I have dreams of tap-dancing.
When I was in college, I was in Nunsense which has one tap dance number. For this I learned the time-step, the Buffalo, and a few other simple steps. Put together, I was really tapping, and totally fell in love.
Seriously, have you ever tapped? It’s a blast. One song, performed during a run of about 10 performances, and it totally gave me the bug. I spent the entire semester working on that one dance.
I dreamed that once I became a stay-at-home mom, I would get to do all of the fun things that you just don’t have the time to do when you have a “real job.”
hahahahahaha.
Somehow I didn’t think about things like the fact that children probably wouldn’t want to sit there quietly watching their mother hoof around. So quietly that a dance instructor wouldn’t mind at all that they were there.
My children, pre-conception, while they only lived in my dreams, were so well behaved.
I think I realized on Day 2 of motherhood that I was wrong.
But I haven’t given up. I still look through the community college catalog every semester when it comes in the mail to see if they offer a tap class. And I dream of taking one someday when all the kids are in school. Not that I’m looking forward to that day AT ALL.
So motherhood rocked my dream-world right at 8 years ago. Then about 5 years ago, I ordered some tap shoes off of ebay. With motherhood came two much larger feet than the ones that fit into the tap shoes of my college-days .
Now, here it is 2010, three kids later, and I’m ready to tap. Still can’t do a class, but I just ordered a dvd I’ve been looking at for years. I’d seen it on ebay, and the 80s look of the cover turned me off. I was scared to spend the money.
But, since I’ve been earning Amazon giftcards by using Swagbucks, I had some virtual money burning a hole in my virtual pocket. (If you haven’t signed up for swagbucks, you totally should. If you don’t understand what it is, read this post that explains.) I started browsing Amazon and found that the video I Hate to Exercise, I Love to Tap
So I got the video since I didn’t have to spend a dime of “real” money.
Tap isn’t like jazz. You can’t just do it in your living room. I do have wood floors, but I learned the hard way years ago at my parents’ house that you really shouldn’t tap on nice floors. Oops.
So, what did I do? I MADE MY OWN DANCE FLOOR!!!
Seriously.
I’m so excited.
I used a piece of plywood that used to be about 4X8, but my husband had cut off 2 or 3 feet of it for my 6yo who is obsessed with building. This is a piece of wood that has been in the backyard for ahem, quite a while, salvaged from a construction project at my husband’s workplace. It’s not in the greatest shape, but totally works.
I taped all of the edges, to preserve my floors as I slide it into place. It also gives a place to hold on and avoid splinters.
I used this never-used-so-why-do-I-have-it bath scrubber thingy to brush off excess dirt.
I found an old/stained tablecloth that I put under it in the living room, so that it won’t leave any splinters in the carpet.
How cool! Hope you'll be tapping away in no time! I love the title of your blog and can TOTALLY relate! I try so hard to keep things clean, but it seems like a never-ending battle! Blogging definitely helps me with my accountability, which is exactly why I started back after not blogging for months!
Anyway…congrats on your "new" dance floor!
I have the exact same scrubby stashed away in the closet, never used. LOL! I'm also completely jealous that A. you're outside in January, and B. there's no snow on the ground.
I love your dance floor! What a great idea!
What a great idea! Glad you were able to make it so you can tap! Sounds like fun! 🙂
I love it! I tapped when I was younger for several years, and would love to start again. I hate to 'exercise' but I think this would be super fun. Enjoy it!
~Amy
You must have posted this before I discovered your blog, or else I'm just plain blind. I LOVE tap dancing. I took a "class" after school when I was in elementary school, taught by a teacher at the school and we would make costumes and do little performances. I had an absolute blast with it. It never occurred to me to check for videos on learning tap dances. Thank you SO much for sharing and have fun!
Hello! New reader. 🙂 I’ve been working my way through your blog from the beginning, and am also currently working my way through your “28 Days” e-book. Just had to comment on this particular post because I tap dance! 🙂 Growing up, I took dance classes (ballet, tap & jazz) for more than 10 years. Tap was always my favorite. Now, another decade, a husband, and two kids later, I am dancing again. I found a studio in my town that offers classes for adults and am so happy to be tapping again. Love that you took the initiative to make your own dance floor! 🙂
I would LOVE to find an adult tap class where I live!
Thanks for this post. I just got cast in a production of Dames At Sea, and haven’t tapped for 35 years! The show opens with a solo by my character that includes a huge tap dance break. I just got some new Bloch shoes, but live in an area where adult tap classes are few and far between. (Sometimes I really miss NYC.) This is the best solution for a DIY tap floor I’ve found, and I have a 4 x 4 piece of OSB all ready to go, and room on the living room carpet to start tapping. So glad I don’t have to spend over $100 bucks for a floor.
Tapping makes me happy! All other kinds of dance can be emotive, serious, sad, even. But tapping is always light, silly, fun, happy!