GFADAF EP 7: "The Book of Tap" by Jerry Ames and Jim Siegelman (The Hidden Histories of Tap Dance Histories, Part 2)
Feb 10, 2022
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Join Tristan Bruns as he explores 'The Book of Tap' by Jerry Ames and Jim Siegelman in part 2 of 'The Hidden History of Tap Dance Histories' series. Discover the sections 'Tap Patter,' 'Hollywood and the Golden Age of Tap,' 'Lost in the Shuffle,' and 'Tap Comes Back.' Learn about the history, philosophy, and quotes from famous dancers in the book. Dive into the burning question of 'Why Tap?' and its connection to the Civil Rights movement and Vietnam War. Get ready for an entertaining and enlightening dive into the world of tap dance!
Tap dance offers exercise, social engagement, and artistic self-expression, contributing to personal well-being.
Tap dance has a rich history in American entertainment, with a decline in popularity followed by a revival in the 1970s.
Tap dance brings happiness and evokes nostalgia by emulating the elegance of earlier American dance eras.
Conflicting accounts exist regarding the enslaved Africans' forced dancing on slave ships and its blending with European dances.
The book of Tap's theory on the decline of black-white entertainment competitions is disputed, as blackface persisted in film and entertainment.
The book of Tap's racially segregated evolution theory overlooks the exchange of ideas and performances between black and white dancers in vaudeville.
Deep dives
The Benefits of Tap Dance
Tap dance provides numerous benefits, including exercise, social engagement, and artistic self-expression. It is a form of dance that brings happiness and joy to those who participate. Tap dance offers a sense of structure and rhythm, helping with coordination and musical literacy. It also has a historical significance, being recognized as an American vernacular dance form. Overall, tap dance is a fun and rewarding activity that can improve physical fitness and contribute to personal well-being.
The History and Resurgence of Tap Dance
Tap dance has a rich history that is deeply rooted in American entertainment. It rose to prominence during the Golden Age of the Art Form and became a popular dance style in musical comedies. However, it experienced a decline in popularity during the mid-20th century. The resurgence of tap dance in the 1970s is attributed to various factors, such as the success of tap-focused shows and movies, including Tap Happenings and That's Entertainment. This revival brought tap dance back to the forefront of American dance culture.
The Philosophy of Tap Dance and Happiness
Tap dance has a unique ability to bring happiness and satisfaction to its practitioners. By emulating the tap dance of the past, individuals can tap into a sense of nostalgia and elegance associated with earlier eras of American entertainment. Tap dance evokes a feeling of carefree grace and can provide a positive escape from the complexities of contemporary life. It offers a structured form of self-expression, exercise, and enjoyment that can contribute to personal happiness and well-being.
The Fortunate Ship Dancers Theory
The book of Tap presents the theory that enslaved Africans on board slave ships were forced to dance on the decks, which eventually led to a blending of dances with European crewmen. However, conflicting accounts suggest that the dancing was often done under duress, with frequent beatings and punishments.
The Death of Blackface Minstrelsy Theory
The book of Tap claims that the Civil War brought an end to black-white entertainment competitions and that blackface minstrelsy declined. However, this theory is challenged, as blackface continued to be popular in movies, such as The Jazz Singer and The Jolson Story, and still persisted in film and entertainment after the supposed decline.
The Twin Streams Theory
The book of Tap suggests a racially segregated evolution of tap dance in vaudeville, with black and white performances rarely intersecting. However, this theory overlooks the constant exchange of ideas between black and white dancers, the presence of black performers in white vaudeville shows, and the popularity of black and white entertainment cross-pollination.
Critiques of the Book of Tap
The book of Tap is criticized for its selective inclusion of history, omitting the harsh realities of slavery and the persistence of racism in entertainment. It also faces criticism for perpetuating stereotypes and biases in its representation of tap dance history.
Call for Context and Conversation
While critical of the book of Tap, the reviewer acknowledges the ongoing work of its co-author Jim Siegelman, who has dedicated himself to investigative journalism. The reviewer expresses hope for an interview with Siegelman to gain more context and address concerns raised by the book.
Complex Emotions Surrounding Tap Dance
The reviewer reflects on their personal experience with tap dance, noting that it evokes a range of emotions, including frustration, sadness, and occasional happiness. They emphasize that tap dance holds historical significance and serves as a foundation for understanding American society and race relations.
Acknowledgements and Patrons
The reviewer expresses gratitude to various individuals and organizations, including the Tap Dance Research Network and Tap Wonderland, for their contributions to the reviewer's project. They also extend thanks to subscribers and supporters of their Patreon.
Conclusion
The reviewer concludes the episode with a promise to continue their exploration of tap dance history in future parts of their series, while also urging listeners to question and critically engage with the narratives presented in historical works like the book of Tap.
We begin Part 2 of The Hidden History of Tap Dance Histories series with a look at "The Book of Tap" by Jerry Ames and Jim Siegelman. Host Tristan Bruns takes a thorough look "TBoT (minus the instruction part) which covers such topics as the "death" of tap, the tap dance "revival," tap in Hollywood, history, philosophy and the various quotes from famous dancers and instructors scattered throughout the book. Whoo-Hoo! That's, like, what this whole podcast is about. It's like non-denominational, sectarian gift-giving holiday-day has come early this year!
0:00 - General overview of "The Book of Tap," including the sections "Tap Patter" (quotes from famous dancers and instructors), "Hollywood and the Golden Age of Tap," "Lost in the Shuffle" (on the "death" of tap dance), "Tap Comes Back" (on the "revival" of tap dance), and a look into the future (right now!) of tap dance with ""Tap's Next Steps".
25:50 - I look at the history section of the book, the sources used for that history and compare it with other short histories from other instructional-type tap dance books.
56:34 - We get to do some tap dance philosophizing, exploring one of life's most burning questions: "Why Tap?" Many people say that they tap dance because it makes them happy. But what do we mean by "happiness" anyway? And what does the U.S. Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, the Vietnam War and Richard Nixon have to do with it? Find out in the final installment on "The Book of Tap" and stay tuned for Episode 8 where I interview the author of "The Book of Tap," Jim Siegelman himself!
Stay tuned for Episode 9 "Color-Blind Tap Dance: The Hidden Histories of Tap Dance Histories, Part 3"
Support this program by joining us on Patreon. 50% of all support goes to the M.A.D.D. Rhythms Tap Academy at the Harold Washington Cultural Center on Chicago's historic South Side.
