First published 2016
Brian Seibert examines tap dancing as a uniquely American art form born from cultural collision. He begins with tap's roots in African dances brought by enslaved people and European jig and clog traditions. The New York Times dance critic follows the art form's journey through blackface minstrelsy onto vaudeville stages, where it developed alongside jazz music. Seibert documents tap's golden age on Broadway and in Hollywood films, then explores its post-World War II decline and eventual revival by contemporary artists. He profiles key figures from Master Juba to Bill Robinson, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Gregory Hines, and Savion Glover. The book reveals how tap's evolution reflects broader American cultural dynamics, particularly the complex relationship between Black and white performers in show business. Seibert shows readers how to recognize the full sweep of American popular culture history in every tap step.
Genres: 20th-century, american, african-american, biography-memoir, 21st-century, art-history
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: cultural-history, historical-figures, social-commentary
Setting: Broadway, Hollywood, New York
Period: Post-World War II, Vaudeville Era
624 pages · Paperback · Farrar, Straus and Giroux