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How to Attach Taps to Shoes

The USA Tap society suggest that tap dancers install the taps on their own shoes. Taps come in a variety of styles and brands and installing your own taps allows you to select the type of taps that best suit your style. Tap shoes have a toe tap and a heel tap. Installing the taps is an easy process that takes only a few minutes. Taps should be secured with screws and not nails. The screws need to be tightly screwed in place so that the tap is secure and the screws do not damage the floor.

Things You'll Need

  • Tap shoes
  • Toe taps and heel taps
  • Screwdriver
  • File
  • Sandpaper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase the taps for your shoes. The three styles of taps used by tap dancers are TeleTone, DuoTone and SuperTone.

    • 2

      Turn the shoes over so that the soles of the shoes are facing you.

    • 3

      Set the toe tap in place. Follow the contour of the shoe and align the tap so that the holes in the tap are directly over the holes in the shoe. Insert the first screw and tighten it. Hold the toe tap in place while you tighten the screw. Insert and tighten the other screws.

    • 4

      Inspect the toe tap. The tap needs to be filed or sanded if the edges of the tap overhang the edges of the shoe or if the taps have a sharp edge. File the edges of the tap with a file or rough-grit sandpaper until the edges of the tap are dull and flush with the edges of the shoe. Repeat the process for the toe tap on the other shoe.

    • 5

      Set the heel tap in place. Align the tap with the outside and inside edge of the shoe and with the screw holes in the tap and the shoe. Insert and tighten the first screw. Insert and tighten the remaining screws.

    • 6

      Inspect the heel tap. If the heel tap has a sharp edge or if it overhangs the edges of the shoe, it needs to be filed or sanded as well. File or sand the edges of the tap until it is dull and flush with the edges of the shoe. Repeat the procedure with the other heel tap.

    • 7

      Adjust the taps by loosening or tightening the screws. Try out the shoes and listen to the sound. Tap dancers fine-tune their sound by making minor adjustments to the screws.

Tap Dance

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