• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.58 no.10
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• pp.1-20
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to analyze the formative characteristic of modern Tap dance costume according to its origin and kinds. For this purpose, the study explored the review of literature focusing on the historical back ground of Tap dance and investigated into the kinds of modern tap dance and the formative feature of the tap dance costume. Costumes of leading tap dancers in representative performances and movies are analyzed. The results are summarized as follows: The kinds of current tap dance could be categorized as three types of Jazz Tap Dance, Rhythm & Funk Tap Dance, Irish tap Dance as their development origin. The Tap dance widely distributed through the U.S. Hollywood movie, The Jazz Tap Dance costume was composed of magnificent and luxurious design applying the high fashion of the 1930s and 1950s in the male and female costumes. The U.S. Blacks' tap dance, Rhythm & Funk Tap costume had a close relation with resistant blacks' culture, and showing the type of free dressing not bound by previous tap dance dress. The Irish Tap Dance originated from Irish folk dance displayed the tap dance embroidered costume using the Irish traditional pattern. This study systemized the characteristic of the tap dance costume by kind, and explored the dress revealed at the tap dance as a symbolic system to the cultural zone where the dance is made.