
Barrysays
Great article, Tristan!
When I took tap in the 80’s the “tap Nazis” had already dictated that Teletones would be the only taps to use. With a size 10-1/2 EEE foot this meant the largest size (#1) toe taps available, and a resultant low fundamental resonance. My taps “popped” instead of making a sharp, metallic click. So it was off to the milling machine with a piece of 2024 T-6 aircraft aluminum and several hours of manual cranking! What came out of the vise sounded terrific but lacked enough convexity (?) to act like a ball bearing for turns. I never tried casting this tap, which could have preserved the convex bottom, like the old Selva “Fred Astaire loose tap” it was an imitation of. Fred Astaire’s in the 70’s were the loudest non-jingle taps in the Selva line. But alas, Jimmy Selva died; and his sons wanted no part of the business. At least 20 tap styles disappeared with him. Today it’s as it is with toeshoe taps: you have to make your own from melted beer cans and copper pennies!
Susansays
Hi – I am a tap dancer in Zimbabwe where shoes and taps cannot be bought, we have to import from SA. We have what are called double taps or tingle taps – a aluminium tap connected loosely to a very very thin metal plate attached to the shoe sole. They are now very hard to find in SA due to the cost of importing them from USA. What would be the equivalent tap in the USA – could you give us a name or brand so we could look into getting friends and relatives to buy and send to us.
Many thanks for you assistance
Susan
Andreasays
Susan,
I haven’t seen jingle taps (double taps) commonly used by tap dancers in the US for quite some time. Capezio makes a variety of taps that can be purchased individually through most discount dance websites. They come in sizes — #1 is the largest size — so you will want to study a sizing chart before you purchase them. Capezio also makes a tap called the Rayow, or Rayow II, which is a TeleTone tap affixed to the shoe with a single screw. I had a pair of these taps, and they worked fine, though my understanding was that they needed to be attached by someone specifically trained in the Rayow system.
Jingle taps aren’t really used by tap dancers in the US, and are primarily used by precision clogging teams (you might also come across them by searching Appalachian clogging). A search for clogging shoes or jingle taps should yield the style of tap you’re looking for. Hope that helps!
Kerry-Annsays
Hi Tristan
My daughter is an above average tap dancer and has always produced good sound, but recently she seems to be having a problem getting the volume. She has danced in Sanshas, Capezios and we recently purchased a new pair of Bloch Audeos for her I have been impressed in the sound quality from other dancers but when she danced in them her sounds remained very soft.
Any suggestions either in terms of technique or adjustment on the shoe?
Her footwork is phenomenal but it is all pointless if there is no sound.
She tends towards have a more ‘American Style’ of tap – quite jazzy.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Kerry
Rivasays
hey, so i have a really strong arch, the newest taps i bought are already wearing out from toe stands and i don’t exactly have the funds to buy a $130 pair, so i’m looking at reinforcing my old pair(just in case i screw up). i’d love to do it myself, and i could maybe try to make them from scratch too. i have an uncle who has worked a lot with leather making saddles, motorcycle seats etc. and we both have woodworking and metalworking skills… can you direct me somewhere for help, or just have something importan to say or anything? all help is helpful haha, and this is the best site i’ve found on tap dancer info. as a seventeen year old male, tap shoes are hard enough to get as it is, if i could make them myself that would be amazing. thanks!!!
Nikki Braunesays
My 13 year old daughter has been a recreational dancer for 10 years. She has taken combinations of tap, ballet, jazz, and acro, but always gravitates back to tap. She has worn the same tap shoes for the past three years abut has developed a huge dislike of the black skid pads between her tap and the arches. I don’t have the shoes with me right now so I can’t tell you the brand. She takes private, solo classes in order to work around her crazy school schedule. After reading through the awesome sets of comments, I have a question. She is dancing to “Geek in the Pink” at this years recital. I would love to take a pair of pink converse tennis shoes and put tap on them for her to wear. Would it work?? If so, what types of taps would I need to purchase? She has struggled to be heard over the music by herself at recitals. She does dance on a wooden stage. Would the converse with taps be ok for her to practice in? Can’t wait to read your reply….
I believe Tristan actually answered a similar question earlier in the comments. Lots and lots of glue seemed to be the answer but it may be helpful to check out the response for yourself. Good luck!
Tristan this was a great article! Thanks for putting out all of this great information! I love tap and see that you do too and I dig it!
Thommie
P.S. I use vintage toe taps called Continental Taps… The thing I like is that the toe tap wraps around the front of the shoe like a child’s tap… sort of… and I use Morgan heel taps.
I am dismayed at the lack of information available for taps. Sure, they are just hunks of metal, but they are hunks that completely reshaped an art form. I continually find misinformation when searching the internet, and it appears that everyone who writes about taps has cut and pasted from the same unreliable source. For example:
That extra something…
Like a Fingerprint…
Got a Screw Loose?
I have capezio tap shoes with tele tone jr toe taps but my heel taps are just plain metal can i change them?
g,
If the shoe in question is the Capezio’s Tapster, then it would be difficult – the heel that the tap is screwed into is hollow with threaded cylinders inside for the screws to screw into. If the other tap’s screw holes don’t match up just right there is no way to screw it in. You could try glueing a new tap around the edges, and while I have never personally tried this I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.
-T
My most recent problem – a friend bought a pair of Bloch Jason Samuel Smith shoes several years ago. (they are very stiff but durable) and the metatarsal rubber pad was not glued on. I guess some people don’t like them, but students need them.
So I was asked to glue the pads on. Bloch doesn’t recommend what kind of glue to use, so I’ve tried many – Barge, Elmers, etc. None works very well. The rubber pads don’t seem to stick very well and after a few months they peel and fall off. The glue stays on the sole and has to be scraped off every time. There must be something that works – the shoes that come with pads glued on have no problems.
Robin,
When my met bars or rubber pads fall off I usually use Gorilla Glue, or another super strong adhesive. That usually keeps them on for another 4-8 months (I dance kinda hard). Just follow the directions and it should work, or else a cobbler maybe has tools and epoxies that are not readily known or available to regular consumers. He/She should only charge you a couple of bucks.
-T
Hi there. My four year old son is starting street tap this weekend. He doesn’t need shoes straight away, but I am hoping to get some before Feb 16th in Melbourne. He has watched loads of Tap Dogs on you tube and wants boots, rather than lace up shoes. Where do I begin in trying to get these boots for him? I rang blundstone to see if I could get small boots through them, so we could get the plates attached to them – but 7 is the smallest size. Heeeeeellllp! Any ideas would be hugely appreciated!
Shiree,
I recommend two options:
1. Buy the Capezio Tapster shoe, or a similarly priced beginner tap shoe in the $25-$45 dollar range, like Capezio’s Boys Tapster or TeleTone Xtreme.
2. You can glue taps on to any type of boot. Blundstones are a little expensive and bulky for this type of thing, so find a cheap or moderately priced children’s boot and Gorilla Glue those taps on there. His feet are going to grow out of them very quickly and a high quality boot will be too heavy, hot and unwieldy for a four year old.
Boots are very hard to dance in and it will make most steps more difficult, but if that is what motivates him, then why not. You also have to check with dance studios – they may not want a heavy boot on their dance floors, though a four year old dancers can only stomp so hard. Also, be careful of the sole that it doesn’t have black or other colored sole that will leave unsightly and sticky skid marks on the dance floor.
Good luck,
Tristan Bruns
this is soooooo helpful! thanks Tristan. I really think that going with the tap shoes (rather than boots) is a better option – for all the reasons you mention – thanks. I will chat to him about maybe going down the Tap Dogs-look track when he is older (and has showed a commitment to tap dance!). Will try to get the shoes you mentioned in Ballarat – otherwise can you recommend a good shop in Melbourne? We will be there next weekend. Cheers – you have taken a lot of stress out of my “entry to the tap dance world” ! Shiree
Shiree,
I asked my friend, Thomas Wadelton, who is actually on the faculty for the Melbourne tap fest this year and he said that, while there are many dance stores in and around Melbourne, that none really stand out. So, maybe just see if some stores get good customer reviews online and go from there.
I would like to audition for tap dogs, but that is a long, expensive trip for a what if… but if I could raise the funds it would totally be worth it.
-T
Are the metal taps on the tap shoes supposed to go a different colour? Mine are metal supposed to be a silver colour but are getting marked king of look on them as if they are going black.
Katie,
The black stuff on your taps is compounded aluminum residue – as you dance you wear down the metal little by little and the aluminum gets compressed and forms little deposits of gunk on your taps. This is removable with products like Goo-Gone, or with a little more elbow grease some soap and water.
The residue is harmless and there really isn’t any way around it, but it shouldn’t effect the efficiency of your taps.
Thanks for reading!
-T
Hi Tristan,
What a wonderful website you have and I’m glad I’ve found it. Please help!!! I’m a dance mom to an 11 year old competitive tapper. I’ve noticed that she has started developing “possibly” bunions on the outer bone of her big toes. How do you protect their toes/feet from this happening? Are there feet protectors or any products that a tapper can use to stop this from happening and possibly reverse it. Please help!!!!
Sincerley,
Nicole
Nicole,
There really isn’t anything specific for tap dancers, but there are a lot of products available that can help.
At your local pharmacy there should be an entire wall of foot orthotics to choose from. A favorite of mine are these little adhesive “donut” shaped discs that you apply to blisters or any area of the foot that is feeling “hot”. I go through a bunch of these when breaking in new shoes.
If there is nothing available commercially that helps then an orthopedic specialist can help. He/She will prescribe customized orthotics that should fix up everything, though try a couple of the orthotics at the pharmacy first since seeing a specialist will cost $$$.
Really, the world of orthotics is ever expanding and there should be something for every type of foot ailment.
Also, does your daughter wear socks when dancing? If not, that is worth a try.
Good luck,
-T
Hi, I bought some Katz taps a few years ago and I think I need to change the original taps, but I can’t just take the screws out since the heads are flat, more like nails than screws.
Any tips?
If the heads are flat then they probably are screws. I’ve never heard of Katz, so is this a vintage pair? Take them to your local cobbler and he/she should be able to get them off without a scratch.
Tap dancer extraordinaire Jason Janas has an interesting way of telling when he wants to change his taps – he feels the back of the front tap and if it is sharp (opposed to rounded) then it is time to change.
-T
No, they’re not a vintage pair (http://www.katz-dancewear.co.uk/productpage.php?product=366&name=), and yes that’s what I thought I’d have to do, thank you though.
So I’ve never tapped before, but I have to for a musical that I am doing. I have a pair of character shoes; if I attach taps to my shoes, can I take them off when I’m done and use my shoes as regular character shoes again? I really don’t know anything about this. Thanks so much!
Hi Tristan. I’ve just discovered your site and have a question. I took beginner adult tap in the mid 1980s and purchased shoes with a Capezio “butterfly” tap. Ended up in university for 12 tears and am getting back to tapping. Bought a new pair of slip ons and the taps were horrendous! Are Staccato taps what they used to call “butterfly?” Three screws which never need(ed) tightening and they stayed loose for a brighter tap. They’re also thicker than the new Capezio taps which arrived with the slip ons. I have no idea where to look to replace these taps! Thanks for any assistance,
Great article, Tristan!
When I took tap in the 80’s the “tap Nazis” had already dictated that Teletones would be the only taps to use. With a size 10-1/2 EEE foot this meant the largest size (#1) toe taps available, and a resultant low fundamental resonance. My taps “popped” instead of making a sharp, metallic click. So it was off to the milling machine with a piece of 2024 T-6 aircraft aluminum and several hours of manual cranking! What came out of the vise sounded terrific but lacked enough convexity (?) to act like a ball bearing for turns. I never tried casting this tap, which could have preserved the convex bottom, like the old Selva “Fred Astaire loose tap” it was an imitation of. Fred Astaire’s in the 70’s were the loudest non-jingle taps in the Selva line. But alas, Jimmy Selva died; and his sons wanted no part of the business. At least 20 tap styles disappeared with him. Today it’s as it is with toeshoe taps: you have to make your own from melted beer cans and copper pennies!
Hi – I am a tap dancer in Zimbabwe where shoes and taps cannot be bought, we have to import from SA. We have what are called double taps or tingle taps – a aluminium tap connected loosely to a very very thin metal plate attached to the shoe sole. They are now very hard to find in SA due to the cost of importing them from USA. What would be the equivalent tap in the USA – could you give us a name or brand so we could look into getting friends and relatives to buy and send to us.
Many thanks for you assistance
Susan
Susan,
I haven’t seen jingle taps (double taps) commonly used by tap dancers in the US for quite some time. Capezio makes a variety of taps that can be purchased individually through most discount dance websites. They come in sizes — #1 is the largest size — so you will want to study a sizing chart before you purchase them. Capezio also makes a tap called the Rayow, or Rayow II, which is a TeleTone tap affixed to the shoe with a single screw. I had a pair of these taps, and they worked fine, though my understanding was that they needed to be attached by someone specifically trained in the Rayow system.
Jingle taps aren’t really used by tap dancers in the US, and are primarily used by precision clogging teams (you might also come across them by searching Appalachian clogging). A search for clogging shoes or jingle taps should yield the style of tap you’re looking for. Hope that helps!
Hi Tristan
My daughter is an above average tap dancer and has always produced good sound, but recently she seems to be having a problem getting the volume. She has danced in Sanshas, Capezios and we recently purchased a new pair of Bloch Audeos for her I have been impressed in the sound quality from other dancers but when she danced in them her sounds remained very soft.
Any suggestions either in terms of technique or adjustment on the shoe?
Her footwork is phenomenal but it is all pointless if there is no sound.
She tends towards have a more ‘American Style’ of tap – quite jazzy.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Kerry
hey, so i have a really strong arch, the newest taps i bought are already wearing out from toe stands and i don’t exactly have the funds to buy a $130 pair, so i’m looking at reinforcing my old pair(just in case i screw up). i’d love to do it myself, and i could maybe try to make them from scratch too. i have an uncle who has worked a lot with leather making saddles, motorcycle seats etc. and we both have woodworking and metalworking skills… can you direct me somewhere for help, or just have something importan to say or anything? all help is helpful haha, and this is the best site i’ve found on tap dancer info. as a seventeen year old male, tap shoes are hard enough to get as it is, if i could make them myself that would be amazing. thanks!!!
My 13 year old daughter has been a recreational dancer for 10 years. She has taken combinations of tap, ballet, jazz, and acro, but always gravitates back to tap. She has worn the same tap shoes for the past three years abut has developed a huge dislike of the black skid pads between her tap and the arches. I don’t have the shoes with me right now so I can’t tell you the brand. She takes private, solo classes in order to work around her crazy school schedule. After reading through the awesome sets of comments, I have a question. She is dancing to “Geek in the Pink” at this years recital. I would love to take a pair of pink converse tennis shoes and put tap on them for her to wear. Would it work?? If so, what types of taps would I need to purchase? She has struggled to be heard over the music by herself at recitals. She does dance on a wooden stage. Would the converse with taps be ok for her to practice in? Can’t wait to read your reply….
Hi Nikki,
I believe Tristan actually answered a similar question earlier in the comments. Lots and lots of glue seemed to be the answer but it may be helpful to check out the response for yourself. Good luck!
Which ones are best? Capezio or So danca?
Tristan this was a great article! Thanks for putting out all of this great information! I love tap and see that you do too and I dig it!
Thommie
P.S. I use vintage toe taps called Continental Taps… The thing I like is that the toe tap wraps around the front of the shoe like a child’s tap… sort of… and I use Morgan heel taps.