Tap dance – A View From The Lanterne Rouge

Occasional Limericks Only #21

From Bar To Barre…

I passed by my former workplace this morning and was intrigued by the appearance of a neighbouring harbourside pub to which we occasionally retreated in bygone days; it having been closed since the summer of 2016.

A closer look revealed that despite hosting a bar since the mid-19th century, it is now a dance academy!

Just think of the possibilities were its former and current functions merged…

If life seems a little banale
Don’t just sit there and grumble or snarl!
Soft-shoe the Shim Sham
And knock back a wee dram
At a harbourside taproom locale!

Postscript: For non-tappers out there, the Shim Sham is considered to be the ‘national anthem’ of tap (being a bit of a pedant, I can only assume it is the tapping sounds that are anthemic rather than the dance!). In fact, my tap group has just begun to learn it, and you can see what it (or its variations) look like here. The reason for the ‘freezes’ when danced the second time through is because you don’t dance the breaks a second time. Simples … if only!

Occasional Limericks Only #19

A small step for man…

I’m told that to celebrate the life of Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson (1878-1949), they (whomsoever ‘they’ are) declared his birthday, today (25 May), to be National Tap Dancing Day.

As there’s no way that I’d post a picture of me tap dancing (try visualising a ‘dad-dancing’ tree trunk), here’s another chance to look at a pic of my tap shoes instead.

My tap shoes – from an old-school B&W analogue photo exhibited at the last Gray’s School of Art ‘short course’ exhibition.

… and here’s the limerick

If you don’t fancy trying ballet
There’s news that I’d like to convey:
Find some music that rocks
And lace up your Blochs
‘Cos it’s National Tap Dancing Day!

A limerick a week #258

The rhythm section…

Although I can’t take part in my regular tap dance class while I’m out of town, I still see its WhatsApp group messages.

So, having recently said ‘cheerio’ to our previous instructor, Gillian, we have now welcomed Chloë as her replacement.

Some of the class had seen my farewell limerick to Gillian and wondered if I’d manage a rhyme for Chloë. That’s my kind of challenge…

Don’t shush me! I’ll make all the noise I wanna!” – Daffy Duck

There was once a young man called Joey
Who wanted to tap dance and so he
Put on his new Blochs
And some music that rocks
And ball-changed with a lassie called Chloë.

A limerick a week #250

School’s out for summer…

The end of term brought some sad news to our tap dance class as Gillian, our teacher, won’t be taking us again. She told us that she had been promoted and wouldn’t be able to front as many classes as she currently taught.

So, while we look forward to next term with a new tutor, we’re left wondering why our class was one of the ones that Gillian cut. I think I know…

There was once a dancer called Gill
Tried to teach how to tap to our Phil
But he dragged the class down
‘Cos he danced like a clown.
Now she’s quit as ’twas making her ill!

A limerick a week #244

Tap is back!

In my youthful, rugby-playing days I lacked the ability to sidestep or jink so I was never picked in the backs, but played as a forward where the game was less finessed and just a bit more ‘agricultural’.

I have since learnt that I bring the same agrarian attributes to my attempts at tap. I’ve missed them, but, as Aberdeen’s Citymoves dance classes recommence after lockdown, never has the Gershwin classic been so ill-suited…

A dancer once thought that he would
Tap just as fast as he could.
Though his footwork was crass
He brought joy to his class
‘Cos he made all the others look good!