Tap!: The Greatest Tap Dance Stars and Their Stories, 1900-1955

by Rusty E. Frank

Book Overview

"If you like tap dancing and tap dancers--this is your book."--Gene Kelly

From the vaudeville era, through the Astaire-Rogers movies, to the intricate artistry of bebop, tap has dominated American dance with its rhythm, originality, and humor. This book collects the voices and memories of thirty of America's best-loved tap-dance stars and two hundred rare theater, film, and publicity photographs. Here Shirley Temple recalls her magical...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0306806355
• ISBN13: 9780306806353
• Release Date: March 1995
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 358 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.0" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

TAP! BY RUSTY E. FRANK

I total am ejoying this book. Being a dancer my self it is wonderful reading about all the dancers during my time. Thank you so much Mr. Frank.

get this, think about the rest later

when this book used to be out of print, legions of ambitous tap dancers - including myself - were searching used-book stores across the country to find a copy. i know some who ended up copying every single page in the lincoln center library. the reason is very simple: there is no other book on the subject that even comes close to gathering this much information on the history of tap dancing. even though historians may argue about some details, the book is usually considered the standard by all the tap pros i know and whoever reads it will have a good understanding of where the art form comes from, what the important issues are, what stages of development tap dancing went through, who the important dancers of different times and styles were, and what the characteristics of different styles and approaches in tap dance are. if you want to know about the history of tap: get this book. otherwise you will find yourself digging through the shelves of rare book stores when it is out of print again.

Great teaching tool

This is a fantastic book! In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I made my college advanced tap class read it, as well. They were truly inspired by this book and have gained a renewed since of determination as far as entering the field of "commercial entertainment" with an emphasis on tap. Each person has a truly unique account of how it was back in the day, when people actually went to "tap clubs" just like we would go to dance clubs nowadays. What an experience to see this exciting time through their eyes.

Not just for tap dancers!

This book is wonderfully written with first-hand accounts about show business during the first half of the 1900's. It is not just for tap dancers, but for anyone interested in getting a feel for the way of life during that period. The amount of information I learned about vaudeville, movie musicals, and even black history in America is much more than I expected when I picked up this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone!

Read!!!!

I just dont understand why tap dancing is disapearing it is the most intruiging type of dance i have ever taken and am still taking...hoping to go pro someday since i am only a teen. To make a long story short this book and it's amazing Gregory Hines has inspired me to go for my dreams, and to keep tap dancing alive.