Shim Sham by Frankie Manning
Tap dancing had a very interesting although gruesome beginning. It was a fusion of African Slave rhythms and Irish and British clog dance.

When the Africans were brought to the United States between 1619 and 1808, the Irish and British sailors would bring them out on deck. While still shackled, the Africans were forced to dance to banjo music, drum or hum and clap. It was cruel “entertainment” because the Africans were made to perform for the sailors and killed if they did not comply. The captors considered it exercise for the slaves. But to the Africans, the dance “limbo” symbolized the contortions needed to survive in the confines below deck. By stamping their feet, swaying and shuffling, their movements represented their culture of tribal dance and to them, displayed the hope of escape.

Once they were living on the plantations, during the late 18th century and early 19th century, the dances continued to entertain the plantation owners. This was where the “buck and wing” dance began. This dance resembled a deer jumping “buck” and with arms flailing “wings” as in pigeon wings. The slaves were not allowed drums for fear they would communicate with each other and revolt. Africans were in the majority by 3 to 1. They began to combine their drum rhythms, the Irish step dance and English clog with the only instrument they had, their bodies.
The Cake Walk – a video from the turn of the 20th century.

The cakewalk was also known as the chalk line walk. The slaves were made to entertain during Plantation owner’s parties. A chalk line was drawn and the slaves would compete against each other dancing along the line. Sometimes mocking the Plantation owner, making up creative moves to the delight of the Plantation owner. They would win a prize, generally a cake. The cakewalk became so well-known and frequently performed. Its popularity swarmed all over the United States. This style of dance set the stage for “tap dancing” to explode in the US. Beginning with Minstrel shows from the 1850’s to Vaudeville soon after, “tap dance” was on it’s way. But, it wasn’t until the 1920’s that tap dance took the shape of chorus lines. It was then that the tap shoe of today was born. Before they danced barefoot and then used hard soled shoes.

Much of the tap vocabulary still comes from the early 20th century. Whether it be rhythmic tap, ballroom tap, Broadway style or funk, tap is here to stay! Using your feet to create percussion is fun and great entertainment.