VIDEO: May 25 marks International Tap Dance Day

National Tap Dance Day is celebrated on May 25 every year, as a way to honour the traditional art form that incorporates complex rhythmic step combinations through sound and body movement.

The annual celebration also coincides with the birthday of one of the most influential tap dancers to ever live, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (1878-1949).

Bojangles is best known for his dancing with Shirley Temple in a series of films during the 1930s, but in the first half of the 20th century, he was the most highly paid African-American Entertainer in the United States.

While his role in the tap dance world was wildly influential, tap came to be through a fusion of African and Irish American dance forms in the early 1900s.

These styles of dance combined created a unique form of movement and rhythm that is popular to this day.

KelownaNow brought in renowned Canadian dance choreographer and coach, Shawn Byfield for a look into the world of tap.

Byfield recently moved to Kelowna from Toronto, for a more relaxed lifestyle. He’s a veteran TV & film performer and actor, an internationally renowned dance instructor, and was the creator of Canada’s #1 dance studio for adults BYFIELD DANCE EXPERIENCE.

He’s worked on a number of projects over the years, he’s been nominated for a Gemini Award as an outstanding performer and has received a Dora Award for his work in dance choreography.

Safe to say he’s a professional in his field.

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On top of sharing his experience in dance, he showed us a few simple tap moves that people can easily attempt at home to take part in International Tap Dance Day.

Shawn plans to open up lessons to Kelowna residents in the near future, and those looking to get involved in the world of dance are encouraged to reach out through his website here.