Gypsy Tap

Описание: The Gipsy Tap or Gypsy Tap (known by both spellings although Gipsy is the
original) was introduced as a 'modernised old time dance' by Professor
Bolot, a dancing master in Sydney. First mention of it in the digitized
newspaper accounts online via the National Library of Australia is in 1933.
Long regarded as a popular old time dance it was in the earlier form danced
with a 'slide'. This was particularly noticeable in country districts where
the dance floors were 'fast', i.e. polished with floor fast such as
candlewax or Palais wax, and the dancers would get a run up to enable
sliding a considerable distance.
Shirley Andrews in an interview with Mr Foley, ballroom dance teacher in
Melbourne was told measures were taken to slow the dance and eliminate the
slides. Thus the contemporary version as taught by the ballroom dance
fraternity is marginally different, both versions are demonstrated.
Professor Bolot references 2-4 tunes such as The Girl I left behind me for
his Gipsy Tap and some old time bands follow this with other similar music
including Colonel Bogey, Heyken's Serenade, Lichtensteiner Polka and Beer
Barrel Polka. However 6-8 tunes are equally if not more popular and include
standards such as 'I've got a lovely bunch of Coconuts' or even a jig like
Cock o the North.
Video footage demonstrated by dancers of Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo, directed by Peter Ellis, April 2013.