Rhythmically Apparent
Fundamentals
Tap dance adapted the blending of physical gestures and audible sounds.
Most African dances include an acute torso and bent knees, in tap this is infused with the relaxed body like culture.
The utilization of swing in African dance, with the relation of rhythm created an accent on the 2 and 4 of the beat rather than the Americanized 1 and 3 accents which influenced the development of synchronization.
African dance uses polyrhythmic body movements creating juxtaposition within the execution of multiple rhythms in the body producing a sense of looseness which was later adapted by tap with loose ankles and a juxtaposition of relaxation in the upper body and percussiveness and tightness.
African dance in the past was done with bare feet, and consisted of a great amount of glides shuffles and drag steps which are basic steps in tap.
African dances incorporated imitations of animals which was then inserted in the beginning steps of tap such as: “ the pigeon wing and the buffalo glide ”.
The dance circle also referred to as “circle of life”, is very important in African dance culture within tap culture dancers move in a counterclockwise motion while they shuffle rhythmically with their bare feet keeping that element.
People created the myth that African's keep their feet close to the ground for a spiritual connection with Mother Earth’s power. With that being said the shuffle is one of the soul based steps in tap dancing to keep the "connection" and is a basic building block to more complex steps.