Piano-Tap Dance Duet Goes Viral

The original song, "Seven Steps to Heaven," was the title track for Miles Davis' 1963 album. This album was a pivotal moment in Davis's career, marking a transition in his quintet's lineup and his last studio record to feature a mix of standard tunes and original compositions. The recording sessions for the album were split between Los Angeles and New York, with the New York sessions introducing the iconic rhythm section of Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams. Tap dancing's history is deeply intertwined with the evolution of jazz music. The art form itself is a uniquely American fusion, emerging from a blend of British and West African musical and step-dance traditions in the 1700s. Initially, it was a combination of the Irish jig and West African gioube, which later evolved into "jigging" and was popularized in 19th-century minstrel shows. The rhythmic complexity of tap dancing found a natural partner in the syncopation of ragtime and early jazz. As jazz music evolved, so did tap, with dancers and musicians often collaborating, incorporating improvisation and intricate rhythmic motifs. This close relationship meant that as jazz styles shifted, from swing to bebop, tap dancers adapted their techniques to the new rhythms. The shoes themselves are a key part of the instrumentation, with metal "taps" on the heel and toe only becoming common in the early 20th century. Before this, dancers used hard-soled shoes, clogs, or even hobnailed boots to create percussive sounds. This evolution highlights the dance form's focus on musicality, with practitioners often considering themselves part of the jazz tradition.