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.
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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 1 - lift the toe but keep the heel on the floor, then drop the toe to the floor. There is another toe that I call a toe-tip where you lift your foot all the way off the floor and hit the very front edge of the toe on the floor - see toe-tip below
- Heel - 1 - hit your heel against the floor
- Toe Toe Heel Heel (Crawl) - 1&2& - toe TOE heel HEEL
- Stamp - 1 - place your foot flat against the floor with your weight on it
- Stomp - 1 - place your foot flat against the floor with NO weight on it
- Step - 1 - place the ball of the foot on the floor with weight on it (leap is the same except you are "jumping" onto the foot instead of just placing it down)
- Touch - 1 - place the ball of the foot on the floor with NO weight on it
- Toe (Tip) - 1 - hit the very front edge of the toe on the floor
- Dig (Heel) - 1 - hit the back edge of the heel tap against the floor
- Step Heel - 1& - step heel
- Dig Toe (Heel Toe) - 1& - dig toe
- Dig Toe Step Heel - 1&2& - dig toe STEP HEEL
- Hop - 1 - propel yourself into the air off of one foot and land on the ball of that same foot
- Jump - 1 - propel yourself into the air and land on the balls of both feet at the same time
- Chug - 1 - lift heels, slide forward and then drop the heels at the end of the slide forward
- Brush - 1 - swing foot forward (front or diagonally side) hitting only the ball tap
- Flap - &1 or a1 - brush step
- Flap Heel - &1 2 or &a1 - brush step heel
- Flap Ball Change - a1 a2 or &1&2 - brush step STEP step
- Spank (Brush Back, Draw, Pull) - 1 - swing the foot back (coming from the front or diagonally side) hitting only the ball tap
- Spank Step (Back Flap) - &1 or a1 - swing the foot back (coming from the front or diagonally side) hitting only the ball tap, step
- Spank Step Heel - a1 2 or &a1 - spank step heel
- Spank Step Ball Change - &1&2 or a1 a2 - spank step STEP step
- Shuffle - &1 or a1 - brush spank
- Shuffle Step (Running Shuffle, Leap Shuffles, Jogging Shuffles) - &a1 - brush spank step
- Shuffle Ball Change - &1&2 or a1 a2 - brush spank step STEP
- Buffalo - 1&a2 - (cross foot in front) step (leap) SHUFFLE STEP
- Cramp Roll - 1&a2 - step STEP heel HEEL
- Irish - a1 a2 or e&a1 - shuffle HOP step
- Maxie Ford - 1&2&3 or 1e&a2 or 1 a2 a3 - step SHUFFLE STEP toe (toe crosses in back)
- Waltz Clog - 1&2&3 or 1e&a2 or 1 a2 a3 - step SHUFFLE BALL CHANGE
- Heel Stand - 1 - jump onto the back edges of your heels and balance
- Step Heel Turn - 1&2& - step heel STEP HEEL(turning - 2 step heels per rotation)
- Flap Heel Turn - &1 2 or &a1 - brush step heel BRUSH STEP HEEL (turning)
- Slide - 1 - run or push off of one leg and allow your feet to glide along the floor without leaving the floor
Optional Steps
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
- Hop Shuffle - 1&a - hop BRUSH SPANK
- Shuffle Heel - &a1 - brush spank HEEL
- Scuff - 1 - swing your foot forward and hit the back edge of the heel tap as the foot swings
- Double Buffalo - a1&a2 - (cross foot in front) flap SHUFFLE STEP
- Double Cramp Roll (Flap Cramp Roll) - a1&a2 - flap STEP heel HEEL
- Double Irish (version 1) - &1&2&3&4 or a1 a2 a3 a4 - shuffle ball change, shuffle HOP step
- Irish Flap - a1&a2 - shuffle HOP flap
- Double Maxie Ford - &1&2&3 or a1e&a2 - flap SHUFFLE STEP toe
- Double Waltz Clog - &1&2&3 or a1e&a2 - flap SHUFFLE BALL CHANGE
- Alexander (Broadway, Shirley Temple, Manhattan) - &1&2&3&4 or a1 a2 a3 a4 - flap HEEL heel SPANK heel TOE heel
- Back Essence - &1&2 or a1 a2 - spank step (cross behind) STEP (out) step
- Flap Heel Heel - &1&2 or a1 a2 - brush step HEEL heel
- Bombershay Modern (Bombershe, Toe Clip) - 1&a - step SPANK DIG
- Drawback - &a1 - spank HEEL step
- Pullback (Pull, Grab Off, Pick- Up) - a1 - jump backwards and as your feet leave the floor they both do a "spank" (brush back) at the same time then both feet land on the balls of the feet at the same time
- Scuffle (Dig brush, Dig Spank, Paddle) - &1 or a1 - dig spank
- Scuffle Step (Paddles, Dig brush Step) - 1&a - dig spank step
- Scuffle Step Heel (Dig Brush Toe Heel, Paddle and Roll, Paradiddle - 1&2& or 1e&a - dig spank step heel
- Scuffle Ball Change - &1&2 or 1e&a - dig spank step STEP
- Buck Single Time Step - 8 1 2&3&4 5 6&7& or 8 1 2 a3 a4 5 6a7 a - stomp (some people add a spank after the stomp) HOP step FLAP step
- Traditional Single Time Step - 8&1 2&3&4&5 6&7& or 8 a1 2 a3 a4 a5 6a7 a - shuffle HOP step FLAP step
- Buffalo Turn - 1&a2 - (cross foot in front) step SHUFFLE STEP (turning)
- Step Irish Turn - 1e&a2 - step SHUFFLE hop STEP (turning)
- Step Toe Hop Turn - 1&a2&a - step TOE hop STEP toeHOP (turning)
- In and Out Pullback (Jumping Jack Pullback) - a1 a2 - start feet apart, pull both feet into the air and land feet together, pull into the air and land feet apart
- Toe Stand - 1 - "jump" up to the tip of your toes and balance on them
- Slap - a1 - brush touch
Optional Steps
- Bombershay Broadway (Bombershe) - a1 2 - spank stamp, STEP/twist and lift right toe
- Clicks (Toe & Heel) - 1 - click either the toe taps or heel taps together
- Crossing Pullback - a1 - pull both feet into the air and land so that one foot is crossed in front of the other
- Heel Stand Turn - 1 - jump onto the back edges of your heels while turning
- Jump Click - 1 - propel yourself into the air and click either the toe taps, heel taps, or both toe and heel taps together
- Leap Heel - 1 2 or 1& - push off of one foot and into the air and land on the ball of the other foot, heel
- Smack - 1 - step on the ball of the foot with a straight leg (can also be done without weight
- Slam - 1 - jump-out with straight legs and barely go into the air (it's more like a scoot back on your toes)
- Travel Step - 1&a - step out to the side, SPANK, STEP IN
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
- Shuffle Step Heel - &1&2 or e&a1 - brush spank step heel
- Double Shuffle - 1&a2 - brush spank brush spank
- Double Irish (version 2) - &a1&a2 - shuffle (front) HOP shuffle step
- Alternating Cramp Roll (Around the World Cramp Roll, Trading Cramp Roll) - 1&a2 - step STEP HEEL heel
- Pendulum Shuffle - a1 a2 - brush to the front then spank in front of the standing foot, then brush back out to the front and then spank diagonally back to the side
- Double Scuffle - 1&a2 - dig spank dig spank
- Double Scuffle Step Heel - 1e&a2e or 1&a2&a - dig spank dig spank step heel
- Double Back Essence - a1&a2 - spank step (cross behind) FLAP step
- Traditional Double Time Step - 8&1&2&3&4&5&6&7& or 8 a1 a2 a3 a4 a5 a6 a7 a - shuffle HOP flap FLAP step
- Traditional Triple Time Step - 8&1&a2&3&4&5&a6&7& or 8 a1&a2 a3 a4 a5&a6 a7 a - shuffle HOP shuffle step FLAP step
- Buck Double Time Step - 8 1&2&3&4 5&6&7& or 8 1 a2 a3 a4 5 a6 a7 a - stomp (some people add a spank after the stomp) HOP flap FLAP step
- Buck Triple Time Step - 8 1&a2&3&4 5&a6&7& or 8 1&a2 a3 a4 5&a6 a7 a - stomp (some people add a spank after the stomp) HOP shuffle step FLAP step
- Cincinnati - &1&2&3 0r &a1&a2 - spank HEEL shuffle HEEL step
- Single Pullback (One- Foot Pullback) - a1 - start on one foot, push off the floor into the air and as your foot leaves the floor do a spank then land on the ball of the foot
- Trenches (Hoofer & Broadway Style) - 1 - step on one foot while the other slides backwards coming off the floor at the end of the slide
- Riff - a1 - (this is taught many different ways) touch dig or touch scuff or brush scuff
- 3- Beat Riff Walk (Slam, Flam, Slurp, Third) - &a1 - touch dig toe or brush dig toe
- 4- Beat Riff Walk - a1 a2 - touch scuff dig toe or brush scuff dig toe
- 5- Beat Riff Walk - a1&a2 - touch scuff HEEL dig toe or brush scuff HEEL dig toe
- Maxie Ford Turn - 1e&a2 - step SHUFFLE STEP toe (turning)
- Stamp Cramp Roll Turn - 1 2&a3 - stamp STEP step heel HEEL (turning)
- Double Pullback - 1&a2 or &a*1 - pull PULL step STEP
- Wings - &a1 - start on the balls of the feet with feet together, scrape both feet outwards and into the air, then spank both feet inwards at the same time and land on the balls of the feet with your feet together
Optional Steps
- Boomerang - 1&2& or 1e&a - stamp STEP spank step
- Double Flap - 1&a2 or &a*1 - brush step BRUSH STEP (done in rapid succession)
- Scuff Dig Ball Change - &1&2 - scuff dig STEP step
- Single Heel Stand - 1 - jump up onto the back edge of one heel tap
- Skipping Pullback - &a1 - single pullback STEP
- Step Heel Heel - 1&a - step HEEL heel
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) - &a1&a2 or a1e&a2 - shuffle step STEP heel HEEL
- Irish Pullback - a1&a2 - shuffle SINGLE-PULLBACK step
- Double Toe Stand - 1&a2 or &a*1 - toe TOE step STEP
- Toe Stand Turn - 1 - "jump" up to the tip of your toes and balance on them (turning)
- Nerve Taps - 1 - vibrate either your toe or heel tap against the floor rapidly
- Switching Pullback (Swapping, Alternating Pullback) - a1 - start on one foot, push off the floor into the air and as your foot leaves the floor do a spank then land on the ball of the other foot
- Maxie Ford Pullback - 1e&a*2 - step SHUFFLE switching-pullback toe
- Double Maxie Ford Pullback - a1e&a*2 - flap SHUFFLE switching-pullback toe
- Shuffle Pullback Ball Change - a1&a2 or e&a*1 - brush spank SWITCHING-PULLBACK STEP
- Waltz Clog Pullback - 1e&a*2 - step SHUFFLE switching-pullback step
- Double Waltz Clog Pullback - a1e&a*2 - flap SHUFFLE switching-pullback step
- Shuffle Pullback - e&a1 - brush spank SWITCHING-PULLBACK
- Over The Top - 1 2 - step KICK LEG INTO THE AIR, jump over the airborne leg and land on the original stepping foot
- Shim Sham - [8 a1 2 a3 4 a5 a6 a7]3 times, 8 1 2 3& &5 6 7 - [stomp spank step. STOMP SPANKS STEP, stomp spank step STEP, stomp spank step]3 times, stamp TOE STEP HOP step hop STEP jump-out jump-in
- Step Riff Heel (Hop Riff Heel, Leap Riff Heel) - 1&a2 or &a*1 - step TOUCH DIG heel or step BRUSH SCUFF heel
- 6- Beat Riff Walk - &a1&a2 - touch scuff HEEL dig toe heel or brush scuff HEEL dig toe
- 7- Beat Riff Walk - &a1e&a2 - touch scuff HEEL dig toe HEEL heel or brush scuff HEEL dig toe HEEL heel
- 8- 100 Beat Riff Walk - e&a1e&a2 - touch scuff HEEL dig toe heel HEEL heel or brush scuff HEEL dig toe heel HEEL heel, for riff walks higher than 8 - start with a riff and then add X number of sounds to get a X-beat riff walk
- Riffle - &a1 - touch dig spank or brush dig spank
- Riffle Step - e&a1 - touch dig spank step or brush dig spank step
- Hines Riff (Split Riff) - &a**1 - touch scuff PULL dig STEP or brush scuff PULL dig STEP
- Stamp Step Riff Heel Turn - 1 2&a3 or 1 &a*2 - stamp STEP touch scuff HEEL or stamp STEP brush scuff HEEL
- Stamp Step Toe Heel Turn - 1 2&3 - stamp STEP toe HEEL (turning)
- Paddle Turn - 1&a - spank step STEP (turning)
- Traditional Quadruple Time Step - 8&1e&a2&3&4&5e&a6&7& or 8 a1e&a2 a3 a4 a5e&a6 a7 a - shuffle HOP shuffle step heel FLAP step
- Buck Quadruple Time Step - 8 1e&a2&3&4 5e&a6&7 or 8 1&ea2 a3 a4 5e&a6 a7 a& - stomp (some people add a spank after the stomp) HOP shuffle step heel FLAP step
- Single Traveling Time Step - 8&1&2&3&4 5 6&7& - shuffle step SHUFFLE BALL CHANGE BALL CHANGE hop STEP shuffle step (some people start it with the hop)
- Double Traveling Time Step - 8&1&2&3&4 5&6&7& - shuffle step SHUFFLE BALL CHANGE BALL CHANGE hop FLAP shuffle step (some people start it with the hop)
- Triple Traveling Time Step - 8&1&2&3&4 5&a6&7& - shuffle step SHUFFLE BALL CHANGE BALL CHANGE hop SHUFFLE STEP shuffle step (some people start it with the hop)
- Quadruple Traveling Time Step - 8&1&2&3&4 5e&a6&7& - shuffle step SHUFFLE BALL CHANGE BALL CHANGE hop SHUFFLE STEP HEEL shuffle step (some people start it with the hop)
- Crossing Wing - &a1 - start on the balls of the feet with feet together, scrape both feet outwards and into the air, then spank both feet inwards at the same time and land on the balls of the feet with your feet crossed
- Single Wing (One Foot Wing) - &a1 - start on the ball of one foot, scrape your foot outwards and into the air, then spank it in and land on the ball of the foot
Optional Steps
- Backwards Cramp Roll - 1&a2 - dig DIG toe TOE
- Cramprolet - 1&a - jump heel HEEL
- Cramp Roll Time Step - 8 1 2&a3 a - stomp HOP cramp roll step
- Criss Cross Cramp Roll - 1&a2 - step DIG heel TOE
- Dig Slide - 1 - run or push off of one leg and allow your feet to glide along the floor without leaving the floor and the front foot should have the back edge of the heel touching the floor during the glide
- Flap Step Ball Change - &a1 & 2 - brush step STEP step STEP
- Heel Grind Time Step - 8&a1&2&3 4&a5&6&7, 8&a1&2&3&4&5&6&7 - hop SHUFFLE STEP dig STEP spank step, hop SHUFFLE STEP dig STEP spank step, hop SHUFFLE STEP dig STEP spank step, shuffle ball change flap ball change
- Hop Scuffle - 1&a - hop DIG SPANK
- Maxie Ford Clunk - 1e&a2 - step SHUFFLE STEP clunk (clunk crosses in back)
- Penguin - &a1 - brush spank dig (put your weight on the dig)
- Scap - &1 or a1 - scuff step
- Scuff Dig Toe - &a1 - scuff dig toe
- Scuffle Dig Toe - e&a1 - dig spank dig toe
- Scuffle Step Turn - 1&a2&a - dig spank step DIG SPANK STEP (turning)
- Single Heel Stand Turn - 1 - jump up onto the back edge of one heel tap (turning)
- Single Toe Stand (One Foot Toe Stand) - 1 - "jump" up to the tip toe of one foot and balance on it
- Single Toe Stand Turn - 1 - "jump" up to the tip toe of one foot and balance on it (turning)
- Spank Toe Step - &a1 - spank toe step
- Spots - &1&2 - spank HOP toe step
- Stamp Roll - 1&a2 - stamp STEP heel HEEL
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
- Shuffle Dig Toe - e&a1 or a1 a2 - brush spank dig toe
- Shuffle Toe Step - &1&2 or e&a1 - brush spank toe step
- Riffle Step Heel - a1&a2 or e&a*1 - touch dig spank step heel or brush dig spank step heel
- Double Buffalo Toe - a1e&a2 - (cross foot in front) flap SHUFFLE TOE STEP
- Double Flap Cramp Roll - a1e&a2 - flap FLAP heel HEEL
- Triple Double Cramp Roll - &a1e&a2 - shuffle step FLAP heel HEEL
- Irish Pullback Flap - a1e&a2 - shuffle SINGLE-PULLBACK flap
- Irish Pullback Flap Heel - &a1e&a2 - shuffle SINGLE-PULLBACK flap heel
- Maxie Ford Toe - 1e&a*2 - step SHUFFLE TOE STEP toe (last toe crosses in back)
- Double Maxie Ford Toe - a1e&a*2 - flap SHUFFLE TOE STEP toe
- Buffalo Pullback - 1e&a2 - (cross foot in front) step (leap) SHUFFLE switching pullback
- Double Heel Stand - 1&a2 or &a*1 - dig DIG step STEP (group sounds tightly together)
- Shiggy Bop (Shovel, Heel Slide) - &a1 - with your weight on one foot scuff that foot forward, dig, STEP
- Crossing Drawback - &a1 - spank HEEL step (cross over the left foot)
- Double Drawback - &1&2 or a1 a2 - spank HEEL flap
- Triple Drawback - a1&a2 - spank HEEL shuffle step
- Scuff Heel Step - &a1 - scuff HEEL step
- Switching Pullback Toe - &a1 - start on one foot, push off the floor into the air and as your foot leaves the floor do a spank then STEP on the other foot, toe
- Treadmill - &a1 - brush SWITCHING-PULLBACK
- Pullback Toe - &a1 - pull both feet into the air, hit both toes at the same time, land on both feet at the same time
- Dwing - 1e& - dig/WING
- Swing - 1e& - step/WING
- Twing - 1e& - single-toe-stand/WING
- Single Wing Toe - e&a1 - start on the ball of one foot, scrape your foot outwards and into the air, then spank it in and land on the ball of the foot, TOE
- Double Wing (Separated, Staggered, Alternating) - &a***1 - start on the balls of the feet with feet together, scrape both feet outwards and into the air - one before the other, then spank both feet inwards - one before the other, then land on the balls of the feet - one before the other
- Switching Wing - &a1 - start on the ball of one foot, scrape your foot outwards and into the air, then spank it in and land on the ball of the other foot
- Traveling Pendulum Shuffle - &a1&a2 - brush spank TOE brush spank HEEL
- Shuffle Flap - &1&2 or e&a1 - brush spank brush step
- Shuffle Toe Toe Step - a1&a2 - brush spank toe TOE step
Optional Steps
- Alexander Clunk - &1&2&3&4 or a1 a2 a3 a4 - flap HEEL heel SPANK heel CLUNK heel
- Backwards Wing - &a1 - start on the balls of the feet with feet apart, scrape both feet inwards and into the air allowing one foot to cross in front of the other, then brush both feet outwards at the same time and land on the balls of the feet with your feet apart
- Click Buffalo - 1e&a2 - (cross foot in front) step (leap) SHUFFLE click-left-toe-tap-to-right-heel-tap STEP
- Double Cincinnati - &1&2&a3 or &a1e&a2 - spank HEEL shuffle HEEL flap
- Drawback Heel - &1&2 - spank HEEL step heel
- Dub Dub Dig Toe - 1&2& - dig TOE dig toe
- Heelo - 1&a - heel HEEL toe/STEP (traveling right, toe and STEP are at the same time)
- Jordan Pullback - 1e&a2 - pull PULL step heel STEP
- Jumper - 1 2&3 - jump-out hop heel STEP (cross behind) (travel to the right)
- Lopsided Cramp Roll - 1&a2 - step STEP heel heel
- Maddie Mill - 1&a - clunk SWITCHING-PULLBACK
- Radiohead - &a1 - scuff SINGLE-TOE-STAND step
- Rod Roll - 1&a2 - step STEP HEEL step or step STEP HEEL stamp
- Scuffaloeo - 1&a2&a - dig spank step DIG TOE step
- Scuffle Toe Slap Heel - &a1&a2 - dig spank TOE brush touch HEEL
- Shayberbom - 1&a - step SCUFF SMACK (STEP)
- Shuffle Ball Change Heel - a1&a2 - brush spank step STEP HEEL
- Spat - &a*1 - spank single-toe-stand FLAP
- Spear - &a1 - toe HOP HEEL
- Spiel - 1&a - dig SPANK toe
- Toe Stand Shuffle Step - &a1 - brush spank toe (stand)
- Tori - 1&a - jump-together HEEL touch-out-to the-side
- Twister - 1&a2 - HOP shuffle step/DIG (do the step and DIG at the same time)
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 - &1&2&3&4 - brush spank toe STEP brush spank dig STEP
- Shuffle Toe Pullback Ball Change - a1e&a2 - brush spank toe SWITCHING-PULLBACK STEP
- Double Toe Buffalo - a1e&a*2 - (cross foot in front) flap SHUFFLE TOE toe STEP
- Double Buffalo Toe Pullback - a1e&a*2 - (cross foot in front ) flap SHUFFLE TOE
- Riffle Cramp Roll - &a1e&a2 - riffle step STEP heel HEEL
- Irish Shiggy Bop (Irish Shovel) - a1&a2 - shuffle SCUFF DIG step
- Irish Wing - a1e&a2 - shuffle SINGLE-WING step
- Double Maxie Ford Toe Pullback - a1e&a**2 - flap SHUFFLE TOE switching-pullback toe
- Double Toe Maxie Ford - a1e&a**2 - flap SHUFFLE TOE toe STEP toe
- Double Waltz Clog Toe Pullback - a1e&a**2 - flap SHUFFLE TOE switching-pullback step
- Hop Riffle - 1e&a - hop RIFF SPANK
- Pendulum Riffle - &a1&a2 - touch (or brush) dig spank (cross other foot), touch (or brush) dig spank (uncross)
- Riffle Dig Toe - a1&a2 or e&a*1 - touch dig spank dig toe or brush dig spank dig toe
- Bombershay Toe - 1e&a - step SPANK DIG TOE
- Shuffle Pullback Heel - e&a*1 - brush spank SWITCHING-PULLBACK heel
- Flam - *1 - do a step followed by a heel with hardly any space between them
- Hoofer's Shuffle - &a1 - hit the outside of the ball tap, straighten the leg for a split second and let the ball tap brush a tiny bit to the side, tap the ball tap in place or slightly to the other side
- Shuffle Heel Step - e&a1 - brush spank HEEL step
- Double Pullback Toe - 1e&a*2 or &a***1 - pull PULL toe TOE step STEP
- Switching Pullback Flap - &a1 - start on one foot, push off the floor into the air and as your foot leaves the floor do a spank then FLAP on the other foot
- Single Wing Heel Toe - 1e&a2 - start on the ball of one foot, scrape your foot outwards and into the air, then spank it in and land on the ball of the foot, heel, TOE
- Switching Wing Toe - &a*1 - start on the ball of one foot, scrape your foot outwards and into the air, then spank it in and land on the ball of the other foot, toe
- Wing Toe - &a*1 - start on the balls of the feet with feet together, scrape both feet outwards and into the air, then spank both feet inwards at the same time, hit the toes of both feet and land on the balls of the feet with your feet together
- Same Side Wing - &a1 - start on the balls of the feet with feet together, scrape both feet outwards and into the air towards one side, then spank both feet inwards at the same time and land on the balls of the feet with your feet together
Optional Steps
- Annalisa's 8- beat Riff Walk - e&a1e&a2 - touch scuff HEEL dig toe SPANK STEP stamp or brush scuff HEEL dig toe SPANK STEP stamp
- Bam Bam - &a1 - stamp SCUFF jump-out
- Blur - 1&a2&a3 - step SHUFFLE STEP scuff dig toe
- Clapull - &a1 - pull both feet into the air, clap, land both feet on the floor at the same time
- Clunker - 1&a2&a - clunk HEEL TOE smack (step) HEEL heel
- Ditto - 1&2&3& - dig TOE spank TOE dig toe
- Dodo - 1 2 - HOP/toe (both at the same time), HEEL/toe (both at the same time)
- Drawbershay - 1e&a - step SPANK heel DIG
- Farmer - 1 a2 - heel stand, spank STAMP
- Flabbergast - a1&a2 - brush step DIG heel STEP
- Hit - 1 - HEEL/step (at the same time)
- Jackhammer - &1&2 - spank stamp SPANK DIG
- Jimmy - &a1 & 2 - scuff dig CHUG/drag-right-dig-out-to-side step STEP
- Jinnyshay - a1e&a2e - spank step SPANK DIG stamp SPANK DIG
- Megamines Cramp Roll - &a1e&a2 - riff HEEL dig DIG toe TOE
- Nicaela Quick - a1e&a2 - spank TOE touch dig toe STAMP
- Rise - 1e&a*2 - pull toe step FLAP stamp
- Scopper - 1e&a2 - dig spank DIG step STEP
- Scout - 1&a2 - scuffle scuff jump-out
- Scuffit - 1e&a - dig spank scuff step
- Scuffout - 1&a2&a3 - dig spank HEEL scuff HEEL TOE smack (step)
- Shay Roll - a1&a2 - spank dig HEEL toe TOE
- Shuffle Heel Step Heel - a1&a2 - brush spank HEEL step heel
- Shunk - &a1 - brush spank clunk/STEP (do the clunk and step at the same time)
- Skunk - &a*1 - scuff, hit the inside of the toe tap, hit the inside of the heel tap, HEEL
- Spackle - 1e&a2 - spank toe DIG TOE smack (step)
- Squiggly Wiggly - 1e&a*2 - dig spank toe DIG step STEP
- Steel - 1e&a2 - dig spank scuff dig toe
- Stephunky - 1&a2 & - step SPANK heel TOE toe
- Sugar Bop - a1&a2 - spank dig (turn foot inward) TOE toe (turn outward) STEP
- Swiffle (Tessa Backdraw) - 1&2&3& - spank HEEL toe HEEL step heel
- Toto - 1&a2&a3 - toe SINGLE-PULLBACK toe HOP HEEL smack (step)
- Tucker - 1e&a2 - step SHUFFLE pull jump
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 - 1&a2&a3e&a4&a - hop RIFF SPANK hop DIG SPANK hop BRUSH SPANK hop STOMP SPANK
- Step Riff Brush Heel - 1e&a2 - step TOUCH DIG BRUSH heel or step BRUSH DIG BRUSH heel
- Toe Dig Bombershay - 1&a2&a - toe SPANK DIG dig SPANK DIG
- Drawback Flam - &a*1 - spank HEEL flam
- Switching Pullback Flap Heel Toe - &a**1 - start on one foot, push off the floor into the air and as your foot leaves the floor do a spank then FLAP HEEL on the other foot, toe
- Treadmill Heel - e&a1 - brush SWITCHING-PULLBACK heel
- Buffalo Wing - 1e&a*2 - (cross foot in front) step (leap) SHUFFLE switching wing
- Maxie Ford Wing - 1e&a**2 - step SHUFFLE switching-wing STEP toe (toe crosses in back)
- Double Waltz Clog Wing - a1e&a**2 - flap SHUFFLE switching-wing step
- Frap - &a1 - touch (brush if traveling) dig (scuff if traveling) step
- Frap Cramp Roll - (NOT flap) - a&1&a2 - frap (riff step) STEP heel HEEL
- Scuffle Pullback - e&a1 - dig spank SWITCHING-PULLBACK
- Buffalo Scuffle - 1e&a*2 - (cross foot in front) step (leap) SHUFFLE scuffle STEP
- Irish Pullback Heel Flap Heel - &a1e&a*2 - shuffle SINGLE-PULLBACK HEEL flap heel
- Single Pullback Toe - &a1 - pull toe step
- Irish Pullback Toe Flap - &a1e&a2 - shuffle SINGLE-PULLBACK-TOE flap
- Hot Toe - 1e&a***2 - step SHUFFLE TOE scuffle STEP toe (last toe crosses in back)
- Waltz Clog Scuffle - 1e&a**2 - step SHUFFLE scuffle STEP step
- Scuff Front - a1 - scuff both feet at the same time then land on the balls of both feet at the same time
- Double Scuff Front - 1e&a or &a*1 - scuff SCUFF step STEP
- Frapback - &1&a2 - spank HEEL frap
- Cincinnati Flam - &1&2&3 or &a1&a2 - spank HEEL shuffle HEEL flam
- Joe Toe Pull - 1e&a*2 - pull PULL toe step heel STEP
- Pullback Dig Toe - &a1 - pull both feet into the air, land on the back edge of both heels at the same time, drop both toes at the same time
- 3 Sound Pullback - &a1 - pull both feet into the air, tap your toe taps on the floor while in the air, land on the balls of the feet
- Pullback Shuffle Step - 1&a2 - pull both feet into the air, shuffle both feet at the the same time while in the air, land on both feet at the same time
- Single Pullback Opposite Toe - &a1 - pull TOE step
- Switching Toe Pullback - &a1 - start on one foot, push off the floor into the air and as your foot leaves the floor do a spank, toe, then STEP on the other foot
- Pendulum Wing - &a1 - BRUSH single-wing, SPANK single-wing
- Scissor Wing - &a1 - start on the balls of the feet with one foot in front of the other, scrape the front foot backwards and into the air while at the same time scraping the back foot forwards and into the air, then spank the foot in front and brush the foot in back at the same time and land where you started
- Five Count Wing - 1e&a2 - start on the balls of the feet, scrape your feet outwards and into the air, then spank them in, then brush them out again, then spank them in again, then land on the balls of the feet
- Five Count Single Wing - BONUS STEP - 1e&a2 - scrape the outer edge of one ball tap outwards and into the air, then spank it in, then brush it out again, then spank it in again, then land on the ball of the foot
- Heel Flam - 1 - drop one heel just slightly before the other
- Jump Flam - 1 - propel yourself into the air and land so that the ball of one foot hits the floor just slightly before the other foot
Optional Steps
- Baloney - 1e&a2 - pull PULL step heel TOE
- Brittanyshay - 1e&a2 - step SPANK TOE step DIG
- Broken Riff - 1e&a**2 - riffle HEEL hit-outside-of-toe-tap hit-outside-of-heel-tap HEEL
- Clickety Clank - 1&a2&a3 - step SHUFFLE click STEP HEEL clunk
- Click Pullback - BONUS STEP - &a1 - pull both feet into the air, click the inside of each foot together, land both feet on the floor at the same time
- Click Wing - &a*1 - start on the balls of the feet with feet together, scrape both feet outwards and into the air, then spank both feet inwards at the same time and click them together in the air, then land on the balls of the feet with your feet apart
- Drawman - &a1 - spank HEEL step/TOE (at the same time)
- Faluffalo - BONUS STEP - a1e&a**2 - (cross foot in front) flap SHUFFLE single-pullback-end-with-a- flap FLAP
- Maddalo - BONUS STEP - 1e&a*2 - (cross foot in front) step SHUFFLE pullback-to-toe STEP
- Riff Raff - 1e&*2&a*3 - HEEL riffle HEEL riff TOE step
- Rooster - &a**1&2 - hoofer's shuffle HOP HEEL step heel
- Rorymeister - 1&a2&a - stamp TOE TOE toe step STEP
- Ruffle - 1e&a**2 - touch dig spank toe STEP HEEL smack (step) or brush dig spank toe STEP HEEL smack (step)
- Sh- sh- sh- shuffle - BONUS STEP - 1e&a2e&a3 - STEP shuffle (as you shuffle push off the left foot into the air) shuffle shuffle (while in the air - yeah I know) step STEP
- Sloppy Joe - 1&a2&a3 - dig DIG spank TOE dig toe STAMP
- Teeler - BONUS STEP - 1e&a***2 - pull PULL toe TOE dig DIG step STEP
- Toe Stand Wing - &a1 - start on your toes with feet together, scrape both toes outwards and into the air, then spank both toes inwards at the same time, then land on your toes with your feet together
- Toro - 1&2 - stomp scuff smack (step)
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.