From Intermediate to Advanced Tap: Breaking Through Plateaus
You’ve mastered the basics. You can shuffle, flap, and cramp roll with confidence. Your time steps are crisp, and you’ve even started layering rhythms. But now, progress feels slow—maybe even stagnant. Welcome to the intermediate plateau, a frustrating but entirely normal phase in every tap dancer’s journey.
The good news? Plateaus aren’t dead ends. They’re opportunities to refine, challenge, and push your skills to the next level. Here’s how to break through and step into advanced tap.
1. Revisit Fundamentals with a Critical Ear
Advanced tap isn’t just about speed or complexity—it’s about precision. Go back to basics like single sounds (toe taps, heel drops) and ask:
- Are my sounds clean? (No extra scrapes or muffled hits.)
- Is my weight distribution intentional? (No accidental stomping.)
- Can I repeat the sound exactly the same way 10 times in a row?
Record yourself and listen critically. Often, small inconsistencies in fundamentals hold back advanced progress.
2. Train Like a Musician
Tap is percussion. To advance, think like a drummer:
- Metronome drills: Practice rudiments (e.g., paradiddles, flam taps) at varying tempos.
- Polyrhythms: Layer triplets over duple rhythms (e.g., 3 against 2).
- Dynamics: Play with volume—soft brushes vs. sharp accents—to add musicality.
Tip: Use apps like Soundbrenner or Pro Metronome to dissect timing.
3. Break Down Advanced Steps Slowly
Struggling with wings or pullbacks? Isolate each component:
- Wings: Practice the swipe motion without jumping first. Then add the jump, then the landing.
- Pullbacks: Work on the backward hop separately from the toe/heel click.
Advanced steps are just combinations of simpler movements. Master the pieces, then assemble.
4. Improvise Daily
Improvisation forces creativity and adaptability. Try:
- 3-minute jams: Freestyle to a random song daily.
- Call-and-response: Mimic rhythms from other dancers or music.
- Limitations: Improvise using only two sounds (e.g., toe and heel).
This builds the instinctual vocabulary needed for advanced choreography.
5. Study the Greats (Then Steal Their Moves)
Watch advanced tapers like Michelle Dorrance, Jason Samuels Smith, or Ayodele Casel. Analyze:
- How they phrase movements musically.
- Their use of space and body alignment.
- Where they place accents in a rhythm.
Then, steal a 4-count phrase and drill it until it’s yours.
6. Cross-Train for Strength and Flexibility
Advanced tap demands physical stamina. Incorporate:
- Pilates or yoga for core stability.
- Jump rope to improve calf endurance.
- Ballet basics for turnout and balance.
7. Perform (Even If It’s Scary)
Nothing accelerates growth like performing. Seek opportunities:
- Local tap jams.
- Student showcases.
- Social media challenges (#TapRiot, #ImprovChallenge).
Mistakes under pressure reveal what needs work.
The Plateau Is Temporary
Every advanced taper has been stuck where you are now. Progress isn’t linear—breakthroughs come from consistent, mindful practice. Keep pushing, and one day, you’ll realize: the steps that once felt impossible are now part of your flow.
Now go make some noise.
