Lessons in Tap - Week 4 - Part 2 [22/5/24]

 LESSONS IN TAP 

Developing Our Skills - Week 4 - Part 2

[22/5/24]

• For this rehearsal we were in our costumes that we will be wearing in ‘Spotlight’ for the first time. This is to help us firstly get into characters and help to actually characterise the dance a bit more as when we practice we are quite stiff as we are focusing on the steps and timing a lot. This is very important for the dance to be good but for it to be visually interesting we also need to put some focus into our actual on stage characters in this dance. Secondly, we needed to see if we would be comfortable enough in the costumes we have chosen because if we are not we still have time to change what we are wearing. We are wearing our own clothes for this tap number and we are just dressing ‘cool’ to fit the vibe of the song. I personally will be wearing jorts (jean-shorts), a tank top, a tie, a backwards cap and sunglasses. 
• We warmed up by going over old sequences, specifically the key ones that are apart of the dance. We were cleaning them up a bit to try and refine parts where we are all struggling. For example, we went over the sequences that we did in our separate groups at the start of the number. My group went over the close work sequence tap step heel toe heel step…’ and the other group went over the 6 beat cramp rolls. We then split up into 2 groups to refine the details of the sequences. The group I was in consisted of myself, Grace, Verity, Lola and Ellie. Together, Rob wanted us to work on the time step and the break section with it (spring shuffle spring shuffle spring shuffle ball-change) s well as the close work sequence. Rob really wanted us to work as one to ensure that we are in time with one another as main thing a steady tempo and staying in time with each other is one thing, as a class, we are struggling with. We worked together, taking in turns with counting the group in so that we could all get a a chance to make sure everyone is in time. I feel that exercises helpful as it helped us to tap unison. 
• We then went on to learn the break section to the close work sequence which is ‘tap step heel toe heel toe heel step pickup spring toe-tap spring toe heel-strike heel tap’. I found the break section very tricky to do. I struggled with doing it fast enough for it all to be in time with the music. The spring’s in the break section, made me confused as I tend to forget that a spring means we spring to the other foot; it takes me a minute to think about it. As we have just learnt this new section, it doesn’t feel natural for me to do at all so I have to really concentrate on the movements to be able to get them. Due to this, I am rather tense as I am focusing really hard which in turn is making this section trickier for me to do as I am not relaxed with my movements.
• Once Rob was happy with our attempts at the break section and happy that we will remember it, we moved on to learn a trickier and more challenging sequence. All the current sequences we have learnt either travel forwards, to the side or don’t travel at all. This new sequence travels backwards. The sequence is: ‘step pick-up heel step pick-up heel step pick-up step stamp’. This sequence isn’t going to be in our dance routine but Rob wanted to challenge us further with our skills in tap. Once I went over this new sequence a few times, I managed to pick it up rather quickly. I actually ended up finding this one easier to do then the break section of the close work sequence. I think this is because it is very repetitive so it’s basically doing the same 4 movements over and over again which I really liked. 
• After this we moved on to go through our actual tap routine and we developed the dance mor by adding more choreography to it. We are nearly close to finishing the dance completely. 

Tap Routine Run-through / Dress Run for Spotlight

Thoughts & Feelings                                                                                                                                

• Overall, I think that during the run-through I know what I’m doing when and have the moves down but I now need to work on to develop my timing with not just the song but with my group too. Myself and my group all struggle with coming in on the right count for when we do our close work sequence. We have the habit to start on count ‘1’ not ‘and 1’. I have also noticed that I personally do my movements in relation to lyrics not beat. I start the close work sequence when the singer says ‘downtown’ because to me that feels right but I need to get used to tapping to the right counts not the lyrics being sung. Over the next few rehearsals/lessons, we need to lean up our timing as a group as at the minute we aren’t really working as one, we are all tapping as individual performers who happen to be on stage at the same time. We need to be tapping as a group so that we are in unison. In terms of costume, I am very happy with how it firstly looks and secondly how it is really easy for me to tap in as it is comfortable. Before my next lesson, I will make sure to keep tapping in the meantime so that can become mor confident with the steps as I still have a habit of looking down at my feet when I need to have my head up as this will help for me to have good posture and alignment required for tap. In terms of my stamina, I would say it has improved a lot since first learning tap, I feel that I can tap for a longer period of time without getting too tired and worn out. I think my stamina has improved as I have been practicing a lot so am used to tap and the physicality of it and I am also bringing a much more positive attitude to the lessons now as when we started I was not a fan of tap at all but now I am really enjoying it.