Practice steps

 Cincinnati with Rod Howell

Buffalo with Rod Howell

BUFFALO with Rod Howell

Welcome to Fall 2026

 

Welcome to San Juan College Tap: An Encore Feature

The purpose of this website is to provide extra practice for our tap class. You can also find the same information in Canvas. 

Introduction

Hi! I'm Marilee Herman.

I have been teaching tap at San Juan College upwards of 15 years--I am honestly losing count. I also teach English and Composition at Farmington High School and San Juan College. Tap classes are my hobby and my therapy. The purpose of this class is to have fun, get exercise, build new skills, make friends, fight cognitive decline, and participate in a semester-end performance. 

Class Schedule

This semester, the class schedule will be as follows in the dance room of the HHPC

Tuesdays 4:00-5:10 Beginner Practice and Choreography to "A Christmas Tree Farm" by Taylor Swift.

Thursdays 4:00-5:10 Accelerated Beginner Practice and Choreography to "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton. (How could we NOT take the chance to honor that amazing woman???!?)

Class Expectations

Students should wear tap shoes and dress comfortably for movement. However, additional dance attire is not required. 

Everyone is welcome at ALL classes, but Tuesday's classes will be slower and more basic, while on Thursdays we will speed things up a bit. All steps WILL be broken down and taught in each class for each number, and I am confident that with a little moxie, every student will be able to learn both dances. However, please participate at your comfort level! 

I have tried to design the class to meet a variety of skill levels and I expect respect and attention at each class you attend, regardless of your skill level compared to the activity. If you find the combinations or practice sessions too basic, please have the consideration of other students to not devolve into side conversations. In addition, while supporting one another is a GREAT aspect of this class, please allow me to teach the steps fully and answer questions before offering your tutelage to other students; too many voices and instructions can be confusing for beginners. If you have an alternate perspective on a step, please share it with me and then we can share with the whole class.  

Performance

In the fall, we participate in the San Juan County Holiday Spectacular fund raiser sponsored by the San Juan Foundation.

Wednesday:  December 2, 2026: Stage time and practice. Time TBA

Friday: December 4, 2026 :Performance (7:00 pm) and Dress Rehearsal (Time TBA)

You will need black slacks and a black SJC Tap t-shirt that you can purchase from me for $10.

I may provide additional costuming accessories. 

Attendance:

This class is an enrichment class, therefore attendance is not required. However, if you plan to miss, I appreciate a text or message: we start to worry when you aren't here!

Grading

As a SJC class, I am required to assign you a grade, but since it is a non-credit enrichment class grades will either be S=satisfactory or U=unsatisfactory. If you attend class, participate, and communicate with me about the times you miss, I will happily assign you a Satisfactory grade. 

Neil Diamond Mashup Part Two (But we learned this first)

 Cracklin' Rosie

R FL.Heel Heel (front) R FL Heel Heel (Side) Step heel step heel (Slow)

Repeat.

Chasse BC R L

R Maxi Ford R Maxi Ford

R Paradidle Left Paradiddle R Toe Toe, L Toe Toe

R Scuff L Heel, R Spank Step, L Step

R Scuff L Heel, R Spank Step, L Step

R 3 count riff bc,  3 count riff bc, 

Sh Bc Sh BC, R Irish L Irish

Cramp roll toes, cramp roll heels, Cramp roll toes, cramp roll heels

L Paradidle Right Paradiddle L Toe Toe, R Toe Toe

L Scuff R Heel, L Spank Step, R Step

 L Scuff R Heel,, L Step Hold

Shim Sham Push and Crossover (2x)

Shim sham push crossover freeze,

Tacky annie (2x)

Shim Sham Break

Step Slide in groups

Back essence L, R, L

Step behind turn R.

Shim Sham Revisited (Again)

The Shim Sham is  so fun and we have worked on it several times. Here are some links to past instruction.

Here is the link to the original step sheet.

Here is the link to some fun videos.

Here is the link to me doing the Shim Sham step

Here is the link to me doing the Break.

Kid on Christmas Choreography

 Our number for the Holiday Spectacular will be Kid on Christmas by Meghan Trainor and Pentatonix.

Step Sheet:

Hold for the introduction/slow part. Choreo begins "May your HEART" where heart is the beginning of the 8 count.

88 R Grapevine. R SHBC SHBC SHBC Step. (Front row goes L first)

88 L Grapevine. LSHBC SHBC SHBC Step. (Front row goes R)

88  R FLBC L FLBC Jazz Square,  R FLBC  L FLBC Jazz Square

8 R Cincinatti, L Cincinatti. 

8 R FL Heel Heel Front. Side, Front. Step

L FL Heel Heel Front side Front. Step.

TEMPO SHIFT:

88 R (Provo) R FL L Heel  R Heel, L spank step, R heel, L Heel. (Repeat Right again.)

88 L soft shoe (just with taps) R Soft shoe

88 L take a walk (L step heel, R cross in front, L chasse--step together step-R BC)

Comet Cupid Donder Blitzen

R Back Essence, L Back Essence, R Back essence

L Sugars (four) Stamp L Sparkle Hands

Buffalo Practice

88 R buffalo, buffalo, Buffalo, Fl BC, L buffalo, buffalo, Buffalo, Fl BC

R Fl FL (Slow) Fl FL FL (fast) L FL FL (slow) FL FL FL (Fast)

Pivot: FL Heel FL Heel 

Line Change:

 R FLBC L FLBC  R  FLBC  L FLBC R FLBC  L FLBC R FLBC L FLBC

Coast to Coast Cincinnati Drill

Here is a link to More Extensive Cincinatti Practice

Rod Howell breaks it down pretty well!

 

Manhattan, 

Cincinnati, 

Detroit (funky toe to the side instead of to the back), 

Denver (Cincinnati with the forward, side, forward, addition), 

Suzinnati or New Mexico: (Cincinnati all on one foot)

Provo (No toes: Flap heel heel spank step heel heel)

Shirley Temple/California

 Welcome to Encore Tap Dancing

Fall 2025

Class Meeting Times: 4:00-5:10 PM Tuesdays and Thursdays. Dance Room of the HHPC

• First day of class 9/15/25
• Last day of class 11/18/24

Blog: Step sheets, videos, and extra help at: www.supertappy.blogspot.com 

Performance Opportunity: San Juan College Foundation Holiday Spectacular

Friday, November 21, 2025

(Wednesday, November 19, 2025)

Dancers who would like to perform will need black pants (full length) and a SJC Tap t-shirt. ($10)

I will provide appropriate accessories to match our number. 

Rod Howell is an excellent practice coach. Here is a link to one of his tutorials: