Alexander (Broadway, Shirley Temple) Tap Dance Move Shown by Rod Howell at unitedtaps.com

[Elianaaxox]

The way I learned the shirley temple is a bit different... it goes "heel step (L), heel (L), spank (R, front to back), heel (L), toe (R), heel (L)". Not sure what the heel step heel is called in tap terms.. I'm only a beginner. It's something like an inversed riffle (instead of brush heel step, it's heel step heel). Is this valid or is there only one way? Thanks :)

[musictaps]

@Elianaaxox I don't know a specific term for heel step heel. As for if your version of the Shirley Temple is valid...tap is not standardized so theoretically every version is valid. What I have found is that there certain versions of steps that the most popular - in my experience this version is the most popular version f the Shirley Temple. But there will will always be variations, for better or worse:)

Rod

[XxThePieGuyxX]

Where I live, we call it a hiccup. This move really has no actual name. Some places refer to it as, "Filap, heel heel, spank heel, toe heel."

[musictaps]

@XxThePieGuyxX Thanks for the additional names, I appreciate it!

Rod

[musictaps]

If the rhythm you hear is different, it's you :) If the tone of the sounds is different it's the taps and that's no big deal:)

Rod

[BroadwayInstrumental]

When I do this it sounds different and I'm doing it right could it be my taps?

[DLZandorfRamash]

yeah i agree, after some weeks, Alexander becomes fun and a beautiful movement.

[webkinzjayanimal]

The "SPANK" is called a slap just to let you know.

[musictaps]

@webkinzjayanimal Having been in the tap community for well over 20 years I can tell you there are many names for most steps and only a few have an "official name" if you can even call it that. Spanks are also called brushes or brush backs. For me, I use slap to refer to a flap without weight, but I've also seen them used to refer to what I call a flap (brush front step).

Rod