Move · Videos · Technique · 12 min

Learn the Tap Time Step: Single, Double and Triple

Learn the Tap Time Step: Single, Double and Triple — video by Taptopia Play · 11:42

Video by Taptopia on YouTube · Open on YouTube

Professional tap teacher Bill Simpson breaks down the traditional time step: a refresher on the shuffle and flap, the single time step on both sides with counts, then the double and triple versions. For beginners who already know shuffles and flaps.

  • 12 min
  • Beginner
  • High impact (jumping)
  • No equipment

Good forDancing for fun

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Step by step 6

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Refresher: the shuffle (two brushes) and the flap, where the weight changes. 1:09
  2. Single time step on the right: shuffle on 8, hop on 1, step on 2, flap, step. 2:19
  3. Single time step starting on the left, with counts. 2:59
  4. Tips: change weight cleanly, keep the heels off and practise slowly, one side at a time. 3:43
  5. Double time step: add a brush after the hop so it becomes a flap. 6:13
  6. Triple time step: a shuffle step in place of the flap, fitted in as a triplet. 7:47

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Change weight cleanly: after the hop, step and lift the other foot ready
  • Keep the heels off the floor in this time step
  • Practise slowly, one side at a time, saying the beats aloud

What it works

Tap an area for more videos that work it.

Joints it uses 2 takes load

  • Knees takes loadhop and land on one leg every bar
  • Ankles & feet takes loadhop each time step, shuffles on the balls
  • Hips movesshuffle and flap leg swings
  • Jumping or hopping. Impact goes through the ankles, knees and hips.

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by Taptopia; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety