Tap is a style of dance in which the dancer wears shoes that are fitted with ‘taps’. Heel and toe taps are metal plates on the bottom of tap shoes, which create a variety of sounds as different parts of the shoe strike the floor. Tap dancing has many benefits, such as improving coordination, balance, rhythm, cognitive abilities and fitness levels - not forgetting how much fun it is too. If you’re interested in starting tap lessons either for yourself or your child, we’ve put together a bit of information about getting started as a youngster or even much later in life.
Tap Dance for Toddlers and Children
Tap dancing is a fantastic way to get your little one involved in a fun, energetic activity at an early age. Most tap dance classes in the UK allow children from age 3 or above to start lessons, with some even starting at age 2, and others only taking on children from age 4 or above. However, all young children develop at different rates, so it’s always best to ask for the dance teacher’s judgement to find out when they feel your child will be ready to start tap dance lessons. The following bullet points contain some useful factors that you may wish to take into account before deciding whether or not your child is ready to start tap dance lessons:
Maturity level - Tap dance involves being able to listen carefully and follow the instructions from your dance teacher, so ensuring that your child is able to do so will enable them to excel in a tap dance lesson setting. On the other hand, if your little one struggles with their attention span, it may be better to wait a little while before starting them with tap dance lessons.
Potty training - It is important to ensure that your toddler is potty trained before they start tap dance lessons, as a dance teacher’s qualification is like that of a school teacher’s - it signifies training in education rather than in childcare.
Confidence and Relationship Building - An important element of tap dance is the level of trust between the teacher and dance student. Therefore, it helps if your child is able to form close bonds with adults other than his or her parents.
Beginners Tap Dance for Adults
A general rule of thumb with any style of dance is that the sooner you start, the better. However with tap, adults can often be easier to teach than children, as they are more able to concentrate and understand the complexity of some of the movements involved in the style of dance. No matter what your age, as long as you have the enthusiasm, willingness to learn and physical capabilities, you will be welcome at any good beginners tap dancing class. If you have any health concerns or you’re unsure about whether or not tap dancing would suit you, speak to your doctor, as tap relies heavily on the use of the ankles - so ensuring that you have the necessary joint stability can help you to prevent injuries. We hope this brief guide has been useful in helping you to decide what age is best to start tap dancing. If you, or your child don’t feel quite ready to start tap dance lessons just yet, then don’t worry. The lessons will still be there when you’re ready.
