So Many Things to Work On

Friend Like Me

I have recorded a beginner and intermediate version. You can dance EITHER version, they go just fine together. 

Be Our Guest:

I simplified the "chorus line" part just a touch. Here is a video with the adjustments and the Ending.

Be Our Guest Part Two

 

Here is the video for the next portion.

Cincinnati practice video below. Rod Howell calls it an Alexander but it is the same step. 

Be Our Guest

 This is the first section of Be Our Guest. This choreography should take you through February 22, 2024

Soft Shoe:

This will be coming up in choreography, probably next week (2/27-2/29)

We're Back!

 Welcome Back to SJC Tap! 

I am excited to be back teaching Encore Tap this year. 

Things look a little different.We are all in one, very large class, combining all ability levels. To meet the variety of needs, Tuesday classes will focus on basic steps and The Shim Sham. Thursday classes will be devoted to choreography. All students are welcome all days. Choreography will be modified for the various ability levels. 

I will do my best to update the blog so that you can practice at home. 

Right now, we are working on the The Shim Sham. We have introduced the shim sham, the break, and the pushes (crossover)

The Shim Sham

As I have said before, the Shim Sham has many versions, all slightly different. So this is step sheet for the Shim Sham that we will be doing in my class. Remember there are five main steps to the Shim Sham: Shim sham, break, cross overs, tacky annie,  and fall off the log. 

Shim Sham:
R Stomp  Step L Stomp Step R Stomp ball change R Stomp) Step
L Stomp (Brush) Step R Stomp (Brush) Step L Stomp (Brush) ball change L Stomp (Brush) Step
R Stomp (Brush) Step L Stomp (Brush) Step R Stomp (Brush) ball change (just a touch at the end, no weight on right foot.)

Break:
R Step L toe back
L Step  Heel R Step Heel L Ball change L Stamp

Cross over/Pushes:
Push Step or Heel R, L, R, L, R.  L Kick cross over step L, Step R (scuff, R heel, Lstep heel, R step)
Push Step or Heel L R L R. L,  R Kick cross over step R , Step L (scuff, L heel, Rstep heel, L step)
Push Step or Heel R, L, R, L, R.  L Kick cross over step L, Step R (scuff, R heel, Lstep heel, R step)
Push Step L, R kick cross over step R Step L  (Scuff R, L heel, R step heel L Step)
Push Step R, L kick cross over step L (Scuff L, R heel, L step heel)

Tacky Annie:
Quick Step R L, R tap, R step, L tap, L Step, Right Tap, R step, L step (weight on 8)

Quick Step R L, R tap, R step, L tap, L Step, Right Tap, R step, L step (weight on 8)

Quick Step R L, R tap, R step, L tap, L Step, Right Tap, R step, L step (weight on 8)

Fall off the log:
R step (forward) L Step (back) R  shuffle ball change

R step (forward) L Step (back) R  shuffle ball change

Hamilton Final Choreography, Tap Three

Here is the step sheet for Tap Three.

I'm really setting aside my vanity with these videos. Not only do I look terrible, but my craft room is a DISASTER! So be gentle on me!!

Whole thing, for Jaimie. ;P I watched it through and noticed a few places where I got turned around. In case of discrepancies, use the step sheet and the instructional video as the authority! You know that some of those hiccups get best worked out when we are together!

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The videos  show the ending. I have also linked the videos we did in class.

Please comment with questions. I can do breakdowns of any steps you need.

Everyone: Turn R SH ST RHeel LHeel RToe LToe

First Row:7 beat Riff, R and L (Touch scuff heel toe heel heel)
Add Second Row: R Cincinnati, L Cincinnati modified with two taps ( LFL  R Heel  L Heel  R Spank L Heel R Tap L Heel)
Add Third Row:  FL Heel FL Heel R Provo (R FL  L Heel R heel L Spank-Step R Heel LHeel)
TOES L R Heels LR Toes LR Heels  Toe Back with Arms up (78 Flag higher)

8 Hold 1, Yo on 2, Spank ST, Spank ST, Spank ST.
8 L Cincinnati, SHBC Cramp roll
R Singing in the Rain turn ( Step toe heel step spank heel step toe heel step spank heel)
Paradiddle (6) R Stomp Stomp (NO WEIGHT)

888 Group--Maxi Ford ( R jump L shuffle L jump R toe)1,2   hold 345678  THREE TIMES
8 R Buffalo Buffalo Shuffle shuffle, Slow trenches R L R-to turn.

Chasse BC Left. Turn R SH ST RHeel LHeel RToe LToe
FLBC FLBC FLBC FLBC (Line Change. Two groups)
Cincinnati RL

Group One:
8 Partial Time step, HOLD 4
8 Partial Time step, HOLD 4
8 Partial Time step, HOLD 4
8 Full Time step RL

Group Two:
8 HOLD 2  Paradiddle 6
8 HOLD 2 Toe heel toe, shuffle heel, toe heel toe, touch
8 HOLD 2 Running Shuffles, R L RRR
8 Hold 2, Maxiford. HOLD 2 Maxiford

Every one:
88 FLBC (x8) Line Change to circle.
8 Chaine turn around circle, Hold 4
8 Slow step back (x4) Turn front on final step.

Music Change

88 R Heel Grind Time Step, L Heel Grind time step
88 Detroit R L R Heel Grind Time Step

FLBC FLBC Suzinatti (Cincinatti forward on only one foot)
Cincinatti turn, Cincinatti Scuff scuff,
Spank step spank step, Smack Smack
Heel Heel Heel Smack Smack
Heel Heel Heel Back essence, R L R essence into Turn  and Jump (On Famished)

88 Cramp Roll Cramp Roll (Heels toes R L) (x2)
Maxi ford, Jump toe, Jump Heel, Step Irish cramp roll turn, Toe Toe.
8 L Riff Maxi ford Stamp (the Jamie)

Hold with snaps (Kennedie Solo) Laurie Solo

88 Heel grind time step  R L ,
88 FLBC FLBC FLBC Heel grind time step right

88 L Bombershay (x3) Pause
8 R Scuff L heel  R step L Scuff R heel  L step

Two Groups--going right or left. This will be a pickup, but we can only figure that out when we are together. So just pick a direction you want to go.

8 Fall off the log (Forward back SHBC) Maxi ford (quarter turn to L or Right) Paradiddle Paradiddle.
Fall off the log (Quarter turn, everyone facing the back) Maxi ford Paradiddle paradiddle (Stay facing back) Fall off the log (quarter turn, groups facing each other) SHBC

Jump front, pull back jump wing.

Music Change:

R FLBC FLBC Cincinnati pivot. L FLBC FLBC Cincinnati to front.
R Chasse BC. L Chaine turn point L.
FLBC FLBC forward, Spanks step back (hands rise)
4 Group one: R Irish cramp roll turn (Shuffle hop cramp roll)
4 Group two: L Irish cramp roll turn (Shuffle hop cramp roll)
Walk three steps to final pose. Turn R SH ST RHeel LHeel RToe LToe (Like beginning)
Jump out, Right hand up.

The New Normal

Hello San Juan Tappers!

This is going to be our new normal I suppose. San Juan College has announced that the rest of the semester will be completed through online instruction. I have yet to hear from Leisl if Encore will continue as online instruction, or if they will be working on some sort of a refund schedule. We are all in uncharted territory here and working through it the best we can. Sadly, we will definitely not be having a dance revue on April 25th. Depending on conditions, we may try to get together for SOMETHING at some point in May, but everything is so fluid these days that I can't make any promises.

However, I can continue to provide some level of online instruction. I can keep posting videos. We can have scheduled Zoom classes (Online classes where we all can see and hear one another), or we can give each other a virtual hug and just say "see you soon!" Please leave a comment below or text me with your feelings.

I have been working on the endings One Short Day, Into the Unknown, and Hamilton. (The completed Friend Like Me link is in last week's post.) Although, to be honest, it's hard to feel the drive to work through the tricky parts when we will not be able to perform these pieces, and so much of the ending is formation and visual appeal that is hard to work through without you guys. This truly breaks my heart as these are some of my favorite dances ever.


June Requested the most current version of One Short Day, without any of the instruction.
If you would like to have the step by step class, please see the previous post.

Here are a few tap videos from YouTube you might enjoy trying.

Greetings From a Social Distance

Hello My Beautiful Tap Ladies!

Welcome to Day one of the first official day of the college closing to flatten the curve of COVID19.

As I have told many of you who have messaged me, we are in limbo. A big fat "I don't know" is the answer I have to most questions.

I will be uploading warmups and choreography videos that you can work on at home. In the best case scenario, we will be back to class April 6th. If everyone has practiced, then an April 25th show won't be impossible. :)

Let me know if you need anything or have a suggestion for another video.


Encore Warmup.

Shim Sham Complete Tutorial

One Short Day (Encore and Tap I) Choreography

Frozen Choreography (Tap to Perform) 

Friend Like Me Choreography (Tap II)  (From our last day in Class)
Remember It's a little rough! :)

Hamilton Choreohgraphy (Tap III) (From our last day in class)
COMING SOON! Video Issues