Fitness review: tap dancing
Tap dancing is by far one of the most enjoyable things I’ve tried in the last few months. Does it hold its own as a fitness workout? Absolutely. Is it ridiculously fun? You bet. And the best part – you don’t even realise you’re working out!
If you’ve ever wanted to try tap dancing, there is no better time than now. Don’t let that inner naysayer tell you that you can’t start tapping as an adult. That is one mindset that definitely needs to get checked at the door.
Tap dancing is ageless, for men and women, and an artform that has made me hang up my pointe shoes (for now) in favour of tap shoes and Top 40 tunes.
The details:
Duration: 60 minutes
Style: Beginner tap class
Cost: $85 five week course through 2ballerinas
Who’s there: Mainly women, but all ages 20s through to 60s
What to wear: ¾ tights or leggings over gym shorts, moisture wicking tee. Tap shoes are essential; prices start from around $80 for shoes with a low heel. Bring towel and water bottle.
What to expect:
Taking a beginner course over several weeks is a great way to learn the basics and get a feel for tap. What’s great is you don’t need prior dance experience – just a willingness to learn and not take things too seriously! You’ll need to invest in a pair of tap shoes though, which you can buy from dance shops like Bloch. Have a chat with the staff, as they’ll be able to help you figure out what style best fits your foot; and explain the differences in heel height etc.
Because tapping requires good balance, and an ability to move from one foot to the other, class starts off with warm up exercises at a wooden bar. One hand gently rests on the bar for balance so you can focus on your feet and legs and basic coordination. A good 2/3 of the class is spent here learning and practicing basic tap moves before moving into the centre of the room to try out a simple combination from what you’ve just learnt.
You’ll get loads of support from the teacher; and you can’t help but build friendships with others that have also signed up to the next five Saturday afternoons to live out a dream. Each week builds on the class before, so by the end of five weeks, you’ll feel pretty amazed at how far you’ve come.
Look out for these basic tap moves you’ll learn, which are the foundations for just about every tap step/combination. The good thing is the names generally reflect the type of movement you should be doing, which goes a long way in helping you get the move down pat!
Toe tap – standing on two feet, lift one foot up so your heel is in contact with the floor, but your toes are off the ground. Simply tap down with your toe, and pull your foot back up quickly, ready to go again.
Heel tap – the opposite of the toe tap. This time, lift your heel off the ground and keep your toes in contact with the floor. Bring the heel down to tap, then pull up again quickly ready to go again.
Shuffle – standing on two feet, brush one foot forward so that your toes connect with the floor with a nice ‘tap’, finishing with a flexed foot; immediately pull the foot back with your toes again brushing the floor, finishing behind you.
Would I recommend this fitness workout to a friend?
Yes. Tapping is a lot of fun, but it can be challenging too. Your brain is getting a pretty good workout just like your legs, which is definitely a good thing. There is tonnes of research out there that supports how good dancing is for potentially delaying age-related brain diseases like Alzheimer’s.
If you’re still 50/50 on trying a tap class; there are plenty of online Facebook groups that sell second hand tap shoes so you don’t have to outlay that much to give it ago.
What I liked: from the first class you will be able to master a simple step, making you feel like a legitimate tap dancer! *I 100% guarantee this! Oh – and the music is great.
What I didn’t like: can be frustrating trying to add several steps together to ‘legitimise’ your tap dancing prowess; trying to hear the sound of your tap shoes over the din of others.
What do I rate this fitness workout out of five?
Fitness: 4/5 Strength and toning: 4/5
Weight loss: 3/5 Wellness (mind, body, soul connection): 5/5
What was a track on this fitness workouts playlist?
Are you considering giving tap a go? Let me know in the comments box below!
If there’s a workout you’d like me to review, just post it on my Facebook page or email hello@askthatfitgirl.com
Until next time, Maryanne K
I really wish I could review the product however I cannot seem to get my order. I ordered this on May 17th and was told it would be 14 days. I then emailed 14 days later to check the status and was told it would be another 14 days. I once again waited 14 days and emailed to check the status and once again was told it would be 14 days. I am not over a month out with no product.
While I understand the issues with Covid-19, I also know that I have ordered a ton of bulk PPE items for my essential business and received them in less time it has taken to get some tap shoes and a tap floor.
It would be nice for TapFit to reach out to me instead of me having to contact them about my status. If your order from them good luck getting your items. A very disappointing way to begin a relationship with a business.
Hi Wendy, thanks for your comment. I’m really sorry to hear about your experience. I have no affiliation with TapFit, but I do hope your items eventually arrived. But I hear you. I ordered a cardio bike online in March to help with my ACL rehab. I was told it would arrive at the end of the month, but it got pushed out consistently. It finally arrived this month – 3 months late. I was lucky to have a friend who loaned me her bike, otherwise I would have been seriously behind in my rehab. Yes, the pandemic is causing grief and can be frustrating. I hope you’re doing well otherwise. Best, Maryanne K