EARLY STAGES OF VAUDEVILLE

THE EARLY STAGES OF VAUDEVILLE

As early forms of tap dancing left minstrel shows, it quickly began to appear on the stages of vaudeville. The increasing appeal and success of vaudeville is accounted for the female presence on stage, as well as more variety and sex appeal. By the time vaudeville had fully developed, tap dancing was divided into two styles: buck and wing (clog) and soft shoe, also known as song and dance. The style of buck and wing was derived from the original buck dances of the plantations and used the traditional bent forward torso, while the soft shoe style developed from the jigs and dances of European culture. Both of styles of dances incorporated the fusion of European influence and African dance quite well. As these two style of tap developed, jig dancing quickly began to lose its popularity. 

Today, we see the two style of tap dance have developed even more into rhythm tap and show tap. Rhythm tap has a more grounded aesthetic and focuses on creating specific rhythms through syncopation; show tap is used more in the Hollywood and Broadway setting and focuses on the lines made by the upper torso. Examples of these two developed styles can be seen in the popular Broadway shows “Tap Dogs” (rhythm) and “Chicago” (show).