Help! I don't have tap shoes!

First of all, tap dance was born without metal plates, so who says you can't tap dance without tap shoes? Even Dr. Sammy Davis Jr. didn't have metal plates on when he was killing it at six years old:

Still not convinced? Here's Melinda Sullivan teaching an open tap dance class, emphasising the use of normal shoes:

So yes, you could technically go to a tap lesson without having to invest in a pair of tap shoes. But what shoes would emulate the feel of tap shoes the best?

Tap shoes have a variety of builds just like normal shoes would. However, the best type of non-tap shoe to practice with is something that has a platform, is hard soled, and smooth soles. A solid top is a plus. Let's break down the criteria:

Most tap shoes are built with an extra inch for the heel, so that the bass notes from the heel are fuller as opposed to the toe or ball sound.

A hard sole is needed to create a solid sound on the floor. You could still tap on regular sneakers, but the volume of a hard sole shoe would drown out the regular sneakers.

If you're a fan of Dr. Jimmy Slyde's slides in tap, you would probably want smooth or slippery soles as your tap shoe substitute. Many tap dancers complain about not having the ability to slide on marley floors, so if you want to avoid feeling like you're glued to a sheet of rubber, grab a pair of old, worn out shoes to practice with.

The optional solid top criterion was for the folks who wants to show off their toe stands. Some regular shoes cannot support you while you stand on your toes, but shoes like converse can.

Even with all the criteria for the best tap shoe substitute in mind, it doesn't matter if you just came in with a pair of worn out high tops to tap. NS Men who tap dance have practiced in their military boots. So what's your excuse?

#tapdance #tapshoes