Ready to take your tap dancing to the next level? Whether you're prepping for competition or just want to sharpen your skills, these advanced drills will challenge your coordination, speed, and musicality. Let's break down the techniques that separate intermediate tappers from the pros.
Precision & Clarity Drills
1. The "Machine Gun" Shuffle
This drill forces you to maintain clarity at high speeds:
- Start with slow, exaggerated shuffles (brush forward, brush back)
- Gradually increase speed while keeping both sounds distinct
- Challenge: Add a heel drop after every 4 shuffles without losing tempo
2. Syncopated Cramp Rolls
Take the basic cramp roll (heel toe toe heel) and:
- Perform on alternating feet in 5/4 time
- Add a pause after the second toe tap
- Advanced: Incorporate a wing variation on the pause
This builds both timing precision and improvisational flexibility.
Speed & Endurance Builders
3. The "Morse Code" Exercise
Practice rapid-fire toe stands (digs) with this pattern:
- Right toe x8 (fast)
- Left toe x8
- Alternating toes x16
- Repeat with heel drops instead of toes
Goal: Maintain consistent volume on every strike—no "ghost taps."
4. Pendulum Wings
Develop explosive power for wings:
- Start with basic wing (jump with scuffing outward motion)
- Immediately rebound into a backward wing
- Repeat 8x, then switch leading foot
This drill improves both wing technique and recovery time between moves.
Musicality Challenges
5. Polyrhythmic Time Steps
Master this game-changing exercise:
- Perform a standard time step (shuffle hop step flap step) in 4/4 time
- Layer a second rhythm with your arms (clap triplets or swung eighth notes)
- Advanced: Add vocal scatting in 3/4 time
Incorporate these drills into your practice 3-4 times weekly, and you'll notice sharper technique, faster footwork, and more confident improvisation within a month. The key? Consistency over intensity—better to drill 15 focused minutes daily than one marathon session.
