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How to Do the Soft Shoe Walk in Tap Dancing

The soft shoe was originally performed by dancers wearing soft shoes. Sometimes the soft shoe was done on a sandy surface. Over the years, the soft shoe step became part of the tap dancer's repertoire. These steps can be done with or without tap shoes. The soft shoe dance, unlike other dances, has managed to survive the passage of time and is still regularly incorporated into dance routines. The soft shoe is a graceful, elegant step.

Things You'll Need

  • Tap shoes, optional
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Instructions

  1. The First Version of the Soft Shoe Walk

    • 1

      Hop on your left foot. While hopping, bend your right leg at the knee and point your right foot to the back.

    • 2

      Brush to the front on the ball of your right foot. The ball, not the heel, swipes against the floor as you swing the foot in a forward motion.

    • 3

      Hop on your left foot. Your right foot is still extended to the front.

    • 4

      Step down on the ball of your right foot to the front.

    • 5

      Repeat the steps starting on your right foot: Hop on your right foot; brush your left foot to the front; hop again on your right foot and step down on the ball of your left foot to the front.

    • 6

      Consider the count: and 1 (hop and brush to the front) and (hop) 2 (step down to the front.) If you continue doing the step, the count would be: and 3 and 4 (hop, brush, hop, step.) You are doing hop brush hop step while traveling to the front.

    Another Version of the Soft Shoe Walk

    • 7

      Hop on your left foot while bending your right leg at the knee and pointing the right foot to the back.

    • 8

      Step down on the toe or ball of your right foot and then drop your right heel.

    • 9

      Brush your left foot straight to the front.
      Start the combination all over: Hop on your right foot, step down on your left toe/ball and then drop your left heel and brush to the front on your left leg.

    • 10

      Consider the count for the second version: and (hop) 1 (step on your toe or ball) and (drop your heel) 2 (brush your leg straight to the front.) In other words: and 1 and 2. You are doing a hop, toe heel and then a forward brush in this version.

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