Tap dance is a style of dance that took many years to become very established and prominent. It all began before September 9, 1739, when drumming was very prominent with in African dance, including the drum being used as a form of communication. Everything changed September 9, 1739, when a rebellion took place 20 miles South of Charleston at St. Paul's Parish on the Stono River. During this rebellion Jemmy (the leader and an slave) lead several other slaves toward St. Augustine, Florida to reach freedom. They marched to the beat of two drums, killed all the whites who interfered them (with the exception of one innkeeper at Wallace's Tavern who had been nice to his slaves), and picked up escaped slaves as they went. This was the largest slave revolt in the history of the British colonies.The whites realized that these rebellions were centered around drums playing rhythmic cadences and dancing and came to the conclusion that drumming leading to THE NEGRO ACT OF 1740 in South Carolina. This prohibited any African American from beating drums, blowing horns, or anything that can lead to another rebellion. Other states then followed enacting a similar act in their state. This act caused slaves to be deprived of their traditional means of communication. Therefore, the HUMAN BODY BECAME THEIR SOURCE OF RHYTHM AND COMMUNICATION, which led to use of heel and toe beats, hence the beginning stages of tapping.

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