Mark Knowles’ book “Tap Roots” is a great resource for anyone interested in the origin of tap dancing. As the name suggests, this book focuses on the many different cultural and creative forces (roots) that interacted to create tap dancing. This metaphor is helpful in understanding tap’s emergence and continued survival. After all, tap dancing’s ability to continually reinvent itself is one of its greatest strengths.
The book is divided into 3 parts and 23 chapters. The first part deals with primary influences like African, Irish, & English styles & as well as each culture’s attitude toward dance. The second part focuses on the emergence of tap dancing, the prevalence of minstrel shows, and its development on Vaudeville stages.
Part three discusses other influences that may have contributed to tap dancing including Gypsy & Native American influences. Though these connections are not as direct as those of other cultures, it is still important to recognize them. Reading these chapters gave me new appreciation for the capacity of percussive dance to express varied human emotions and experiences.
You shouldn’t purchase this book if you are hoping to delve into detailed biographies of tap’s early stars. Tap Roots references many individuals that contributed to tap’s advancement, though the names sometimes came at me so fast that I found it difficult to keep up with who did what. This book is more concerned with the “macro” forces that shaped tap than the achievements of individuals.
I recommend that anyone interested in the “origins” of tap purchase this book. It is a fascinating read!
July 31st, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I’ve been looking to purchase this book! I can’t wait to get a chance to order it (they never have it in stock at places like Borders)
July 31st, 2008 at 4:23 pm
@Hillary-Marie: Yeah I really enjoyed it. I actually got it at my local Barnes & Noble but it was the ONLY copy they had. I doubt that they have any now. Let me know what you think of it. It gave me a lot to think about.
Taps