Skip to main content

Free Tap Dance Syllabus

Video breakdowns of 315 tap moves arranged in tap dance syllabus order. We have steps from beginner to intermediate to very advanced.

About this tap dance syllabus

  • If you want to learn how to tap dance (or teach others how to tap dance), this tap dance syllabus will guide through learning beginner tap steps all the way through very advanced tap moves.
  • 315 tap steps are split into 7 levels and each level arranges the moves in learning order. You'll learn tap dance terminology for each step and you'll have an outline for a tap dance curriculum. If you need more detail, our tap lessons practice each move and combine it with others.
  • While this syllabus is helpful for learning tap terminology and how to tap dance, it’s no substitute for actual tap dance lessons which spend time on tap technique and include repetition so you can increase your skills and confidence.
  • Lessons also put the steps to music and combine them into short dances called tap combinations or tap choreography.

Syllabus controls

Teaching is easier with our All Access Pass.

Tap dance syllabus list

Level 1

CAPS ARE LEFT, lowercase is right

This is the perfect place to start to learn beginner tap steps from scratch. This list of beginner tap steps will help you learn the basics of tap dancing.

Essential Steps

  • Toe (flat) ◄click for video
  • Heel
  • Toe Toe Heel Heel (Crawl)
  • Stamp
  • Stomp
  • Step
  • Touch
  • Toe (Tip)
  • Dig (Heel)
  • Step Heel
  • Dig Toe (Heel Toe)
  • Dig Toe Step Heel
  • Hop
  • Jump
  • Chug
  • Brush
  • Flap
  • Flap Heel
  • Flap Ball Change
  • Spank (Brush Back, Draw, Pull)
  • Spank Step (Back Flap)
  • Spank Step Heel
  • Spank Step Ball Change
  • Shuffle
  • Shuffle Step (Running Shuffle, Leap Shuffles, Jogging Shuffles)
  • Shuffle Ball Change
  • Buffalo
  • Cramp Roll
  • Irish
  • Maxie Ford
  • Waltz Clog
  • Heel Stand
  • Step Heel Turn
  • Flap Heel Turn
  • Slide

Optional Steps

  • Clunk
  • Leap

GET OUR COMPLETE LIBRARY

$99 One Time • No Subscription

Same library. Two ways to view it.

Level 2

This level teaches you how to do advanced-beginner tap steps and these often build upon beginner tap steps so make sure you really have all of your beginner tap moves down pat before trying these.

Essential Steps

Optional Steps

  • Bombershay Broadway (Bombershe)
  • Clicks (Toe & Heel)
  • Crossing Pullback
  • Heel Stand Turn
  • Jump Click
  • Leap Heel
  • Smack
  • Slam
  • Travel Step

Level 3

In this level you will learn intermediate tap steps which will build upon your advanced-beginner and beginner tap steps. These intermediate tap moves can be difficult and challenging so give yourself extra time to master each one.

Essential Steps

Optional Steps

Level 4

Challenges continue to increase as you move to these intermediate- advanced tap steps. These will integrate intermediate tap steps as well as moves like pullbacks into basic beginner moves like waltz clogs and irishes.

Essential Steps

  • Triple Cramp Roll (Shuffle cramp Roll)
  • Irish Pullback
  • Double Toe Stand
  • Toe Stand Turn
  • Nerve Taps
  • Switching Pullback (Swapping, Alternating Pullback)
  • Maxie Ford Pullback
  • Double Maxie Ford Pullback
  • Shuffle Pullback Ball Change
  • Waltz Clog Pullback
  • Double Waltz Clog Pullback
  • Shuffle Pullback
  • Over The Top
  • Shim Sham
  • Step Riff Heel (Hop Riff Heel, Leap Riff Heel)
  • 6- Beat Riff Walk
  • 7- Beat Riff Walk
  • 8- 100 Beat Riff Walk
  • Riffle
  • Riffle Step
  • Hines Riff (Split Riff)
  • Stamp Step Riff Heel Turn
  • Stamp Step Toe Heel Turn
  • Paddle Turn
  • Traditional Quadruple Time Step
  • Buck Quadruple Time Step
  • Single Traveling Time Step
  • Double Traveling Time Step
  • Triple Traveling Time Step
  • Quadruple Traveling Time Step
  • Crossing Wing
  • Single Wing (One Foot Wing)

Optional Steps

Level 5

Learn these advanced tap dance steps to push your skills to the next level. These require a solid foundation of beginner through intermediate tap steps as well as increased strength and balance.

Essential Steps

Optional Steps

  • Alexander Clunk
  • Backwards Wing
  • Click Buffalo
  • Double Cincinnati
  • Drawback Heel
  • Dub Dub Dig Toe
  • Heelo
  • Jordan Pullback
  • Jumper
  • Lopsided Cramp Roll
  • Maddie Mill
  • Radiohead
  • Rod Roll
  • Scuffaloeo
  • Scuffle Toe Slap Heel
  • Shayberbom
  • Shuffle Ball Change Heel
  • Spat
  • Spear
  • Spiel
  • Toe Stand Shuffle Step
  • Tori
  • Twister

Level 6

This list of very advanced tap dance steps will push your tap dancing to the next level. This level will lean heavily on various pullbacks and incorporate more and more challenging wings. Expect to see some unfamiliar tap moves as well.

Essential Steps

  • Shuffle Dig Step Shuffle Toe Step
  • Shuffle Toe Pullback Ball Change
  • Double Toe Buffalo
  • Double Buffalo Toe Pullback
  • Riffle Cramp Roll
  • Irish Shiggy Bop (Irish Shovel)
  • Irish Wing
  • Double Maxie Ford Toe Pullback
  • Double Toe Maxie Ford
  • Double Waltz Clog Toe Pullback
  • Hop Riffle
  • Pendulum Riffle
  • Riffle Dig Toe
  • Bombershay Toe
  • Shuffle Pullback Heel
  • Flam
  • Hoofer's Shuffle
  • Shuffle Heel Step
  • Double Pullback Toe
  • Switching Pullback Flap
  • Single Wing Heel Toe
  • Switching Wing Toe
  • Wing Toe
  • Same Side Wing

Optional Steps

  • Annalisa's 8- beat Riff Walk
  • Bam Bam
  • Blur
  • Clapull
  • Clunker
  • Ditto
  • Dodo
  • Drawbershay
  • Farmer
  • Flabbergast
  • Hit
  • Jackhammer
  • Jimmy
  • Jinnyshay
  • Megamines Cramp Roll
  • Nicaela Quick
  • Rise
  • Scopper
  • Scout
  • Scuffit
  • Scuffout
  • Shay Roll
  • Shuffle Heel Step Heel
  • Shunk
  • Skunk
  • Spackle
  • Squiggly Wiggly
  • Steel
  • Stephunky
  • Sugar Bop
  • Swiffle (Tessa Backdraw)
  • Toto
  • Tucker

Level 7

With level 7 you are on the edge pro level tap steps and moves. These are not for the the faint of heart. Best of luck!

Essential Steps

  • Hop Shuffle Hop Scuffle Hop Riffle Hop Stomp Spank
  • Step Riff Brush Heel
  • Toe Dig Bombershay
  • Drawback Flam
  • Switching Pullback Flap Heel Toe
  • Treadmill Heel
  • Buffalo Wing
  • Maxie Ford Wing
  • Double Waltz Clog Wing
  • Frap
  • Frap Cramp Roll
  • Scuffle Pullback
  • Buffalo Scuffle
  • Irish Pullback Heel Flap Heel
  • Single Pullback Toe
  • Irish Pullback Toe Flap
  • Hot Toe
  • Waltz Clog Scuffle
  • Scuff Front
  • Double Scuff Front
  • Frapback
  • Cincinnati Flam
  • Joe Toe Pull
  • Pullback Dig Toe
  • 3 Sound Pullback
  • Pullback Shuffle Step
  • Single Pullback Opposite Toe
  • Switching Toe Pullback
  • Pendulum Wing
  • Scissor Wing
  • Five Count Wing
  • Five Count Single Wing
  • Heel Flam
  • Jump Flam

Optional Steps

  • Baloney
  • Brittanyshay
  • Broken Riff
  • Clickety Clank
  • Click Pullback
  • Click Wing
  • Drawman
  • Faluffalo
  • Maddalo
  • Riff Raff
  • Rooster
  • Rorymeister
  • Ruffle
  • Sh- sh- sh- shuffle
  • Sloppy Joe
  • Teeler
  • Toe Stand Wing
  • Toro

Notes

This tap dance syllabus is designed to give you a rough idea of what level each of these steps can be taught at. Like any syllabus, it is flexible. Some classes move very quickly and others more slowly. Also, I doubt anyone will get to each step in every level. I know I certainly don't. I try to hit the important ones and the rest are optional if I get around to them.

All Access Pass

Our Complete Library. Yours For Life.

$99 One Time • No Subscription

Same library. Two ways to view it.