You've mastered the basics. Now it's time to refine your technique, build speed, and develop the musicality that separates good tappers from great ones. This guide will take your skills to the next level.
So you've got your shuffle-ball-change down pat, your flaps are crisp, and you can time step with confidence. Welcome to the intermediate level! This is where tap dancing gets truly exciting. It's no longer just about executing steps—it's about making music with your feet.
The bridge between intermediate and advanced tap lies in three key areas: clarity, speed, and musicality. The drills and combinations below are designed to challenge you in all three.
Essential Technique Drills
These drills are your daily bread and butter. Practice them slowly at first, focusing on clean sounds, then gradually increase your tempo.
1. The Precision Cramp Roll Drill
The cramp roll (often notated as CCQQ) is fundamental. This drill works on isolating each sound and building consistency.
Stand in parallel first position. Slowly execute:
HEEL (R) - HEEL (L) - TOE (R) - TOE (L)
Focus on making four distinct, equally spaced sounds. Repeat starting with the left heel. Do this in a slow, even rhythm for 32 counts.
Pro Tip: Record yourself! Listen back. Are all four sounds equally loud and clear? The goal is "CCQQ," not "C---Q".
2. Swing Pull-Back Progressions
Pull-backs are a staple of rhythm tap. This progression builds the strength and coordination needed to execute them cleanly and in succession.
Phase 1: Practice the jump and leg cross alone. Jump, crossing one leg over the other, and land. No sound yet. Get comfortable with the motion.
Phase 2: Add the scrape. As you jump, scrape the ball of your foot backward to create a single "scuff" sound before landing.
Phase 3: The full pull-back. Jump, creating two sounds in the air: a toe-drop (from the crossing foot) and a scuff (from the supporting foot). Land.
Pro Tip: Think "UP" not "OUT." Your energy should be directed upward to give yourself time to make the two sounds in the air. Keep your knees bent and core engaged for a soft, controlled landing.
Musical Combinations
Now, let's string steps together into phrases that tell a musical story. Count these out loud as you practice!
Combo 1: The Rhythm Breaker
This 8-count phrase plays with syncopation and works great as a fill or transition.
1&2 - Shuffle (R) Ball (R) Change (L)
3&a4 - Flap (R) Heel (R) Step (L)
5 - Step (R)
6&7 - Spank (L) Step (R)
8 - Stomp (L)
The magic is on the "3&a4" – fitting three sounds into a single beat. Start painfully slow. Use a metronome app to keep yourself honest.
Combo 2: The Traveling Triplet
This combination focuses on flow, movement across the floor, and layering sounds.
1-2-3 - Maxi Ford (R) [Brush, Step, Hop, Step]
&4&a - (During the hop) Toe (L) Heel (L) Toe (L) *behind R leg*
5-6-7 - Repeat Maxi Ford sequence to the left (L)
&8&a - (During the hop) Toe (R) Heel (R) Toe (R) *behind L leg*
The challenge is maintaining the Maxi Ford's rhythm while adding the three-note riff behind the standing leg. It's like patting your head and rubbing your stomach!
Putting It All Together: Practice Strategy
How you practice is just as important as what you practice.
- Slow Motion First: Never sacrifice clarity for speed. Speed is a byproduct of precision.
- Count Out Loud: If you can't count it, you don't own it yet.
- Listen: 90% of tap is listening to the sounds you're making. Are they clean? Are they rhythmically accurate?
- Record and Analyze: Be your own teacher. Watch your videos for extraneous movement and listen for muddy sounds.
The intermediate stage is where you find your voice as a tap dancer. It's challenging, but immensely rewarding. Drill with purpose, play with rhythm, and most importantly, listen to the music you're making. Now get tapping!
