Century-Old American Art Form Alive and Tapping

Tap dance gets its name from the sounds made by special shoes with metal taps. The American art form got its start in the 1800s, as a melting pot of ethnic percussive dances blended African tribal dances with Scottish hornpipes and jigs. It fit especially well with another American art form, jazz, and its influence spread through minstrel shows, movies and Broadway. Now, a new generation is learning the steps, and older fans are still tapping away. From California, Shelley Schlender reports.

© La Voix de l'Amérique - jeudi 11 octobre 2018