What began as a fourteen minute short film comparing traditional and contemporary tap dancing, has evolved into something much more expansive.
Dean Hargrove’s documentary Tap World takes us on a journey spanning six continents and over a dozen countries to demonstrate that this primarily American art form has taken on many new lives around the world. The film showcases several dancers, their take on tap, and their personal experiences learning and living the art.
The film wonderfully follows a cycle of delving into where tap has been, where it is now as a result of an exciting resurgence of the dance, and compares the two generations of the dance. The similarities and differences that have evolved from a necessity for the art form to a passion for it are very telling. With this organization Hargrove strongly conveys that the art form really hasn’t changed too much, but has remained beautiful through and through. At the crux of tap dance in its origination were communication and belonging, and still remains so today. Enclaves of tap dancers have sprung up around the world and the cycle will likely continue.
Hargrove truly ties the film together in the scenes where he depicts the dancers not just telling us about the connection it creates, but also showing us. The dance scenes are much more than just examples of dance, but meaningful insights into the dancers themselves. Rather than focusing on the feet of the dancer he focuses on the person dancing and the message they are trying to convey. He packs information into every second of this film and there is never a dull moment.
The film does many things right. We never do learn the backstory as to how this art form spread around the world, and is basically this films only shortcoming. Although Hargrove is mostly known for his involvements in murder mystery dramas, he has done a wonderful job in bringing light to an underappreciated and thoroughly interesting art form that has changed the lives of many. If you get the chance to see this film, don’t pass up on the opportunity.
