American Tap

American Tap is the history of the country seen through the evolution of tap dancing with roots in slavery and early social dances.

Poorhouse International is proud to present Mark Wilkinson's documentary on the history of America seen through the development of tap dancing. This documentary traces tap dancing from its origins to its current form.

It is a uniquely American story that illustrates the vibrant and powerful nature of the country as a cultural melting pot. This highly entertaining look at the evolution of a dance reveals and informs many of the very basic concepts and current themes of American cultural consciousness and the filmmaker adds: “At a time when America is struggling with its cultural identity – when anti-immigrant and nativist sentiment boils over into outright racism and xenophobia – we are compelled to look inward to unpack what it means to be American.”

Archive footage and splendid performance material as well as interviews with specialists and historians create a fascinating picture of tap dance as an expression of a growing nation.

Genre Dance Documentary
Director Mark Wilkinson
Producer Annunziata Gianzero
Duration 58' / 88'
Video format HD