A tribute to the history of the tap dancer, past present and future is given here by the UK's new up and coming Jazz Tap Improviser Tony Curtis, who has made large contributions to this site and we thank him very much for his input. He is seen in this section demonstrating the versatility of tap, by creating different moods and tempos. Tony Listens and responds to the music and this response is an improvised tap accompaniment that compliments the music. He is shown performing various improvised rhythmic tap dancing styles expressing the mood of the music.

In the true jazz tap tradition Tony expresses the rhythmic tempo and direction of the musical theme. He believes that though there is the temptation to modernise tap dancing and its application, which is a practice of many of the top performers today who have also learned from the old masters and adapted what they have learned, new comers to tap learn the modernised funky tap dancing and by past the traditional rudiments of tap which could eventually be lost. Tony says "it is all too easy to forget the roots of tap and the things that make it so exciting in the first place".

Although Tony's' style is rather unorthodox compared to what is generally taught, in this country, (The UK) this style seems more reminiscent of the traditional tap of 30's Be Bop tap dancers. His style  lend it's self more to being easily adapted to accommodate modern up to date rhythmic music and well as traditional music from the great tap era, as Tony demonstrates in the video clips below.

These video clips show Tony's love of tap and the tradition it is built on. Tony has been a great help to us providing ideas and demonstrations, we hope you like the clips we have used as much as we liked adding them to our site. Tony is also featured in his own site 'Just The Beat Just The Feet'. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank him.