Archive for July, 2008
Tap Dance Lesson With Bob Marley
Tap dance and Bob Marley unite! This is footage of some students tapdancing in Toronto last weekend.
Today’s video song is called Natural Mystic, from one of the most legendary singers in history: Bob Marley. The previous post has a list of other tap dancing music. Look up the songs, put yo’ tap shoes on and hit some wood.
Love the tap. Embrace the tap. Enjoy the tap!
- Shawn B
Tap Dance Lesson to Bob Marley
Add comment July 30, 2008
Tap Dance Music For Tap Class
Hey Tappers!
Shawn Byfield (me!) being crazy as usual
I’ve just compiled a list of recent tap music I’ve used in my tap dance classes lately, just in case anyone was looking for new tunes:
Get On The Boat – Prince
Bright Mississippi – Thelonious Monk
The Grand Marshall – Wynton Marsalis Septet
El Conguero – Poncho Sanchez 2 tracks
Soul Power – Maceo Parker
Gimme One Of Those – Brand New Heavies
Mr. Bojangles – Robbie Williams
Natural Mystic – Bob Marley
You can check out iTunes to see if they got ‘em. Use the music for your own tap class. I’ll keep posting more tap music periodically throughout the year. Happy hoofin!
- Shawn B
2 comments July 25, 2008
Tap Dance Love in Toronto
What an awesome weekend of tap dance love!
So, if Saturday’s awesome “Dixieland” themed tap classes weren’t enough workout for me, I had a dance related film shoot starting at 6:45 am on Sunday, right downtown Toronto all morning to afternoon. VERY fun times.
I then held an audition Sunday afternoon for a tap dance intensive I’ll be running in August.
The room was HOT and SWEATY. We had the tap audition at Metro Movement dance studio, if you’ve ever taken a dance class there you know what I mean… 
and the energy was great. I started with a bit of ear training, a quick tap warm up, and got right into a routine to a favourite Thelonious Monk tune of mine.
I couldn’t move my legs much last night from all the dancing… But hey, nobody said the life of a tap dancer would be an easy one!
Congrats to everyone that participated in the audition, and thank you to everyone that shared your love of tap dancing this weekend in Toronto!
- Shawn B
Add comment July 14, 2008
Finding A Toronto Tap Class
Where is a tap class in Toronto, you ask?
If you need to dance but you couldn’t find a tap dance class near downtown Toronto, you might be interested in tappin’ with us! Sorry, no tap classes for kids, as these classes are for adults 19+.
Unfortunately, there’s not many facilities to run a tap class in Toronto. =(
You will however, find teachers offer tap classes at a community centre, a church, a fitness centre, or even in their own homes. I actually rent space, and teach tap class out of Goodlife Fitness in the Eaton Centre, downtown Toronto.
But it’s not always the space that matters- it’s what you get out of the tap class!
The teacher, the music, the teacher’s experience and training, convenience of the location, and the energy the class provides all make a difference. You feelin’ me?
I’m curious- is it hard to find a class in your neighbourhood?
- Shawn B
Add comment July 6, 2008
