Tap Dogs (1996)

Celebration

I have never seen such a phenomenal celebration in the arts of pure masculinity -- the humor, the vulgar, the crude, the disrespect, the bonding, the playful, the show-off, the rhythm. January 15, 2008

Dance your feet off!

This dvd offers an amazing example of a lot of energy and testosterone and wonderful choreography. If you are into dancing with energy and attitude, this dvd is for you. It is funny and imaginative and memorable. If you have a friend with a copy, sit down and review it with them. Then you may want a copy of your own to see and enjoy again and again.
Great dancing and great energy. Good buy! September 7, 2007

Holds its own on a par with The Full Monty, a guys film the girls will love too.

This is certainly the Australian answer to the UK's Full Monty. Its about tap, but don't think camp (though like Monty one of the dancers is openly gay) this film is about guys being guys. The tap here is the dance equivalent of Heavy Metal. It may be the only dance film that is a 'guys film' but women who loved Full Monty will obviously love it. Adam Garcia and Sam Worthington are incredible in this. Garcia is as incredibly uplifting as Worthington is endearing as a rather sociopathic dope-head. This film has excitement, humour, fighting, speed chases, sex, working class struggle (very akin to Monty there as well) and of course energy. It really holds its own on a par with The Full Monty. A classic. October 4, 2005

Dein Perry's 'Tap Dogs'; Good show, mates!

Winner of 11 International Awards including the Obie Award, "Tap Dogs" is like nothing you've ever seen. A must see for all tap dancers and anyone with an interest in tap dancing, this spectacular show successfully gives a look at new age tap dancing of the nineties.

"Tap Dogs" showcases the incredible dancing talents of six Australians who simple crackle with blue-collar energy. Led by Dein Perry, the creator of the show, the other five members are Ben Read, Nathan Sheens, Gerry Symonds, Drew Kaluski, and Darren Disney.

Recorded live at 'The Lyric Theatre' in London, here is a list of musical numbers for the show:

1) MAIN TITLE: BEST FOOT FORWARD - As the title and beginning credits appear, we watch as Dein Perry almost casual taps on the stage.
2) MIX 'N' MATCH - Only their feet are seen as five pairs of boots appear inside a frame. (caution: as one reviewer complained, there is a crude moment during this scene so parents be cautioned if watching with younger children.)
3) SOLO STEPS - One by one, the six members get their solo moment to show off their talents. Favorites solo steps would be Disney's ("Helloooo gorgeous!" is yelled out to him from the audience) and Read's (I can't see how he pulls off the 'toe' steps).
4) DANCING BETWEEN THE CRACKS- As a large piece of board is being lifted, slanted forward for the full view of the audience, the board is pulled apart so that the dancers dance beween and over the cracks.
5) TWO-MAN ROUTINE - Dein Perry and Ben Read tap while being seated, starting from the basics until the steps become more and more complicated.
6) FANCY FOOTWORK - Ben Read and Dein Perry each do a long solo number, one of my favorites parts of the whole show.
7) TAPPED INTO THE BEAT - Nathan Sheens slides in carrying a basketball and does a short number, tapping as he dribbles the ball faster and faster. In a few moments, he 'discovers' six floor tiles which are actually something like a synthesizer. Eventually, all six members 'plays music' while tapping on the tiles in complete synchronization. The music gets very funky towards the end. A definite highlight from the show.
8) DANCING ON THE CEILING - Dein Perry leads the others into a jazzy number and gets the audience to keep the beat by snapping their fingers. Has some humorous points with Perry keeping his men 'in line'. After a bit, we see Gerry Symonds tap dancing... while hanging upside from the ceiling!
9) WIRE TAPPING - I simply love the music played during this number; lots of synthesizer and cool bass. The performers dance while pulling and dancing around wires which are strung from the ground to a frame above.
10) AN UPLIFITNG PERFORMANCE - The previously mentioned wires are pulled up, lifting steel plates at angles which the performers dance on. Soon the plates are lifted straight up vertically, revealing them to be ladders on the reverse side; soon the tap dancers are actually tapping while climbing up and down the ladders!
11) MAN AT WORK - Spotlight is on Dein Perry as he does a number on a grate with a type of microphone strapped to his legs which 'echo' the 'taps'. Soon he wears protective goggles and the other members of the show use construction tools to shower Dein with sparks in exact rhythm!
12) REACHING NEW HEIGHTS - The guys start building a frame which in the end makes like a huge staircase. It's interesting how they can still dance while actually building this frame.
13) SPLASH DANCE - What might be the 'funnest' number; Dein Perry and three other guys wear boots and 'splash dance', getting the whole couple front rows in the audience wet! Very funny ending...
14) LETTING EVERYTHING SLIDE - Just the piano is heard as the six dancers do a slow but jazzy number while kicking some of the water from 'Splash Dance' onto the audience. One by one, they go off stage, each receiving a resounding applause.
15) LAST STEPS - Almost like an encore, this number would have to be one of my favorites of the whole show. Cool music and the six dancers dance up and over individual little staircases.

All-in-all, watching "Tap Dogs" is such an enjoyable experience. These are Aussies we're talking about so there's a lot of shouting and calling out among the members and it's so obvious they're having such a great time on stage. They are all so in tune with each other, it's amazing how they can tap dance even when there's often no music to keep beat! Good show, mates!

If you think tap dancing is 'old school' and 'old fashioned', I highly recommend you to watch this. It'll certainly change your outlook forever about tap dancing! July 27, 2005

These guys put Savion Glover to shame

My wife and I rented this video several years ago and, after watching it, went right out and bought it. There is no other show like it. It is innovative, entertaining, and just plain fun. I grow tired of all the hype over Savion Glover. He just seems to be tapping with no rhyme or reason. These guys have awesome rhythm and ability to work together. No, its not traditional tap, but it is totally fresh and new. These guys dont dance to the music thats playing, they complete the music with the sound of their feet. Its nothing like Stomp or Bring in Da Noise. It's better. Now that I know its on DVD, I'll be buying the DVD and passing the video on to a friend to share what I feel is an truly amazing performance. And by the way, "new age" is a totally incorrect way to describe this as the previous reviewer stated. April 16, 2004

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