Bruckfeet Productions

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Frequently Asked Questions

About Time is a collective of tap dancers singers and musicians. Each dancer brings his/her own aspect to the dance form. The show consists of solos, duets, trios and big group numbers. Varying in speed dynamic style and pace, every aspect of the rhythm dance form is brought forward. The show is a musically driven show inspired by hoofing and drumming. It is an exploration of the progression of jazz rhythm tap as a vernacular expression.

If you have any further question please email them to: abouttimetap@live.co.uk

We will do our best to answer them...

What Is Hoofing? Hoofing is an improvisational expression of tap dance in its musical form. The emphasis is on the musicality of the dance form as tap grew up with jazz and influenced a lot of jazz artists. Its expressing yourself honestly through the dance. (Simeon Weedall BAHons Jazz Theatre Dance)

Where Did Tap Start? Tap dance has its origins in American vernacular dance and jazz. Its true origin of progression as an individual art form was on the streets of New York, James Rastus Brown was the first to put metal plates on his shoes and at the same time the Irish Clog was around and heavily influenced the early tap dancers. Tap dance also progressed through L.A. and other parts of America as well as Vaudeville, with dancers such as Bill Robinson. However, the true Father of Rhythm Tap is said to be John Bubbles, as he influenced the style we see today the most with his heel and toe application and his extended musical phrasing. For more information on the origins on tap I would recommend Tap Roots, Jazz Dance and Brotherhood in Rhythm. (Simeon Weedall BAHons Jazz Theatre Dance)

How Do I Audition For About Time? We never really auditioned as such, we are more like a band that just loves making music together. We are always trying to create new opportunities for up and coming tap dancers. We are putting tap on the map for the UK.(Simeon Weedall BAHons Jazz Theatre Dance)

What Advice Would You Give To A Dancer Just Starting Out? I would say try everything out, see what really inspires you and find out what you love doing the most. If you dont love what your doing you will always lose out to someone who loves it more than you! Get in a studio and play around, explore new music, listen to jazz and improvise all the time. Taking class is also recommended for beginners. Head to jams, improvise, see how other dancers express themselves and dont be afraid to steal a few tricks along the way. Get into a studio with youre shoes on and hit play on the music. Learn to express specific sounds that are pertinent to the music.(Simeon Weedall BAHons Jazz Theatre Dance)

Which Shoes Are The Best? For hoofing we recommend one of the following optioons:

Capezio K360 with no rubber and the Savion Glover build up with tele-tone taps added. These are available in Capezio 1650 Broadway, New York USA. Alternatively Laduca make great shoes but you will have to find a good cobbler for the build up. Go for a shoe that suits your style, for us it is important the shoe is a real instrument, it helps us create the specific sounds we are after. Look out for the Jason Samuels shoe that is being produced by Bloch and should be out sometime soon.(Note Petes people have apparently closed following the tragic loss of Pete himself. Let it be noted he was one of the greatest cobblers in the world and made tap shoes for nearly every serious hoofer out there. He will be sorely missed)There is a fantastic shoemaker in Minnesota, check out dancingfair.com and go to the custom K360 section. (Simeon Weedall BAHons Jazz Theatre Dance)