Tap vs. Jazz — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 26, 2024
Tap dance involves rhythmic footwork and metal-tapped shoes, creating percussive sounds; jazz dance features fluid movements and is often set to contemporary music.
Difference Between Tap and Jazz
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Tap dancing emphasizes the sound created by shoes fitted with metal taps, producing distinct beats and rhythms. Whereas, jazz dance focuses on style and body movements, characterized by its fluidity and the use of various dance elements such as leaps and turns.
In tap, dancers primarily use their feet to create timely, rhythmic patterns and sounds, often improvising like a percussion instrument. On the other hand, jazz dancers utilize their entire body to express wide ranges of motions and emotions, often performing to diverse musical genres.
Tap dance has a rich history rooted in African-American cultural traditions and has evolved from other forms like jig and clog dancing. Whereas jazz dance has a more eclectic origin, blending African rhythms, European ballet, and American vernacular dance, reflecting a fusion of cultural influences.
Tap dance routines are usually structured around the precision and timing of foot movements. On the other hand, jazz dance choreography often explores space and incorporates a mix of sharp and smooth movements that highlight the dancer's flexibility and expressiveness.
Performance contexts for tap can range from theatrical productions to competitive dance environments, focusing heavily on auditory performance. Whereas jazz dance is prevalent in musical theater, dance competitions, and television shows, emphasizing visual appeal and versatility.
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Comparison Chart
Main Focus
Rhythmic footwork and sound
Fluid body movements
Origins
African-American, jig, and clog dancing
African rhythms, European ballet, American dance
Choreography
Structured around foot precision and timing
Utilizes space, includes diverse movements
Performance Style
Auditory, improvisational
Visual, expressive
Typical Venues
Theatrical productions, dance competitions
Musicals, TV shows, dance competitions
Compare with Definitions
Tap
A percussive style of dancing that focuses on footwork and sound production.
She took tap dance lessons to improve her musical timing and coordination.
Jazz
A dynamic dance style that combines elements of ballet, modern dance, and African dance.
Jazz dance classes focus on technique, style, and fluidity.
Tap
Historically significant in the evolution of dance, with roots in African and Irish traditions.
Tap dance combines elements from both African rhythms and Irish clog dancing.
Jazz
Known for its expressive movements and rhythmic body isolations.
His jazz dance routine was filled with impressive body isolations and leaps.
Tap
A dance performed wearing shoes fitted with metal taps, characterized by rhythmic tapping of the toes and heels.
Fred Astaire was famous for his smooth tap dance routines in classic films.
Jazz
Continuously evolves, incorporating contemporary music and trends.
Modern jazz dance routines often include hip-hop moves and contemporary music.
Tap
Can be performed solo or in groups, often in musical theater.
The ensemble's tap dance number was the highlight of the show.
Jazz
Frequently seen in musical theater and dance shows.
Jazz dance brings energetic and expressive elements to Broadway productions.
Tap
Often associated with improvisation and rhythmic complexity.
Tap dance can be as intricate and syncopated as a complex drum solo.
Jazz
Involves improvisation and personal interpretation within the broad range of dance styles.
Jazz dance allows dancers to express individual style within choreographed routines.
Tap
A device by which a flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or container can be controlled
She turned the cold tap on
The air-supply tap
Jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major form of musical expression in traditional and popular music, linked by the common bonds of African-American and European-American musical parentage.
Tap
A device connected to a telephone for listening secretly to someone's conversations
Those taps produced hundreds of hours of recordings
Jazz
A style of music, native to America, characterized by a strong but flexible rhythmic understructure with solo and ensemble improvisations on basic tunes and chord patterns and, more recently, a highly sophisticated harmonic idiom.
Tap
An instrument for cutting a threaded hole in a material.
Jazz
Big band dance music.
Tap
A taproom.
Jazz
Animation; enthusiasm.
Tap
A quick light blow, or the sound of such a blow
There was a sharp tap at the door
Jazz
Nonsense.
Tap
Tap dancing
A rhythm much used in tap
Jazz
Miscellaneous, unspecified things
Brought the food and all the jazz to go with it.
Tap
A bugle call for lights to be put out in army quarters
The bugler played taps
Jazz
(Music) To play in a jazz style.
Tap
Draw liquid through the tap or spout of (a cask, barrel, or other container)
Several barrels had been tapped to celebrate old victories
Jazz
To utter exaggerations or lies to
Don't jazz me.
Tap
Exploit or draw a supply from (a resource)
Clients from industry seeking to tap Edinburgh's resources of expertise
These magazines have tapped into a target market of consumers
Jazz
To give great pleasure to; excite
The surprise party jazzed the guest of honor.
Tap
Connect a device to (a telephone) so that conversation can be listened to secretly
The telephones were tapped by the state security police
Jazz
To cause to accelerate.
Tap
Cut a thread in (something) to accept a screw
On most vices, the metal jaws are drilled and tapped to accept screws
Jazz
To exaggerate or lie.
Tap
Strike with a quick light blow or blows
One of my staff tapped me on the shoulder
Jazz
(music genre) A musical art form rooted in West African cultural and musical expression and in the African American blues tradition, with diverse influences over time, commonly characterized by blue notes, syncopation, swing, call and response, polyrhythms and improvisation.
Tap
Approach (a sports player) unlawfully with a view to signing them to another club while they are still under contract with their current one.
Jazz
Energy, excitement, excitability.
Tap
Designate or select (someone) for a task or honour, especially membership of an organization or committee
He had been tapped earlier to serve in Costa Rica
Jazz
The substance or makeup of a thing.
What jazz were you referring to earlier?
What is all this jazz lying around?
Tap
To strike gently with a light blow or blows
I tapped you on the shoulder to get your attention.
Jazz
Unspecified thing(s).
Tap
To give a light rap with
Tap a pencil.
Jazz
(with positive terms) Something of excellent quality, the genuine article.
Tap
To produce with a succession of light blows
Tap out a rhythm.
Jazz
Nonsense.
Stop talking jazz.
Tap
To select, as for membership in an organization; designate.
Jazz
Semen, jizz.
Tap
To repair (shoe heels or toes) by applying a thin layer of leather or a substitute material.
Jazz
To destroy.
Tap
To attach metal plates to (shoe toes or heels).
Jazz
To play (jazz music).
Tap
To deliver a gentle, light blow or blows.
Jazz
To dance to the tunes of jazz music.
Tap
To walk making light clicks.
Jazz
To enliven, brighten up, make more colourful or exciting; excite
Tap
To tap-dance.
Jazz
(intransitive) To move (around/about) in a lively or frivolous manner; to fool around.
Tap
To furnish with a spigot or tap.
Jazz
To distract or pester.
Tap
To pierce in order to draw off liquid
Tap a maple tree.
Jazz
To ejaculate.
Tap
To draw (liquid) from a vessel or container
Tap a new keg of beer.
Jazz
A type of music that originated in New Orleans around 1900 and developed through increasingly complex styles, but generally featuring intricate rhythms, improvisation, prominent solo segments, and great freedom in harmonic idiom played frequently in a polyphonic style, on various instruments including horn, saxophone, piano and percussion, but rarely stringed instruments.
Tap
(Medicine) To withdraw fluid from (a body cavity).
Jazz
Empty or insincere or exaggerated talk; as, don't give me any of that jazz.
Tap
To make a physical connection with or open outlets from
Tap a water main.
Jazz
A style of dance music popular in the 1920s; similar to New Orleans jazz but played by large bands.
Tap
To wiretap (a telephone or communications channel).
Jazz
Empty rhetoric or insincere or exaggerated talk;
That's a lot of wind
Don't give me any of that jazz
Tap
To establish an electric connection in (a power line), as to divert current secretly.
Jazz
A genre of popular music that originated in New Orleans around 1900 and developed through increasingly complex styles
Tap
To establish access to or a connection with
Tapped a new market for inexpensive books.
Jazz
A style of dance music popular in the 1920s; similar to New Orleans jazz but played by large bands
Tap
To take advantage of; make use of
Tapped voter anger to win the election.
Jazz
Play something in the style of jazz
Tap
To cut screw threads in (a collar, socket, or other fitting).
Tap
(Informal) To ask (a person) for money.
Tap
A gentle blow.
Tap
The sound made by such a blow.
Tap
A thin layer of leather or a substitute applied to a worn-down shoe heel or toe.
Tap
A metal plate attached to the toe or heel of a shoe, as for tap-dancing.
Tap
Tap dance.
Tap
(Linguistics) See flap.
Tap
A valve and spout used to regulate delivery of a fluid at the end of a pipe.
Tap
A plug for a bunghole; a spigot.
Tap
Liquor drawn from a spigot.
Tap
Liquor of a particular brew, cask, or quality.
Tap
(Medicine) The removal of fluid from a body cavity
A spinal tap.
Tap
A tool for cutting an internal screw thread.
Tap
A makeshift terminal in an electric circuit.
Tap
A wiretap.
Tap
A tapering cylindrical pin or peg used to stop the vent in a cask.
Tap
A device used to dispense liquids.
We don't have bottled water; you'll have to get it from the tap.
Tap
Liquor drawn through a tap; hence, a certain kind or quality of liquor.
A liquor of the same tap
Tap
A place where liquor is drawn for drinking.
Tap
(mechanics) A device used to cut an internal screw thread. (External screw threads are cut with a die.)
We drilled a hole and then cut the threads with the proper tap to match the valve's thread.
Tap
A connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it.
The system was barely keeping pressure due to all of the ill-advised taps along its length.
Tap
An interception of communication by authority.
Tap
A device used to listen in secretly on telephone calls.
Tap
A procedure that removes fluid from a body cavity.
Abdominal tap
Pleural tap
Spinal tap
Tap
(finance) The situation where a borrowing government authority issues bonds over a period of time, usually at a fixed price, with volumes sold on a particular day dependent on market conditions.
Tap issue; a bond tap
Tap
A gentle or slight blow; a light rap; a pat.
When Steve felt a tap on his shoulder, he turned around.
Tap
(dance) tap dance
Tap
The act of touching a touch screen.
Tap
A piece of leather fastened upon the bottom of a boot or shoe in repairing or renewing the sole or heel.
Tap
(military) A signal, by drum or trumpet, for extinguishing all lights in soldiers' quarters and retiring to bed; usually given about a quarter of an hour after tattoo.
Tap
(phonetics) A consonant sound made by a single muscle contraction, such as the sound [
Tap
An Indian malarial fever.
Tap
To furnish with taps.
If we tap the maple trees, we can get maple syrup!
Tap
To draw off liquid from a vessel.
He tapped a new barrel of beer.
Tap
To deplete, especially of a liquid via a tap; to tap out.
Tap
To exploit.
Businesses are trying to tap the youth market.
Tap
To place a listening or recording device on a telephone or wired connection.
They can't tap the phone without a warrant.
Tap
To intercept a communication without authority.
He was known to tap cable television.
Tap
(mechanical) To cut an internal screw thread.
Tap an M3 thread all the way through the hole.
Tap
To turn or flip a card or playing piece to remind players that it has already been used that turn (by analogy to "tapping," in the sense of drawing on to the point of temporary exhaustion, the resources or abilities represented by the card).
Tap
(informal) To cadge, borrow or beg.
I tried to tap a cigarette off him, but he wouldn't give me one.
Tap
To drain off fluid by paracentesis.
Tap
To advance someone for a post or job, or for membership of a club.
Trump interviewed Mueller for FBI job day before he was tapped for special counsel.
Tap
To strike lightly.
She tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention.
Tap
To touch one's finger, foot, or other body parts on a surface (usually) repeatedly.
He was so nervous he began to tap his fingers on the table.
She tapped her companion on the back to indicate that she was ready to go.
Lydia tapped Jim on the shoulder to get his attention.
Tap
To make a sharp noise.
The tree, swaying in the breeze, began to tap on the window pane.
Tap
(graphical user interface) To operate an electronic device (e.g. a mobile phone) by tapping a specific place on its (capacitive or other) touch screen.
Tap
To designate for some duty or for membership, as in 'a tap on the shoulder'.
Tap
(combat sports) To submit to an opponent by tapping one's hand repeatedly.
Tap
To force (an opponent) to submit.
Tap
To put a new sole or heel on.
To tap shoes
Tap
To strike with a slight or gentle blow; to touch gently; to rap lightly; to pat; as, to tap one with the hand or a cane.
Tap
To put a new sole or heel on; as, to tap shoes.
Tap
To strike a gentle blow.
Tap
To pierce so as to let out, or draw off, a fluid; as, to tap a cask, a tree, a tumor, a keg of beer, etc.
Tap
Hence, to draw resources from (a reservoir) in any analogous way; as, to tap someone's knowledge of the Unix system; to tap the treasury.
Tap
To draw, or cause to flow, by piercing.
He has been tapping his liquors.
Tap
To form an internal screw in (anything) by means of a tool called a tap; as, to tap a nut, a pipe, or tubing.
Tap
To connect a listening device to (a telephone or telegraph line) secretly, for the purpose of hearing private conversations; also, to obtain or record (information) by tapping; - a technique used by law enforcement agencies investigating suspected criminals. In the United States it is illegal without a court order permitting it.
Tap
A gentle or slight blow; a light rap; a pat.
Tap
A piece of leather fastened upon the bottom of a boot or shoe in repairing or renewing the sole or heel.
Tap
A signal, by drum or trumpet, for extinguishing all lights in soldiers' quarters and retiring to bed, - usually given about a quarter of an hour after tattoo.
Tap
A hole or pipe through which liquor is drawn.
Tap
A plug or spile for stopping a hole pierced in a cask, or the like; a faucet.
Tap
Liquor drawn through a tap; hence, a certain kind or quality of liquor; as, a liquor of the same tap.
Tap
A place where liquor is drawn for drinking; a taproom; a bar.
Tap
A tool for forming an internal screw, as in a nut, consisting of a hardened steel male screw grooved longitudinally so as to have cutting edges.
Tap
The sound made by a gentle blow
Tap
A faucet for drawing water from a pipe or cask
Tap
A gentle blow
Tap
A small metal plate that attaches to the toe or heel of a shoe (as in tap dancing)
Tap
A tool for cutting female (internal) screw threads
Tap
A plug for a bunghole in a cask
Tap
The act of tapping a telephone or telegraph line to get information
Tap
A light touch or stroke
Tap
Cut a female screw thread with a tap
Tap
Draw from or dip into to get something;
Tap one's memory
Tap a source of money
Tap
Strike lightly;
He tapped me on the shoulder
Tap
Draw from; make good use of;
We must exploit the resources we are given wisely
Tap
Tap a telephone or telegraph wire to get information;
The FBI was tapping the phone line of the suspected spy
Is this hotel room bugged?
Tap
Furnish with a tap or spout, so as to be able to draw liquid from it;
Tap a cask of wine
Tap
Make light, repeated taps on a surface;
He was tapping his fingers on the table impatiently
Tap
Walk with a tapping sound
Tap
Dance and make rhythmic clicking sounds by means of metal plates nailed to the sole of the dance shoes;
Glover tapdances better than anybody
Tap
Draw (liquor) from a tap;
Tap beer in a bar
Tap
Pierce in order to draw a liquid from;
Tap a maple tree for its syrup
Tap a keg of beer
Tap
Make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently;
Henry IV solicited the Pope for a divorce
My neighbor keeps soliciting money for different charities
Common Curiosities
How do tap and jazz dance differ in performance style?
Tap focuses on auditory elements and foot precision, while jazz emphasizes visual styles and body expressiveness.
What age is appropriate to start learning jazz dance?
Children as young as five can begin learning jazz dance, focusing initially on basic movements and rhythm.
How has jazz dance evolved over the years?
Jazz dance has incorporated elements from various dance forms, growing to include more complex and diverse movements.
Is tap dance hard to learn?
Tap dance can be challenging for beginners, particularly in mastering rhythm and foot coordination.
What is tap dance?
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sounds of tap shoes striking the floor as a form of percussion.
What are the key elements of jazz dance?
Jazz dance is marked by fluid movements, rhythmic body isolations, and a broad use of music genres.
Can tap dance be performed to any music style?
While tap dance can adapt to various music styles, it is best suited to music that emphasizes rhythm and timing.
What makes jazz dance suitable for musical theater?
Jazz dance's versatility and expressiveness make it ideal for storytelling in musical theater.
What shoes are appropriate for tap dancing?
Shoes with metal taps on the heels and toes are necessary for producing the characteristic sound of tap dancing.
What are some iconic figures in tap dance?
Famous tap dancers include Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Gregory Hines, and Savion Glover.
What are the benefits of learning jazz dance?
Jazz dance improves physical strength, flexibility, coordination, and expressive abilities.
Are there competitive events for tap dance?
Yes, tap dance competitions are popular, focusing on skills, choreography, and rhythmic accuracy.
Do I need previous dance experience to start jazz dance?
No, beginners can start jazz dance without prior experience, although a background in any dance helps.
Can jazz dance be performed solo?
Jazz dance can be performed solo or in groups, often showcased in solos during dance competitions.
What role does improvisation play in tap dance?
Improvisation is crucial in tap, allowing dancers to create personal rhythms and express individuality.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
