


I had intended to sleep earlier last night, but I didn't, not because of homework and assignment, but my obsession with tap. I spent almost an hour viewing videos and webcast about tap (Jesus, I'm getting loafing, which is bad:)). I would never figure out what drove me to have such a whim that I wanted to do something different or learn something new every year. And this year, I chose to learn dancing. I thus sipped through every piece of information about dancing in forums or BBS. I was then led to CCDC's site and found the course on social dance. When I was just about to make up my mind to take social dance, "tap dance" just rushed into my mind. Curiosity can kill anything and create everything. I just couldn't suppress my interest in tap. When I eventually found out a dancing school's foundation course that can perfectly match my schedule, I swore I would definitely take that.
The course only includes 6 classes, and I've gone through 4 of them. That was really interesting experience. Tap dance is difficult and easy at the same time. It's easy because you don’t have to pay much attention to many other parts of your body, especially your hips that are normally not the best part to move beautifully. And as long as you can grasp the three most important elements (rhythm, ankle, focus of gratuity), you'll be the master. But the time and efforts you need to spend to skillfully grasp the three things comprises the difficult part.
That's why I kept viewing the classic but wonderful tap dance clips last night (just for one night, I promise). Though quite discouraging, as your determination to keep on will be beaten to bottom low after watching the tap masters' shows. You just can’t imagine your feet (remember: both your right and left foot) can move, step, shuffle, kick, swing, etc like a relentlessly non-stop and everlasting mini motors.
I should say I've made significant progress these days after several days of practice. My left foot can eventually goes with my right one and steps the way it does. To have your left foot exquisitely shift and move like your right one is never that easy. But you'll be surprisingly pleased with the result if you do practice. And tap dance becomes my another sources of courage because it's another proof of the worn-out but universally true saying—practice makes perfect. I'll be missing the tap class after it's over, I'm serious.
A few interesting tap dance clips:
Singing in the Rain
Tap 1-River Dance I
Tap 2-River Dance II
Tap Dance China
Julien's tap show at Harbour City, March 11, 2007
Tap Show I
Tap Show II
Tap Show III