Theory For The Graded Stage Branch Tap Examinations

Theoretical questions will be marked in the section entitled ‘Responses and Knowledge of Syllabus’.  A candidate may be asked a maximum of three questions in any on examination (if it is felt that he/she was insecure and needed another chance to answer correctly.) Candidates will be asked to demonstrate certain steps from the tap glossary and define them. The answers do not have to be an exact repetition of those written but should convey the same meaning.

GRADE ONE

Terms and Definitions 

Straight Taps:            Strike the ground with the ball of the foot and up (ankle only)

Forward Tap:            Strike ground with the ball of the foot forward and up (ankle only)

Backward Tap:         Strike ground with the ball of the foot backward and up (ankle only)

Hop:                            Stand on one foot, spring in the air and and lightly on the ball of the same foot.

Jump:                         Feet together, flex knees, spring into the air and land with feet together in any direction.

Spring:                       Stand on one foot, spring into air and land lightly on the ball of the other foot.

Drop:                          Stand on one foot, spring into the air and drop heavily on the ball or flat of the other foot.

Stamp:                        Heavy downward beat onto flat of foot. Weight on supporting foot or working foot.

Heel Beat:                   Flex knee, strike ground with heel finishing on ground with a heavier tone. Can be given three ways: – standing on    one foot; with ball of working foot on ground; as a sharp dig.

Toe Tap:                    Bend knee, strike ground with toe and up sharply.

Step:                           Transfer weight from one foot to ball of the other.

Shuffle:                      A forward and backward tap given to the count of &1 or less.

Ballchange:                Change of balance from the ball of one foot to the ball or flat of the other foot, in any direction to the count of &1    or less.

Tap Step:                   A forward tap followed immediately by a step. Weight on working or supporting foot.

GRADE TWO

Timestep resource video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59gS46Ja4xU

Terms and Definitions

Heel Tap:                   Flex Knee, Strike ground with heel and up sharply. Can be given three ways: – standing on one foot; with ball of                                               working on ground; as a sharp dig.

Heel Beat:                   Flex Knee, Strike ground with heel finishing on ground with a heavier tone. Can be given three ways: – standing on                                          one foot; with ball of working foot on ground; as a sharp dig.

Toe Beat:                    Bend knee, strike ground with toe finishing down on ground with a heavier tone.

Ball Tap:                    Strike ground with ball of foot and up sharply. Can be given three ways: – standing on one foot; with heel of working                                      foot on ground; as a sharp dig.

Ball Beat:                   As in ball tap but ball finishes down on ground and is heavier in tone.

Forward Brush:        Broader movement than a forward tap as a swing comes from knee and hip.

Backward Brush:      Broader movement than a backward tap as a swing comes from knee and hip.

Stomp:                        Stand on ball of the foot, push foot forward finishing with a heavy heel beat.

Scuff:                          A flat stamp carried forward and off ground, supporting knee flexed.

 Tap Spring:               A forward tap followed immediately by a spring. Travelled or on one spot and very lightly executed.

Pick-Up:                     Stand with feet slightly apart turn up toe of one foot, slap foot back hitting ground with ball of foot and removing      heel.

Pick-Up Step:            Pick-up followed immediately by a step. Can be repeated on alternate feet.

4- Beat Cramp Roll:  Spring onto right foot, ball dig left foot, heel beat right foot, heel beat left foot.

5- Beat Cramp Roll:  Tap spring onto the right foot, ball dig left foot, heel beat right foot, heel beat left foot.

GRADE THREE

Questions may be asked from the previous grades and from the following.

Terms and Definitions

Pick-Up Spring:                    A pick-up followed immediately by a spring. Cannot be repeated

Pick-Up Hop:                         A pick-up followed immediately by a hop. Cannot be repeated

Flap:                                       A forward tap followed immediately by a stamp. Weight on working or supporting foot.

Knowledge of arms and direction,

To prepare candidates to be able to follow the instructions given by the examiner for the unseen amalgamation, they must also understand the following: –

Arm Lines

1. An opposition arm line, i.e. The most natural of movements based upon the law of balance with both arms swinging in opposite directions. The direction of the opposite is determined by the head.

2. A parallel arm line, I.E. Both arms make two straight line which move in the same direction, and are always an equal distance apart.

3. A coordinated arm line, I.E. Both arms move in the same direction at the same time. The line may be taken low, medium or high.

4. A horizontal line, I.E. An arm line forming a right angle to the body.

Direction.

FRONT

LDD – LEFT DIAGONAL DOWN

LDF – LEFT DIAGONAL FRONT

RDD – RIGHT DIAGONAL DOWN

RDF – RIGHT DIAGONAL FRONT

L – LEFT

R – RIGHT

BACK

LDB – LEFT DIAGONAL BACK

LDU – LEFT DIAGONAL UP

RDB – RIGHT DIAGONAL BACK

RDU – RIGHT DIAGONAL UP

GRADE FOUR

Questions may be asked from the previous grades and from the following.

 Terms and Definitions

 Pick-Up Change:                   Stand on one foot, flex knee, turn up toe of same foot, slap foot back with elevation hitting ground with ball   of foot, removing heel and land on the other foot.

Pick-Up On One Foot:          As in pick-up change but landing on the ball of the same foot. Must not be travelled backwards.

Pull Back:                              Pick up of right foot, pick-up change on left foot, onto right foot, ball dig left foot.

6-Beat Cramp Roll:               Tap spring right foot, tap step left foot, heel beat right foot, heel beat left foot.

GRADE FIVE

Questions may be asked from the previous grades and from the following.  

Terms and Definitions

3 Beat Ripple:                        Stand on one foot, pick up change preceded by a forward tap.

3 Beat Riff:                            Stand on one foot, forward brush, heel dig, followed by a ball beat.

Top Clip:                                Stand with feet slightly apart. Lift the balls of both feet, clip the toes together and finish with a ball beat right  and ball beat left.

Heel Clip:            Stand with feet slightly apart. Lift the heels of both feet, clip the toes together and finish with a ball beat          right and ball beat left.

Wing Preparation:             Stand with feet together, using ankle slide right foot out to side by scraping outside edge of foot finishing     off the ground; with ball of right foot tap ground inwards with left foot finishing with right foot beside left foot.

3 Beat Wing (From Both Feet):       Stand with feet together, flex knees, using ankles shoot both feet outward by scraping outside edge of feet finishing off ground; with balls of feet tap ground inwards landing on both balls of feet.

3 Beat Wing (From One Foot):        Stand on one foot; flex knee; using ankle shoot foot outward by scrapping outside edge of foot            finishing off ground; with ball of foot tap ground inwards landing on ball of same foot.

3 Beat Wing (Changing):                  Stand on one foot, flex knee, using ankle shoot outward by scraping outside edge of foot finishing    off ground, with ball of foot tap ground inwards landing on ball of other foot.

INTERMEDIATE FOUNDATION

Questions may be asked from the previous grades and from the following.

Terms and Definitions

4 Beat wing:                Stand on one foot, flex knee, using ankle shoot outward by scraping outside edge of foot finishing off ground, with ball of foot tap ground inwards landing on ball of same or other foot finishing with a toe tap.

INTERMEDIATE TAP

Questions may be asked from the previous grades

4 Beat Riff: Stand on one foot, forward brush making sure you brush the heel, followed by a heel dig ending with a ball beat.

4 Beat Ripple: Stand on one foot, pick up change preceded by a forward tap finished with a heel beat.

ADVANCED 1 TAP

Questions may be asked from the previous grades and from the following.

Wing Preparation:                Stand on L.F; forward tap on R.F but catch the heel of r. heel on the floor before returning with the back tap with the R.F

Pullback (from the balls of the feet): Performed as basic pullbacks but starting on the balls of the feet and straightening the knees in    the air to then land again on the balls of the feet.

Pick-up Changes (from the balls of the feet): Stand on the ball of R.F, spring into the air releasing and relaxing R.F and ankle, straighten  the knee and catch tap of R.F on the floor with a backward movement and land on the ball of the other foot.

Pick-up on 1 foot (from the balls of the feet): Stand on the ball of R.F, spring into the air releasing and relaxing R.F and ankle, straighten the knee and catch tap of R.F on the floor with a backward movement and land on the ball of the same foot.

5 beat riff:                  Forward brush, heel brush, heel beat with the supporting leg, followed by a heel dig and ball beat with the working leg.

6 beat riff:                  As a 5 beat but adding a heel beat with the working leg at the end

7 beat riff:                  As a 5 beat but adding a heel beat with the working leg then supporting leg at the end.

Cramp roll changes:             As a basic cramp roll but heel heats are reversed to allow the dancer to change feet.