Since I’m currently not teaching line dance classes and rarely go out line dancing anymore, I realized that I needed to seek out another avenue. I decided that I yearned to go back to my roots and began looking for a tap class to join. Luckily, a former line dance student told me about an adult lesson which is close to where I live.
Linda, the tap instructor, welcomed me into her class; I’ve known her for many years but this is the first time I have been her student. She choreographs routines to teach to a group of ladies called the Toast of the Town Tappers, who are all talented and friendly. They, including Linda, perform in an annual show; before my first class I explained to Linda and her group that I’m only interested in lessons. I’m not to the point where I want to perform again.
It’s been over 11 years since I taught tap classes and performed onstage. It’s a completely different skill set from line dancing; there are similar steps, but they don’t share the same name! During the first 10 minutes of my initial class, I surprised myself by how much I remembered. I learned a new warm-up segment and then we moved on to some tap combinations that Linda would be using in the dance routine.
Ironically, the song that Linda chose for their performance piece is by one of my least favorite country artists. When I was teaching line dance, I only used her music if someone requested it. I admit that the song doesn’t bother me now, even though I dance to it at every class, because my mind is immersed in tap dancing.
Here’s the line dance I always taught to the song:
Canadian Stomp
Over the following weeks, even when Linda played a few other “line dance” songs, I was able to push those steps out of my memory and focus on the tap steps. At times, I felt like I was 42 years younger and my thoughts went to the many dance shows that I performed in so long ago. I always enjoyed tap dancing, especially routines that were choreographed to music from shows like “Chicago” and “Sweet Charity.”
To those of you out there who are attending line dance classes and regularly line dancing in your local honky tonks or at special events, remember to express your gratitude to the various instructors, DJ’s, bands, and staff. Personally, at this point in my life, I’m thankful with my choice to go back to my roots.
Dori Yez will continue to write her monthly article here; and may also “guest instruct” at local venues/events!
