Tap Dogs

As someone who has always liked tap dancing, from the Fred Astaire musicals of the 1930s up to modern day Irish dancing which became popular in the mid 1990s with "Riverdance," I was expecting to enjoy this, too. However, I didn't find it that enjoyable. It was actually TOO much. I don't want to hear 75 straight minutes of feet hitting the ground without any or much music. It turns out to be just a lot of noise after awhile.

When I bought this VHS in '96 or '97, it offered the best stereo I had ever heard on a dancing tape, and that was cool, but you need music! Too much of it is the same thing over and over. The only change was in the set designs.

Sometimes there was some very innovative stuff, such as the quick routine with a dancer hanging upside down or one with a guy dribbling a basketball. That, and guys pretending to be welders with sparks flying out, sort of thing was fun to watch. It IS colorful in spots but without major changes in routines for stretches of 15-20 minutes at a time, it can get boring. By the time this was over, I had OD'd on tap dancing!

Being a dancer I found that this was the best out of all tap videos I have seen. Dein Perry is an amazing choreographer and dancer. The show creates a sense of being uplifted and makes you want to go out and get tapping. Needless to say i actually did! I was amazed that some of the movements where made so much bigger by the context that they were presented to us in. A simple shuffle was accentuated by the rhythmic sound created when all the dancers were performing it at different times. From an audience point of view I was astounded by the dancers' need to please their audience until they were satisfied. It was just amazing and there really isn't anything else you could say about it!

Tap Dogs is basically a taped show of the Australian gang of Tap Dogs.

Therefore, the movie is really only meant for those who enjoy tap. On this level the movie is a success.

It is enjoyable to see the stunts that these Bootmen can perform, but at the same time, the lack of a storyline means that even at barely over 75 minutes, the production seems to drag.

I gave the film a 7, perhaps because it brings back memories of "tap" recitals.

However, "Bootmen" (2000), which is coincidentally writ, dir, prod, staring, and choreographed by Dein Perry (of Dein Perry's Tap Dogs) is even better.

The two movies make an interesting compare and contrast piece and for "tap" enthusists, I'd recommend both.