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All tap techniques and glossary of terms are collected from the Modern Theatre Dance Faculty of Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. Demonstration videos created in Jan 2003 which for reference only and by no means an official guide to the exam offered by ISTD. Special thanks to Patrick Ng for founding the website and the video production.
"From these terms which one might compare to the piano, simple scales are formed. Rhythm and quality of tone must be stressed as one gradually advances to complicated rhythms. in this lies the secret of good composition."
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| Video | Definition | Difficulty |
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Scuff (One Sound) |
Stamp carried forward, the foot off the ground at the finish. | |
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Shuffle (Two Sound) |
Forward and back tap done to the count of less than 2 counts i.e. &1, &a etc. | |
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Three Beat Shuffle (Three Sounds) |
As two beat shuffle but catch heel on the ground just before foot returns to back tap. | |
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Four Beat Shuffle (Four Sounds) |
As three beat shuffle but add heel at the end on the other foot. |
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Five Beat Shuffle (Five Sounds) |
As four beat shuffle but add toe at the end on the other foot. |
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Double Shuffle (Four Sounds) |
Two shuffles taken with same foot. |
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Scuffle (Three Sounds) |
Step on to L foot, forward tap and step on to heel of R foot. |
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Tap Step (Two Sounds) |
Forward tap and step on ball of foot with weight on either working or supporting foot. | |
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Tap Spring (Two Sounds) |
Forward tap and spring. Can be done either travelling or stationary. | |
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Double Flap (Four Sounds) |
Tap step followed by another tap step on the other foot. |
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Ball Change (Two Sounds) |
Change of balance from one foot to the other to less than 2 counts. Can be done from ball to flat of foot, or ball to ball of foot. Direction and pattern as desired. | |
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Clip Ball Change (Three Sounds) |
Stand on L foot and spring into air 'clipping' heels together, landing on ball of R foot, step with L foot to LS. |
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Cramp Roll (Basic) (Four Sounds) |
Spring on to R foot. Step L foot. Heel beat R foot, heel beat L foot. |
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Cramp Roll Change (Four Sounds) |
As in Basic Four Beat Cramp Roll above bout reversing heel beats allowing a change of foot. |
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Cramp Roll (Five Sounds) |
As four beat Cramp Roll but commence with tap spring (Can be basic or change). |
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Cramp Roll (Six Sounds) |
Tap spring R foot, tap step L foot. Two heel beats on alternate feet (Basic or change). |
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Cramp Roll With Toe (Six Sounds) |
R Toe followed by L Toe, then R Step followed by L Step, then R heel followed by L heel. |
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Basic Waltz (Single) (Five Sounds) |
Spring shuffle ball change. Can be taken side to side or travelling forward with ball change either back front or front back. |
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Basic Waltz (Double) (Six Sounds) |
As for Single Basic Waltz but commence with Tap Spring. |
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Pick-up (One Sound) |
Stand on both feet, tilt up toe of R foot and sharply slap back toe, removing heel. | |
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Pick-up Step (Two Sounds) |
Stand with feet slightly apart (R foot in front of L foot), turn up toe of R foot, keeping heel on ground. Sharply slap ball of foot backwards, removing heel and step back on R foot. | |
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Pick-up Hop (Two Sounds) |
Stand on both feet R foot slightly in front of L foot. Execute pick-up with R foot. Hop on L foot. | |
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Pick-up Spring (Two Sounds) |
Stand on both feet, R foot slightly in front of L foot. Tilt up toe of R foot and execute pick-up with R foot. Spring on to R foot releasing L foot behind. |
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Pick-up On One Foot (Two Sounds) |
Stand on R foot bending supporting knee. Release toe and immediately spring up slapping ball of foot sharply backwards removing heel. Land on ball of same foot relaxing knee. Also taken from ball of foot - Stand on ball of RF with relaxed supporting knee. Spring into air releasing and relaxing R foot and ankle and - straightening knee catch the tap of R foot on ground with a backward movement. Land on ball of same foot, relaxing supporting knee. |
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Pick-up Change (Two Sounds) |
As for Pick-up on One Foot (either version) but landing on ball of other foot. |
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Pull Back (Four Sounds) |
Pick-up R foot. Pick-up change L to R Ball dig L foot. Can be taken from whole foot or from balls of feet. If taken from whole foot knees are bent when in the air. If taken from balls of feet knees straighten when in the air. |
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Open/Close Pull-back (Four Sounds) |
As for basic Pull Back taken from balls of feet but starting with feet together (apart) and finishing with feet apart (together) |
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Three Beat Ripple (Three Sounds) |
Stand on L foot. Pick-up change R to L foot preceded by a forward tap. | |
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Four Beat Riff (Four Sounds) |
Stand on L foot. Brush first the ball and then the heel of the R foot through from the back and follow with a Heel Dig and Ball Beat RF. | |
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Five Beat Riff (Four Sounds) |
Stand on L foot. Brush first the ball and then the heel of the R foot through from the back. Heel beat L foot. Heel Dig and Ball beat R foot. |
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Six Beat Riff (Six Sounds) |
As for Five beat but adding a Heel Beat on R foot at the end. |
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Seven Beat Riff (Seven Sounds) |
As for Five beat but adding 2 heel beats - L and then R at end. |
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Open Riff Forward (Three Sounds) |
Stand on L foot, R foot lifted behind. Brush first the ball and then the heel of the R foot through from back. Heel beat L foot. | |
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Back Riff (Three Sounds) |
Commence with R foot forward off ground - brish R foot back catching heel and toe on ground. Heel beat L foot. | |
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Criss Cross Riff (Twelve Sounds) |
Three beat Open Riff forward with R foot. Back riff R foot (crossing in front of L foot) followed by a Six beat riff forward. |
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Criss Cross Riff (Thirteen Sounds) |
As for Criss Cross Riff Twelve Sounds but finish with Seven Beat Riff instead of Six Beat Riff. |
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Preparation Wing (Three Sounds) |
Stand feet together with R foot slightly relaxed. Wing movement to RS with R foot from ball of foot and return making inward tap movement with same foot. Place R foot on ball. |
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Three beat Wing On One Foot (Three Sounds) |
Stand on ball of R foot with slightly relaxed knee. Wing movement to R side and return making inward tap with same foot. Land on ball of R foot. |
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Four Beat Wing On One Foot (Four Sounds) |
As for Three Beat Wing but adding a heel beat at the end. |
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Five Beat Wing On One Foot (Five Sounds) |
As for Four Beat Wing but adding a toe tap after the heel beat. |
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Double Wing (Three Sounds) |
As for Three Beat Wing but using both feet simultaneously, finishing feet together. |
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Separated Wing (Five Sounds) |
As for basic Double Wing but start the movement of the R foot slightly before the movement of the L foot and finish the R foot slightly before the L foot. |
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Wing Change (Three Sounds) |
Stand on ball of R foot with slightly relaxed knee. Wing movement to R side and return with inward tap but land on ball of L foot. |
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Pendulum Wing (Continuous) |
Continuous Three Beat Wings on One Foot preceded alternately by a forward or back brush. |
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Timestep (Single) |
Shuffle Hop Spring Tap Ball Change |
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Timestep (Double) |
Shuffle Hop Tap Step Tap Ball Change |
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Timestep (Triple) |
Shuffle Hop Shuffle Spring Tap Ball Change |
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Pick-up Timestep (Single) |
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Pick-up Timestep (Double) |
As in "Shuffle Time Step", the development is that the count of 2 becomes Tap Spring (&2) in the Double. Same applies to the breaks. |
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Pick-up Timestep (Triple) |
As in "Shuffle Time Step", the development is that the count of 2 becomes Side Shuffle Spring (&a2) in the Triple. Same applies to the breaks. |
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Pick-up Timestep (Double Triple) |
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Closework (Continuous) |
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Maxiford With Toe (Continuous) |
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Maxiford With Step (Continuous) |
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Suzie Q (Even) |
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Suzie Q (Accent) |
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