Tap vs. Clogging — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 8, 2024
Tap dancing produces sound through metal plates on shoes striking the floor, emphasizing rhythm and musicality. Clogging involves a folk dance style with louder, repetitive footwork, focusing on group synchronicity.
Difference Between Tap and Clogging
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Tap dancing is characterized by the use of shoes with metal plates on the heel and toe, which create distinctive sounds when struck against the floor. This form of dance emphasizes musicality, rhythm, and the ability of the dancer to produce complex, syncopated rhythms as part of a musical performance. On the other hand, clogging is a form of folk dance that originated from various European dance traditions. It is known for its energetic, often loud footwork that emphasizes the downbeat, with dancers typically wearing shoes that enhance the sound of their steps.
In terms of technique, tap dancers focus on precision and the variety of sounds they can produce, incorporating elements of jazz and Broadway styles. They often perform solo and are integral to the music, using their feet to mimic percussion instruments. Clogging, however, is usually performed in groups and is less about the variety of sounds than about uniformity and strength of the steps, often performed to the accompaniment of country or folk music.
The origins of tap dance can be traced back to the fusion of African and Irish dance forms in the United States, making it a unique cultural expression within American performing arts. Clogging, while also present in the United States, has a more diverse heritage, with roots in English, Scottish, and Irish step dances, and it evolved as a communal dance in rural settings.
Tap dancing often involves improvisation and a dialogue between dancers and musicians, with performances that can range from highly structured compositions to spontaneous jam sessions. Clogging tends to follow more structured patterns and routines, with a focus on group performances that highlight coordination and rhythm as a collective.
While both forms of dance use footwear to accentuate the sound of the steps, the shoes in tap have metal taps on the toe and heel, allowing for a wider range of tones. Clogging shoes may also have taps, but they are designed to produce a louder, more uniform sound, reflecting the dance's emphasis on powerful, rhythmic footwork rather than musical subtlety.
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Comparison Chart
Sound Production
Metal plates on shoes for varied, intricate rhythms
Shoes designed for loud, uniform sound
Emphasis
Rhythm, musicality, individual expression
Group synchronicity, energetic footwork
Performance Style
Solo or ensemble, often improvised
Group routines, more structured
Musical Accompaniment
Jazz, Broadway tunes, a capella
Country, folk music
Origins
Fusion of African and Irish dance forms in the U.S.
European folk dance traditions
Compare with Definitions
Tap
A dance form using shoes with metal plates to create rhythm.
She practiced her tap dancing routine to the jazz melody, her feet tapping out a complex rhythm.
Clogging
Has European folk dance roots.
The clogging dance reflected its rich heritage, incorporating elements from its European folk dance roots.
Tap
Often involves improvisation.
The tap dancers engaged in an improvisational jam session, responding to the live band.
Clogging
Focuses on the downbeat in music.
Their clogging routine emphasized the downbeat, matching the rhythm of the country music.
Tap
Focuses on musicality and rhythmic precision.
His tap dance solo was a masterful display of rhythm and musicality.
Clogging
A folk dance with loud, repetitive footwork.
The festival's highlight was a group clogging performance, their synchronized steps echoing through the hall.
Tap
Can be performed solo or in groups.
The tap dancing ensemble performed a synchronized routine that captivated the audience.
Clogging
Shoes enhance the sound of steps.
Wearing traditional clogging shoes, their steps produced a loud, unified sound that resonated with the audience.
Tap
Emphasizes individual expression through sound.
Through her tap dancing, she expressed a range of emotions, from joy to melancholy.
Clogging
Performed in groups, emphasizing synchronicity.
The clogging team practiced diligently to ensure their footwork was perfectly in sync.
Tap
A device by which a flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or container can be controlled
She turned the cold tap on
The air-supply tap
Clogging
Clogging is a type of folk dance practiced in the United States, in which the dancer's footwear is used percussively by striking the heel, the toe, or both against a floor or each other to create audible rhythms, usually to the downbeat with the heel keeping the rhythm. Clogging is the official state dance of Kentucky and North Carolina.
Tap
A device connected to a telephone for listening secretly to someone's conversations
Those taps produced hundreds of hours of recordings
Clogging
An obstruction or hindrance.
Tap
An instrument for cutting a threaded hole in a material.
Clogging
A weight, such as a block, attached to the leg of an animal to hinder movement.
Tap
A taproom.
Clogging
A heavy, traditionally wooden-soled shoe.
Tap
A quick light blow, or the sound of such a blow
There was a sharp tap at the door
Clogging
To obstruct movement on or in; block up
Heavy traffic clogged the freeways.
Tap
Tap dancing
A rhythm much used in tap
Clogging
To hamper the function or activity of; impede
"attorneys clogging our courts with actions designed to harass state and local governments" (Roslyn L. Anderson and Patricia L. Irvin).
Tap
A bugle call for lights to be put out in army quarters
The bugler played taps
Clogging
To become obstructed or choked up
The pipes had clogged with rust.
Tap
Draw liquid through the tap or spout of (a cask, barrel, or other container)
Several barrels had been tapped to celebrate old victories
Clogging
To thicken or stick together; clot.
Tap
Exploit or draw a supply from (a resource)
Clients from industry seeking to tap Edinburgh's resources of expertise
These magazines have tapped into a target market of consumers
Clogging
To do a clog dance.
Tap
Connect a device to (a telephone) so that conversation can be listened to secretly
The telephones were tapped by the state security police
Clogging
Present participle of clog
Tap
Cut a thread in (something) to accept a screw
On most vices, the metal jaws are drilled and tapped to accept screws
Clogging
The situation of something being clogged.
Tap
Strike with a quick light blow or blows
One of my staff tapped me on the shoulder
Clogging
The material that clogs or obstructs.
Tap
Approach (a sports player) unlawfully with a view to signing them to another club while they are still under contract with their current one.
Clogging
Anything which clogs.
Tap
Designate or select (someone) for a task or honour, especially membership of an organization or committee
He had been tapped earlier to serve in Costa Rica
Clogging
Preventing movement;
The clogging crowds of revelers overflowing into the street
Tap
To strike gently with a light blow or blows
I tapped you on the shoulder to get your attention.
Tap
To give a light rap with
Tap a pencil.
Tap
To produce with a succession of light blows
Tap out a rhythm.
Tap
To select, as for membership in an organization; designate.
Tap
To repair (shoe heels or toes) by applying a thin layer of leather or a substitute material.
Tap
To attach metal plates to (shoe toes or heels).
Tap
To deliver a gentle, light blow or blows.
Tap
To walk making light clicks.
Tap
To tap-dance.
Tap
To furnish with a spigot or tap.
Tap
To pierce in order to draw off liquid
Tap a maple tree.
Tap
To draw (liquid) from a vessel or container
Tap a new keg of beer.
Tap
(Medicine) To withdraw fluid from (a body cavity).
Tap
To make a physical connection with or open outlets from
Tap a water main.
Tap
To wiretap (a telephone or communications channel).
Tap
To establish an electric connection in (a power line), as to divert current secretly.
Tap
To establish access to or a connection with
Tapped a new market for inexpensive books.
Tap
To take advantage of; make use of
Tapped voter anger to win the election.
Tap
To cut screw threads in (a collar, socket, or other fitting).
Tap
(Informal) To ask (a person) for money.
Tap
A gentle blow.
Tap
The sound made by such a blow.
Tap
A thin layer of leather or a substitute applied to a worn-down shoe heel or toe.
Tap
A metal plate attached to the toe or heel of a shoe, as for tap-dancing.
Tap
Tap dance.
Tap
(Linguistics) See flap.
Tap
A valve and spout used to regulate delivery of a fluid at the end of a pipe.
Tap
A plug for a bunghole; a spigot.
Tap
Liquor drawn from a spigot.
Tap
Liquor of a particular brew, cask, or quality.
Tap
(Medicine) The removal of fluid from a body cavity
A spinal tap.
Tap
A tool for cutting an internal screw thread.
Tap
A makeshift terminal in an electric circuit.
Tap
A wiretap.
Tap
A tapering cylindrical pin or peg used to stop the vent in a cask.
Tap
A device used to dispense liquids.
We don't have bottled water; you'll have to get it from the tap.
Tap
Liquor drawn through a tap; hence, a certain kind or quality of liquor.
A liquor of the same tap
Tap
A place where liquor is drawn for drinking.
Tap
(mechanics) A device used to cut an internal screw thread. (External screw threads are cut with a die.)
We drilled a hole and then cut the threads with the proper tap to match the valve's thread.
Tap
A connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it.
The system was barely keeping pressure due to all of the ill-advised taps along its length.
Tap
An interception of communication by authority.
Tap
A device used to listen in secretly on telephone calls.
Tap
A procedure that removes fluid from a body cavity.
Abdominal tap
Pleural tap
Spinal tap
Tap
(finance) The situation where a borrowing government authority issues bonds over a period of time, usually at a fixed price, with volumes sold on a particular day dependent on market conditions.
Tap issue; a bond tap
Tap
A gentle or slight blow; a light rap; a pat.
When Steve felt a tap on his shoulder, he turned around.
Tap
(dance) tap dance
Tap
The act of touching a touch screen.
Tap
A piece of leather fastened upon the bottom of a boot or shoe in repairing or renewing the sole or heel.
Tap
(military) A signal, by drum or trumpet, for extinguishing all lights in soldiers' quarters and retiring to bed; usually given about a quarter of an hour after tattoo.
Tap
(phonetics) A consonant sound made by a single muscle contraction, such as the sound [
Tap
An Indian malarial fever.
Tap
To furnish with taps.
If we tap the maple trees, we can get maple syrup!
Tap
To draw off liquid from a vessel.
He tapped a new barrel of beer.
Tap
To deplete, especially of a liquid via a tap; to tap out.
Tap
To exploit.
Businesses are trying to tap the youth market.
Tap
To place a listening or recording device on a telephone or wired connection.
They can't tap the phone without a warrant.
Tap
To intercept a communication without authority.
He was known to tap cable television.
Tap
(mechanical) To cut an internal screw thread.
Tap an M3 thread all the way through the hole.
Tap
To turn or flip a card or playing piece to remind players that it has already been used that turn (by analogy to "tapping," in the sense of drawing on to the point of temporary exhaustion, the resources or abilities represented by the card).
Tap
(informal) To cadge, borrow or beg.
I tried to tap a cigarette off him, but he wouldn't give me one.
Tap
To drain off fluid by paracentesis.
Tap
To advance someone for a post or job, or for membership of a club.
Trump interviewed Mueller for FBI job day before he was tapped for special counsel.
Tap
To strike lightly.
She tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention.
Tap
To touch one's finger, foot, or other body parts on a surface (usually) repeatedly.
He was so nervous he began to tap his fingers on the table.
She tapped her companion on the back to indicate that she was ready to go.
Lydia tapped Jim on the shoulder to get his attention.
Tap
To make a sharp noise.
The tree, swaying in the breeze, began to tap on the window pane.
Tap
(graphical user interface) To operate an electronic device (e.g. a mobile phone) by tapping a specific place on its (capacitive or other) touch screen.
Tap
To designate for some duty or for membership, as in 'a tap on the shoulder'.
Tap
(combat sports) To submit to an opponent by tapping one's hand repeatedly.
Tap
To force (an opponent) to submit.
Tap
To put a new sole or heel on.
To tap shoes
Tap
To strike with a slight or gentle blow; to touch gently; to rap lightly; to pat; as, to tap one with the hand or a cane.
Tap
To put a new sole or heel on; as, to tap shoes.
Tap
To strike a gentle blow.
Tap
To pierce so as to let out, or draw off, a fluid; as, to tap a cask, a tree, a tumor, a keg of beer, etc.
Tap
Hence, to draw resources from (a reservoir) in any analogous way; as, to tap someone's knowledge of the Unix system; to tap the treasury.
Tap
To draw, or cause to flow, by piercing.
He has been tapping his liquors.
Tap
To form an internal screw in (anything) by means of a tool called a tap; as, to tap a nut, a pipe, or tubing.
Tap
To connect a listening device to (a telephone or telegraph line) secretly, for the purpose of hearing private conversations; also, to obtain or record (information) by tapping; - a technique used by law enforcement agencies investigating suspected criminals. In the United States it is illegal without a court order permitting it.
Tap
A gentle or slight blow; a light rap; a pat.
Tap
A piece of leather fastened upon the bottom of a boot or shoe in repairing or renewing the sole or heel.
Tap
A signal, by drum or trumpet, for extinguishing all lights in soldiers' quarters and retiring to bed, - usually given about a quarter of an hour after tattoo.
Tap
A hole or pipe through which liquor is drawn.
Tap
A plug or spile for stopping a hole pierced in a cask, or the like; a faucet.
Tap
Liquor drawn through a tap; hence, a certain kind or quality of liquor; as, a liquor of the same tap.
Tap
A place where liquor is drawn for drinking; a taproom; a bar.
Tap
A tool for forming an internal screw, as in a nut, consisting of a hardened steel male screw grooved longitudinally so as to have cutting edges.
Tap
The sound made by a gentle blow
Tap
A faucet for drawing water from a pipe or cask
Tap
A gentle blow
Tap
A small metal plate that attaches to the toe or heel of a shoe (as in tap dancing)
Tap
A tool for cutting female (internal) screw threads
Tap
A plug for a bunghole in a cask
Tap
The act of tapping a telephone or telegraph line to get information
Tap
A light touch or stroke
Tap
Cut a female screw thread with a tap
Tap
Draw from or dip into to get something;
Tap one's memory
Tap a source of money
Tap
Strike lightly;
He tapped me on the shoulder
Tap
Draw from; make good use of;
We must exploit the resources we are given wisely
Tap
Tap a telephone or telegraph wire to get information;
The FBI was tapping the phone line of the suspected spy
Is this hotel room bugged?
Tap
Furnish with a tap or spout, so as to be able to draw liquid from it;
Tap a cask of wine
Tap
Make light, repeated taps on a surface;
He was tapping his fingers on the table impatiently
Tap
Walk with a tapping sound
Tap
Dance and make rhythmic clicking sounds by means of metal plates nailed to the sole of the dance shoes;
Glover tapdances better than anybody
Tap
Draw (liquor) from a tap;
Tap beer in a bar
Tap
Pierce in order to draw a liquid from;
Tap a maple tree for its syrup
Tap a keg of beer
Tap
Make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently;
Henry IV solicited the Pope for a divorce
My neighbor keeps soliciting money for different charities
Common Curiosities
Is clogging always performed in groups?
Primarily, clogging is a group activity focusing on synchronization and collective performance.
How do the origins of tap and clogging differ?
Tap has American origins, blending African and Irish dance; clogging has European folk dance roots.
Can tap dancing be improvised?
Yes, tap dancing often involves improvisation, allowing dancers to express individuality.
What is the historical significance of tap and clogging?
Both have cultural roots that reflect the social and historical contexts of their origins, embodying a blend of cultural traditions.
Do tap and clogging require special flooring?
Yes, to enhance sound production, both are best performed on wooden or specially designed dance floors.
What differentiates the sound in tap vs. clogging?
Tap uses metal plates for varied rhythms; clogging shoes produce louder, uniform sounds.
What types of music accompany tap and clogging?
Tap is often accompanied by jazz or Broadway tunes, while clogging is performed to country or folk music.
Can tap and clogging be merged in a performance?
While distinct, creative choreographers sometimes blend elements of both in innovative performances.
What role does footwear play in these dance forms?
Footwear is crucial in both, with tap shoes designed for sound variety and clogging shoes for amplifying footwork sound.
Can clogging be performed to non-folk music?
Yes, while traditionally accompanied by folk music, modern clogging can adapt to various musical genres.
Are there competitive events for tap and clogging?
Both dance forms have competitive events, showcasing skill, creativity, and team coordination.
How do beginners start learning tap vs. clogging?
Beginners usually start with basic steps and rhythms, with tap focusing on sound production and clogging on footwork patterns.
How do the techniques of tap and clogging compare?
Tap emphasizes precision and sound variety, whereas clogging focuses on footwork strength and group synchronicity.
What is the community aspect of tap vs. clogging?
Tap can be both a solo and group activity, while clogging is deeply rooted in community and group performance.
How do dancers transition between tap and clogging?
Dancers may learn both to broaden their skills, adapting to the unique techniques and rhythms of each.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
