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Home/Move Glossary/Heel Tap
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Heel Tap

Definition

Tap your heel on the floor on 4.

Preview of the Taps, Kicks and Heels module
Preview of the Taps, Kicks and Heels module

Taught in

Taps, Kicks and Heels, a module of Salsa On1 101

Go to class β†’

From the module notes

What This Module Trains 🎯

Taps, kicks and heels to fill the blank counts, 4 and 8, instead of just pausing.

The Moves 🧠

Lesson 1.

Tap. After 1, 2, 3, tap on 4 with no weight, then step 5 with that same leg.

  • On 8, tap with the left.

Kick. Raise your knee and extend it, to the front, the side or the back.

Heel Tap. Tap your heel on the floor on 4.

  • In high heels, use the toe.
  • What I like: tap on 8, heel on 4.

Lesson 2.

Side, Back and Front Step. Add the tap, kick or heel to your side step, back step and front step.

  • With the basic, that is 12 different steps.

How the Drill Runs πŸ”

  1. Basic with taps, kicks, then heels
  2. Side, Back and Front Step, each with all three
  3. Everything again from the back

Technique Cues πŸ’‘

  • The tap is not a step: no weight on it.
  • Kick from the knee, sharp.
  • When you tap, point fully on your toe.

πŸ’‘ Drill it: play with the directions, never dance the same basic twice.

🎯 Community

Practice without judging yourself. Every dancer started exactly where you are. Be patient. This lands in the body over months, not days. Record yourself. You will see things you cannot feel. Post it in the community tab, or on Instagram tagging the page.

Related moves

  • Side, Back and Front Step
  • Suzy Q
  • Tap
  • Flare
  • Mambo (Palladium) Arm
  • Salsa Arm
  • Kick
  • Heel Twist

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Every definition is quoted word for word from the written Summary Notes of the module that teaches the move. Nothing is paraphrased.

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