Tap Glossary

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Grade 1

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Amalgamations: Will be given by the examiner, these will not be more than 2 bars in length. As Primary grade plus.

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Basic Rhythm: The regular occurrence of an accented beat or beats in a phrase of music

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Step: One sound. The transfer of weight through the ball of the foot finishing either on the ball or whole of the foot.

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Stamp: One sound. Heavy down beat on the flat of the foot, knees flexed. May be done with or without weight.

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Spring: One sound. A springing movement from one foot landing on the ball of the other foot with the knees flexed.

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Hop: One sound. A springing movement from one foot ending on the ball of the same foot, with the knees flexed. 

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Jump: One sound. A springing movement from two to two feet or one to two feet, landing on the balls of both feet with the knees flexed.

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Shuffle: Two sounds. A forward and backward tap in less than 2 counts.

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Ball change: Two sounds. A change of weight from ball to ball, or ball to flat, the the count of &1 or less.

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Straight tap: One sound. With ankle movement only, strip the ball of the foot sharply on the floor, down and up.

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Forwards tap: One sound. With ankle movement only, strike the ball of the foot sharply on the floor, forward and up.

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Backward tap: One sound. With ankle movement only, strike the ball of the foot sharply on the floor, backward and up.

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Toe tap: One sound. Strike the floor sharply with the tip of the toe, down and up.

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Forward brush: One sound. As in forward tap but broader in movement, the swing coming from the knee and hip.

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Backward Brush: One sound. As in backward tap but broader in movement, the swing coming from the knee and hip.

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Ball beat: One sound. Lift the ball of the foot from the floor and make a downward beat. May be done with or without weight.

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Heel beat: One sound. Bending the knee lifet the heel from the floor and make a downward beat. May be done with or without weight.

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Ball dig:One sound. Raise the foot and dig the ball into the floor, knees flexed. May be done with or without weight.

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Heel dig: One sound. With the toe up tilted raise the foot and dig the heel in to the floor. May be finished down or carried forward.

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Parallel arm line: Both arms carried in the same direction, always the same distance apart.

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Stomp: One sound, Raise the heel of one or both feet, push the weight forward making a heavy heel beat, with the knee or knees flexed.

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Tap spring: Two sounds. A forward tap and a spring on to the ball of the foot.

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Tap step: Two sounds. A forward tap followed by a step.

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Toe beat: One sound. Beat the tip of the toe sharply on the floor and leave it down.

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Flap: Two sounds. A forward tap and a heavy down beat on the flat of the foot, the knee flexed. May be done with or without weight.

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Co-ordinated arm line: Both arms carried in the same direction, the lines eventually meeting.

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Jazz parallel: Contracted parallel line

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Jazz co-ordination: Contracted co-ordinated line.

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Stroll: A rhythmic walk taken over 2 counts

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Grade 2

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Amalgamations: 2-4 bars, will be given by the examiner with steps chosen from the following and previous grades

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Opposition arms: Arms carried in the opposite direction to each other.

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Jazz opposition: Contracted opposition arm line.

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Accent: The emphasising of one beat more than another.

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Pattern: The shape of the movement.

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Pick up: One sound. Uptilt the ball of one foot and strike the ball of the foot sharply back and up.

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Pick up step: Two sounds. A pick up and a step back.

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Pick up hop: Two sounds. A pick up and a hop on the ball of the other foot.

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Pick up spring: Two sounds. A pick up and a sprint on to the ball of the foot.

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3 beat riff: Three sounds. Forward tap R, heel dig R, ball beat R.

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Hot foot: Bend L knee, raising R foot off floor, small step onto R foot, bend R knee raising L foot off floor, small step onto L foot with or without weight. Use a rhythmic buoyant knee action throughout. Can start by raising L foot. 

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Time step: A group of steps to a set rhythm which can be repeated.

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Break: A group of steps to change from one foot to the other.

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