Product Description

Dein Perry has created a dance experience like none other--crackling with blue-collar energy, these six young men from Australia steal tap forever from the world of black ties and tails, and carry it body and soul into the Nineties. Cleverly staged and danced as though their lives depended on it, "Tap Dogs" is winning the hearts of audiences around the world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #71516 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-10-03
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Letterboxed, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 73 minutes

Amazon.com
The energy and the synchronicity of the Tap Dogs dancers is really quite amazing. A solo plaid-shirt and denim-clad dancer opens the show, giving a hint of what is to come, then loiters stage left as we meet the rest of the troupe feet first. Each dancer gets a chance to show off his individual talents on a raised stage that looks remarkably like a boxing ring. A few moments later, the ring's sides are lifted and the floor split, giving the dancers a whole new terrain to jump and tap through. After a high-energy beginning, the dancers bring it down with a back-and-forth duet set to mysterious music, which then segues into an evocative, blue-lit wooden square reminiscent of a late-night street corner.

One of the most fun sequences is when the six dancers create a musical rhythm while tapping on a synthesizer built in the floor. They dance effortlessly with grins on their faces while keeping the syncopation going strong. The music picks up here to more of a rock & roll free-for-all and the Tap Dogs let loose in a dance-brawl suggesting a "who's the top tap dog" tension, relieved by small, humorous moments. Particularly amazing is the dancer suspended upside down and tapping on the ceiling--in perfect time, of course. Originated and choreographed by Dein Perry (Bootmen) and directed by Aubrey Powell, Tap Dogs impresses with its innovation (dancing on scaffolding as it's being built, for example, or on narrow stair steps) and the dancers with their fluidity, intensity, and strength. This tapping is not just dancing--it's an endurance sport. --Dana Van Nest

Customer Reviews

"Tap Dogs" bark their feet with fury, grace and wit.
The progression of an exhilarating life is much about how we find different perspectives from which to appreciate things already seen before. That is exactly what Tap Dogs has done to the art of tap dancing. The Australian troupe, working under Dein Perry's innovative and clever mind, has created some amazing tap numbers that will dazzle your mind, eyes and ears. Particularly for the ones used to the typical tap numbers of Gene Kelly (whom, I personally believe, has developed a uniquely beautiful and breathtaking style), the tapping on water - unlike anything Mr. Kelly does in "Singin' in the Rain" - and metal demonstrate sly experiments with the "barking of the feet." Going over ramps, tapping while hanging upside-down or using digital musical equipment in conjunction with taps, the show is a roller-coaster of sound and fury that never leaves one wondering "Couldn't they have tried this?" Well, you name it and they have. If you are fortunate enough to have seen the live show, the tape should provide a great showcase of what was seen on stage, allowing you to go back to scenes that flew by your eyes when you just wished "Can they 'rewind' this quickly?"; if not, it will probably make you want to rush to where they may be performing. The takes and editing are well done, in spite of how frustrating it can be for tap aficionados to see a full-stage shot when a close-up would provide a much better view of the leg/feet work. We all know, however, that when dance numbers are involved (be it a musical or dance performance), the editor's choice of what shots to use is often a quite ungrateful and frustrating task. "Chorus Line," successfully transported to the screen, is a good example of such a challenging job. "Tap Dogs," the tape, both delivers a great tap show on the screen and sheds an inquisitive light into this underrated art of dance and sound. END

great fun, well-filmed, rousing
love this video. it's well-filmed, not too jumpy -- you actually get to observe the dancing closely for nice long stretches. feels like you're really in the audience, in a front row seat! my young son is just learning to tap, and loves this tape.
a previous reviewer mentioned a brief simulated pee near the beginning -- i found it to be clearly just pretend, and meant in fun (albeit earthy fun). i explained to my kids it was just pretend, and they were cool about it. i'm a bit of a prude, and would not hesitate to recommend this for the whole family.

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.