New York Today: The Tale of Tap Dancing

In honor of this column, I've been searching tap numbers on YouTube. This British rendition of "Tap Your Troubles Away" from "Mack and Mabel" is amazing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6skpCNIoes

Tap is something people love to do, it's not likely to ever vanish, but some styles do. American Tap Dance Orchestra was not mentioned, they kept sophisticated, classy tap in prominence into the 1990s. Paul Draper was famous for tapping to classical music. It is an even richer artery of dance than what you have described in passing. It may have peaked long ago, but other peaks remain to yet be seen. The more musical the tapper, the more enjoyable and the more potential their tapping has. But, like all other forms of performance, it needs to be seen; the media must provide access to it.

From “In the News”: “The Walt Disney Company announced that it had struck a $650 million deal to move its New York operations from the Upper West Side to Lower Manhattan.” Tune of “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” (Disney classic) Disney is moving, hip hip hooray Now’s the time, change is coming our way Kind of expensive, that’s what they say Disney is moving, pray this will pay! Mister Iger cheered on Monday. In with innovation For our New York operation! Disney is moving, hip hip hooray Kind of expensive, pray this will pay! (big tap break, then big finish) Pack up that camera, pack up that chair Wonderful move now, to Hudson Square!

I truly regret not seeing all of the famous tap musicals that hit Broadway years ago, i.e. Tap Dance Kid, Black and Blue, Jelly's Last Jam and Bring in Da Noise Bring in Da Funk.

As the Disney movie sort of says: This is the kind of day where you can’t see the "In the News" section without singing! “The Walt Disney Company announced that it had struck a $650 million deal to move its New York operations from the Upper West Side to Lower Manhattan.” Tune of “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” (Disney classic - from "Song of the South," maybe just a little nod to the developing Supreme Court!) Disney is moving, hip hip hooray Now’s the time, change is coming our way Kind of expensive, that’s what they say Disney is moving, pray this will pay! Mister Iger cheered on Monday. In with innovation For our New York operation! Disney is moving, hip hip hooray Kind of expensive, pray this will pay! (big tap break, then big finish) Pack up that camera, pack up that chair Wonderful move now, to Hudson Square!

WHEREFORE HONKS? Wherefore angst In The Brangst? Is Long Island More of a hi, land? Possible Brooklyn Is likely to brook sin? Maybe Queens Has pleasanter scenes? Does the Island of Staten Welcome your hat in? And is Manhattan All silk and satin? Why do drivers sound honks As they pass The Bronks? --It's on the mainland, The dreaded baneland. That's all ye know, Don't need no mo'.

Crossing Delancey is a lovely film and one of my favorite romantic comedies set in New York. It is, however, marred by a scene in a sauna in which two black women otherwise unrelated to the plot are treated like props for comic effect. It's unbelievably ugly racial stereotyping. I have to fast-forward over that scene every time watch the movie. I always liked Janet Maslin as a reviewer, but never understood how she and other critics of the time let that scene pass without comment.

I was thinking the same thing, and I know hardly anything about Tap. the Nicholas Brothers are legendary. Otherwise, it was a good capsule history.

Very nice breakdown on tap dancing, but with one glaring omission, namely The Nicholas Brothers. The only way to describe them is 'aerodynamic'. And you can see why on youtube.

GLITTERING WELCOME MAT "Make it big or simply get by"-- New York invites all people to try.

I was later in life to embrace tap dancing. I’m now 66 years old & it’s the first thing I do most mornings! It’s the quintessential “happy dance”! The music, the moves! Great exercise & better than any drug to turn that frown upside down!!!

When I lived in NY in the 80s I took tap dance classes at the 63rd St Y. Had an amazing teacher named Chazz whose last name I regret to say I have forgotten. He was born too late for the heyday of tap; worked at the Post Office as I remember. But his love and avocation was tap. We were a motley group. Some older, some younger, absolute first-timers like me; some actors and dancers from other disciplines. We had to work hard. Chazz was so patient. Best part was watching him demonstrate. But the absolute highlight was when he invited a special guest: Harold Nicholas of the great Nicholas Brothers. That I still remember.

Whoa, the Levine and Wolfe all-star team today! Does everybody know just how difficult tap dancing is? Try it one time. A teacher had us try it in the school auditorium once, and absolutely no one came close to mastering it. Heel to toe, every tap being audible to all. No apparent rhythm from any of us. Who can move their feet that quickly, and in rhythm? None of us, for sure.