Jo's Tap

Routines 1

Home
News
Tapper's Info
Tap Events & Classes
Routines 1
Routines 2
Routines 3
Routines 4
Routines 5
Routines 6
Routines 7
Routines 8
Routines 9
Routines 10
Combinations
Tap Pics 1
Tap Pics 2
Shoes, Shoes, Shoes!!
Reviews
Tap Movies 1
Tap Movies 2
Tap Movies 3
Tap Movies 4
Theatre
Links
Contact

The routines on my website have been choreographed either by myself or other dancers whose workshops I have attended. They are written using mostly English tap terminology, which unfortunately is slightly different to American. For instance, a flap in the UK is called a flam in the US, and the step that American's call a flap or slap, is called a tap-step in Britain. Confusing or what! I have also used some abbreviations, which are explained below.
 
L or RDF = left or right diagonal front  L or RDB = left or right diagonal back  R = Right Foot  L  = Left Foot  Bk = backwards
Fwd = forwards  NW = no weight  NR = next to right i.e. Step LNR step left foot next to right  NL = next to left
XF = cross in front i.e. Tap step LXFR cross the tap step in front of the right leg  XB = cross behind i.e. Toe Tap RXBL toe tap is done behind the left leg. All steps are done forwards or facing front unless stated i.e. shuffle R (side) is a shuffle at the side.
 
The routines on this sight have all been reproduced with the permission of the choreographer and fellow tappers should feel free to use them. However I would ask that if you are teaching any of the routines that you acknowledge, most importantly, the choreographer, but also the source i.e. this website. Thanks!

Routine 1
 
I choreographed this routine for a group with varying abilities. The A group is easy and the B group is harder. The A and B sections are danced separately reflecting the 'Me & My Shadow' theme. Within the dance there are also parts where an easier step can be done if necessary but these steps are done altogether. They are shown in italics.
The music used is 'Me and My Shadow' from Robbie Williams 'Swing When You're Winning' album. The dance starts after the verses on the first 'Me & My Shadow' section.
Have Fun!!

Me & my Shadow
 

A: Hop L, flap R, pick-up step L, shuffle ball change stamp R (+a1+2+3+a4)

B: 3 bt ripple L, toe tap R, hop L, 5 bt riff R (+a5+6+7+a8)

A: 4x 3 beat riffs starting L (possibly turning) (+a1+a2+a3+a4)

B: 2x tap step heel beat L, heel beat R, pick-up L, heel beat R (+a5+a6+a7+a8)

 

ALL: tap step L, heel beat R, heel beat L, pick-up R, heel beat L, toe tap R, heel beat L. Rep other way. (+1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8) 2x tap step ball change (+1+2+3+4)

Stamp L, stamp R, pick-up step L, pick-up step R, shuffle L, hop R, stamp L (across R, no weight) (+5+6+a7+a8)

 

A: 2x single pick-up time steps (+12+3+4+56+7+8)

B: 2x double triple roll time steps (+1+a2+a3+a4+5+a6+a7+a8)

ALL: Easy -  shuffle step L (in front), toe tap R. Rep R Rep L but with no toe tap (1+2 3 4+5 6 7+8)

7x step pick-up heel beat starting R step L to side (1+a2+a3+a4+a5+a6+a7+a8)

Hard - heel R, shuffle L, heel beat R, step L (front), heel beat L, toe tap R. Rep R Rep L(no toe tap)(+1+a2+3+4+a5+6+7+a8+)

7x step pick-up heel beat starting R and crossing (back, back, side) step L to side (1+a2+a3+a4+a5+a6+a7+a8)

 

Jump and click heels together, 4 beat cramp roll as you land, pick-up R, heel beat L, toe tap R, heel beat L (+1+a2+3+4)

Shuffle step heel beat R, heel dig L, pick-up L, heel beat R, toe tap L, heel beat R(+5+a6+7+8)

5 bt cramp roll, 5 bt backward cramp roll, 5 bt cramp roll (all starting left) Shuffle L, open ball change (+1+a2+3+a4+5+a6+7+8)

4x Pick-up step stamp stamp starting L and turning (+1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8)

4x hop shuffle step first hop starting  R (1+a23+a45+a67+a8)

 

A: 4 x tap step heel beat starting L travelling left (right crosses in front) (+12+34+56+78)

B: Pick-up step R, pick-up step L, shuffle R, hop L, step R (front), clip (L toe to R heel), heel beat R, step heel beat L, pick-up step R, pick-up step L, shuffle R, hop L, step R (+1+a2+a3+a4+a5+a6+a7(8))

ALL:  Tap step L (to back), 5 bt reverse cramp roll turning, pick-up L, heel beat R. Rep.(+1+2+a3+4+5+6+a7+8)

Step L, forward tap heel dig R (scuffle) x7, ball beat R (1+a2+a3+a4+a5+a6+a78)

 

Suzi-q with one twist first hop starting R, suzi-Q L (1+a2+3+45+a6+7+8) Suzi-q with 3 twists (1+a2+3+4+5+6+7+8)

Tap step R, scuff L, pick-up step L, pick-up step R, scuff L, pick-up step L, pick-up step R, pick-up step L. (+1+ +3+4+ +6+7+8) 8x tap steps round in circle starting R (+1+2+3etc.)

 

Step R infront, kick L to side, step L behind, step R to side. Rep other side (12345678)

4x tap step pick-up ball change starting R (+1+a2+3+a4+5+a6+7+a8)

4x spring shuffle starting R, ball dig R behind L, turn, step R with finishing pose!!(1+a2+a3+a4+a5 turn 6 step 7)

Routine 2
 
Another Robbie Williams song I'm afraid (very good album for tap dancing!). This one is for elementary to intermediate level although you could make bits harder for advanced. I have found that people like to dance to a whole song rather than a short excerpt from it , so this routine repeats itself then I added a few extra steps as an ending. Enjoy!

Aint That A Kick In The Head
 

Intro - Start facing back, legs slightly apart. Start dancing when singing starts.

 

Push L knee, push R knee, ball change LR, 3x tap springs turning to face front starting L (1(2)3(4)+5+6+7+8)

Stamp (no weight)R (ball facing outwards) heel beat, ball beat, heel beat, ball beat, all R, extending and slightly raising L leg, step back on L to face back, step R to face LDF (1234567)

N:B if you can’t turn step back on L to face front, step R across L to face LDF

4 beat riff L, 5 beat riff R, 4 beat riff L, 5 beat riff R, stamp L (+8+1+2+a3+4+5+6+a78)

2x Thingy - Tap step R, heel beat L, heel beat R, pick-up L, heel beat R, toe tap L, heel beat R, Rep L (+1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8)

 

Hop L, flap R, pick-up step L behind pick-up step R pick-up step L in front x4 (+a1+2+3+4+a5+6+7+8 x2)

Cross R front L (5th position), heel beats R,L,R rocking motion, ball touch L side, heel beat R. Rep L (123+4567+8)

Shuffle ball change R, Rep but ball change front. Heel beats R,L ball beats R,L turning to RDF (+1+2+3+45678)

 

Stamp hop R to RDB but facing RDF, pick-up step L, pick-up step R, tap step ball change L to RDF, tap step heel beat R, step L (12+3+4+5+6+7+8)

Stamp 2 hops R to RDB, pick-up step L, pick-up step R, tap step ball change L, toe tap R, hop L (123+4+5+6+7+8)

Stamp 3 hops R to RDB, pick-up step L, pick-up step R, tap step ball change L (1234+5+6+7+8)

7x step pick-up heel beat starting R travelling backwards to LDB step L to side (1+a2+a3+a4+a5+a6+a7+a8)                                  

 

Ball dig R using inside edge of foot, heel dig R using inside edge of foot, heel beat L, step heel beat R behind, step heel beat L to side, step heel beat R in front . Rep L, R, L. (+a1+2+3+4+a5+6+7+8  x2)

 5 beat cramp roll R, 5 beat backward cramp roll R. Rep (+1+a2+3+a4+5+a6+7+a8)

Tap step R body facing L, heel beat L to face back. Rep 2 more times each time turning 180º Tap step R, stamp L, stamp R to starting position (+12+34+56+7+8)

N:B if you can’t turn that quickly use all 3 tap step heels to slowly move round 180º

 

Repeat all from start but this time do 4 tap step heel beat 180º turns

N:B if you can’t turn that quickly use all 4 tap step heels to slowly move round full circle.

 

Tap step R, heel beat L, heel beat R, tap step L in front, heel beat R, heel beat L, tap step R, heel beat L, heel beat R, (all travelling to RDF) shuffle L, ball change LR (+1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8) Rep to other side (+1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8)

Ball change RL, kick R, step R behind, step L side, step R in front, kick L, step L behind, step R to side (+12345678)

Tap step L to side, pick-up R, ball change RL. Rep R,L,R (+1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8)

 

Step L, forward tap heel dig R x3(scuffle), step L, step R to side (weight even) place arms horizontal

Finishing pose on last beat e.g L arm straight up R knee dipped inward. (1+a2+a3+a4567)

Routine 3
 
This was choreographed by Lee Farrow for one of the ATD Dancers Days Out. I am unsure of the music it was originally danced to as it was one Lee had edited himself, however I have found it goes well to 'The Best is Yet to Come' by Frank Sinatra.

Lee's Routine
 

4 walks (5678)

Tap step R to R, pick-up L, ball change LR. Rep L, Step R fwd, forward brush L, step L fwd, ball dig R (+1+a2+3+a45678) Rep all from start (not walks) (+1+a2+3+a45678)

Stamp R, stamp L, pick-up step R, pick-up step L, shuffle R, ball change.Rep (+1+2+a3+a4+5+6+a7+a8)

Spring R, shuffle L, ball change LR, Rep L, Drop R, toe tap L, drop L, toe tap R (turning), spring R, shuffle L, step L, stamp R (+1+a2+3+a4+5+6+7+a8)

 

7x 3 beat paddles starting R, Stamp L (1+a2+a3+a4+a5+a6+a7+a8)

Pick-up step R, pick-up step L, shuffle R, hop L, step RXFL, step L to L, step RXBL, step L to L, drag R, ball change RL, stamp R (+1+a2+a3+45(6)+78)

Heel beat R, step LXBR, heel beat L, step R to R, heel beat R, step LXFR, heel beat L, step R to R. Rep changing last step to stamp R (a1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8)

Pick-up R, ball dig RNL, heel beat R, stamp L, Rep L, Pick-up step R, pick-up step L, shuffle R, ball change RL, stamp R, stamp L (+1+2+3+4+5+a6+a7+8)

 

Pick-up step R, pick-up step L, shuffle R, hop L, step RXFL, step L to L, drag turn, 3 travelling ball changes RL (+1+a2+a34turn5+6+7+8)

7x Spring shuffle starting R, Drop L (1+a2+a3+a4+a5+a6+a7+a8)

Stamp R, stamp L, pick-up step R, pick-up step L, shuffle R, ball change.Rep (+1+2+a3+a4+5+6+a7+a8)

7x Step pick-up heel beat starting R, stamp L (1+a2+a3+a4+a5+a6+a7+a8)

 

4x Spring shuffle ball change starting R (+1+a2+3+a4+5+a6+7+a8)

Step R fwd, forward brush L, step L fwd, ball dig R, 3 steps turning RLR, toe beat RXFL (12345678)

Routine 4
 
Maurice Kachuk is a very popular teacher in the UK and is always in demand for the ATD events. This is a routine he taught at the TapUk festival in 2002. Students from his school performed the full routine at the showcase. The music used is Robbie Williams - Straighten Up & Fly Right. The routine starts after 8 bars of intro.

Straighten Up and Fly Right

 

Start on the left facing right. 2 walks starting R. Drop back R, 3 steps on spot (1(2)3(4)5678) Repeat turning on 3 steps (1(2)3(4)5678)  Repeat facing front on 3 steps (1(2)3(4)5678)

Tap step RtoR, pick-up L, heel beat R, toe tap LXBR, RepL, RepR, Tap step ball change fwd (+1+a2+3+a4+5+a6+7+8)

 

Ball change, slap R thigh bringing leg forward, step R, opening arms out, Tap step L, ball change to back, step R, step L to front (+1slap23(4)+5+678) Repeat 2 more times

Ball change, heel dig ball beat R twisting, heel dig ball beat L twisting, step RB, pick-up step L, shuffle R, hop L, step RXFL (+123456+7+8+1)

 

Kick L leg to side, step LXBR, step RtoR, step LXFR, Kick R leg to side, step RXBL, step LtoL (2345678)

4 bt paddles R, L, R, L, crossing in front of other leg (1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+)

Step heel R, 4 bt paddle L, step heel R, 4 bt paddle L, stamp R (1+2+3+4+5+6+7(8)) *

Slide back onto ball R, step L to LDB, step RXFL, step L, brush R to face LDB, spring onto R turning to face RDF, toe tap LXBR (1234567(8))

 

Bounce, flick L leg out, step LXFR, step RtoR, step LXFR, flick R leg out, step RXFL, step LtoL (12345678)

Shuffle RtoR, ball change front, shuffle RtoR, ball change behind, step heel beat R to LDF, turn, step L together (+1+2+3+45a turn67step8)

Roll R shoulder lifting and dragging R ball slightly, Make small circular movement with L ball Rep (roll12circle34roll56dcircle78)

Unfold R arm to R side (12), unfold L arm to L side (34), Bring arms down then up above head pointing L leg to side (567)

 

Extend L arm by pushing L shoulder up, extend R arm by pushing R shoulder up, extend L arm by pushing L shoulder up and flick L leg out at the same time (8+1), step LXFR, step RtoR, step LtoL, step RXFL, bring arms down  (2345(678arms down))

Ball dig L, flick L leg out, step LXBR, step RtoR, step LXFR, tap step ball change R to RDF (12345+6+7) Rep but with extra ball change at end (81234+5+6+7(8))

Hop R, step L, hop L, step RXFL, hop R, step L, step RXFL, step L (1+(2)+3(4)a567(8)) all travelling to LDB

 

Step R to face front, kick L fwd, step L, hop L, shuffle R, step RXFL, tap step LtoL turning R toe out, pick-up R, step RXFL (suzi-q or bombershay) (1234+a5+6+7)

Hop R, shuffle L, step LXFR, 3 suzi-qs finishing with a ball dig (8+a1+2+3+4+5+6+7(8))

 Hop R, shuffle L, hop R, step LXFR, 2 Suzi-Q, Rep L, Rep R but with just 1 suzi-q (+1+a2+3+4+5+6+7+a8+1+2+3+4+5+a6+7+8)

 

Jump to 2nd position, jump back in feet crossed RXFL, L arm above head R arm to side hold 2 counts, Drop L Bk bring R leg round, step RXBL, step L to LDF, tap step R to LDF, ball change arms horizontal with fingers pointing upwards, look back, look front (12hold34567+8+1head2head3(4))

We ran out of time in the workshop so stopped here even though Maurices routine used the whole piece of music. I have actually added a few steps to finish the phrase, repeated the routine from the start and added an ending so we could do a whole routine in our class.

Step L R L R turning either way to face RDF(5678)

Heel beat R, shuffle L, heel beat R, step LXFR, heel beat L, toe tap R, heel beat L, shuffle R, heel beat L, step RXFL, heel beat R, toe tap L, heel beat R, shuffle L, heel beat R, step LXFR (+1+a2+3+4+a5+6+7+a8)

Pick-up step R Bk, kick L leg and click fingers. Rep L R L all travelling across to starting position (+1click2+3click4 etc.)

 

Repeat from start to * Tap step heel beat LtoL, pick-up R, heel beat L, toe tap R, heel beat L, Rep other side (+1+(2)+3+4+5+(6)+7+8)

Tap step L, heel beat R, heel beat L, pick-up R, heel beat L, toe tap R, heel beat L, Ball change, slap R thigh bringing leg forward, step R opening arms out (+1+2+3+4+5slap67)