Tapworks: A Tap Dictionary and Reference Manual

This book is fantastic! It starts off with the history of tap, little blurps about significant people, social events, major tap moves, tap styles, etc. It's a lot of fun! From there it has over 100 pages of A-Z tap moves, sounds, timesteps and more. They are clearly written, cover all alternate names, and walks through each sound with the appropriate counting. The book wraps up with suggestions for what ought to be taught at each tap level. Very helpful! I'm tap teacher and I love using this book for class. I have "oh, that's what you call it!" and "I didn't know this combo had a name!" moments! I'm a teacher, but this book teaches me!

This book was suggested for my college tap dance class. I find this book to be very valuable to learning and understand tap dance steps. This book give tap history, and detailed descriptions of terms and steps used in dance, especially tap dance. I find this book to be one of my best tools in learning new or old steps. The notation method of describing the steps helps me to document other steps and combinations.

Good historical reference of tap dance; clear and concise breakdown of steps and counts (rhythms) as well as tap terminology.. Ms. Fletcher was a wonderful tap teacher and choreographer who shared her knowledge of tap with many. This book is a legacy, and a testament to her research and expertise on this subject.

Pages came loose from the moment I opened the cover and text is very small in the history section, but it makes no difference since this is the most useful tap reference on my bookshelf. Here’s hoping that future publications take better care.

Very precise and articulated for those who already have a tap background. I wouldn't recommend it for those wanting to learn tap because of its shorthand way of breaking down steps. The history portion is nice, too. And all of my spelling questions were answered! Hearing the names of steps for years and years and never seeing them in print means that you come up with some creative spellings. Mystery solved!

A must have for any tap enthusiast. Tapworks contains a brilliant history of some of the most popular steps such as the "shuffle off to buffalo" and various "time steps." It breaks down steps in an easy to decipher fashion. I learned so many new steps that were fun and easy to teach. Bev Fletcher is a master of tap. Us students need to learn all she has to offer to keep tap dance alive in the millennium.

The book is full of great information but, unfortunately, is written poorly. The rhythms are written in a confusing fashion. My tap teacher, who has edited previous editions of this text, was scandalized when she saw this revised edition.

Tap dancing is my hobby and this has been a good addition to my bookshelf as a reference book.

Great product!

批評家、評論家、歴史家にとっては★★★★★、必読。タップダンスの歴史を記述した著作としては最強のひとつではないかと思います。ただ、初級者、中級者は手を出さないほうが無難（★★）。何しろ読み難い。ｔａｐ ｓｔｅｐｓ が、一部の例外を除いて文字（と記号）だけで羅列的にずらずらと書いてあります。それらを解析するのに知識と慣れと根性が要ります。上級を目指す人なら手元に一冊置いておくのは無駄ではありません。珍しい ｓｔｅｐｓ も結構紹介されています。たとえばアン・ミラーのｓｔｅｐやｂｒｅａｋ、ジョージ・マーフィのｓｔｅｐ（←この本のこの部分の記述はミスプリっぽい）、「ハリウッド四大タップコーチ」の一人Louis DaPronのｂｒｅａｋ、Leon collins版BS chorus（←当方、この部分解析できなかった。ミスプリか？）など。また、タイムステップについては、表（table）を使って相当数のページにわたって説明がなされています。この部分だけでも読む価値があると言えましょう（★★★★）。要するに相当のマニア（オタク）向け。