The Shim Sham is one of the most famous tap dance routines in the world — often called the “National Anthem of Tap.” It’s performed at tap festivals, jazz clubs, and sometimes even as a warm-up in classes.
Below is my breakdown of the Shim Sham tap dance steps, along with the history of where it came from and why it became a tradition in tap culture. If you want more help learning it cleanly and confidently, I teach the full Shim Sham inside my online tap training program at eTapDance.com.
The Shim Sham is more than just a tap routine—it’s a tradition that connects dancers around the world. Learning this famous choreography opens the door to tap dance connection. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Shim Sham, from its history to step-by-step instructions.
The Shim Sham is a classic tap dance routine with a specific set of steps performed to swing music. People often call it the “National Anthem of Tap” because tap dancers everywhere know it. When the right music starts playing at a tap event or class, dancers naturally fall into formation and perform the Shim Sham together. It creates an instant feeling of community.
This routine is performed at tap festivals, dance studios, Broadway shows, and casual gatherings all over the world. From New York to Tokyo, from London to Sydney, tap dancers share this common dance. The best part about the Shim Sham is that anyone can learn it—dancers of all backgrounds and skill levels can join in.
Leonard Reed and Willie Bryant created the choreography around 1930. Reed was a dancer and comedian who developed the steps, while Bryant was a bandleader and tap dancer who helped make it popular. Their work gave the tap world a gift that still brings dancers together almost 100 years later.
The Shim Sham started during the 1920s Harlem Renaissance, when African American culture was thriving through music, art, and dance. It was originally performed as a line dance in Harlem nightclubs and theaters. The routine was designed to be fun and upbeat—perfect for closing out a show or getting audiences excited.
In its early years, the Shim Sham was mainly known in African American entertainment circles. Professional dancers performed it in vaudeville shows and speakeasies. The steps came from different dance styles of that time, including Charleston movements and jazz steps, all mixed with the rhythmic sounds that make tap dancing special.
The routine made a big comeback during the tap revival of the 1980s and 1990s. Tap dancing had become less popular from the 1950s through the 1970s, but a new group of dancers worked to preserve and celebrate the art form. Gregory Hines, one of the most important tap dancers of modern times, played a huge role in bringing the Shim Sham back. Through his performances and teaching, Hines helped make the Shim Sham a dance that every tap dancer should know.
Today, the Shim Sham works as both a practice exercise and a social tradition. It’s taught in tap classes worldwide to help students learn rhythm, coordination, and traditional tap steps. More importantly, it still serves its original purpose: bringing dancers together to celebrate tap’s rich history.
The Shim Sham has four main sections. Each section lasts eight counts and is usually repeated. After these sections, dancers perform a “break” where they can freestyle before returning to the choreography. Here’s what you need to know about each part:
The Shim Sham starts with the shuffle step, which sets the tone for the whole routine. This section uses shuffle-ball-changes that you perform back and forth. You do a shuffle with your right foot (brush forward, brush back), then step on the ball of your right foot and quickly shift weight to your left foot. Then you repeat on the left side, and keep alternating for 32 counts total.
The trick to doing the shuffle step well is keeping steady rhythm while letting your body swing naturally. Your weight should move smoothly from side to side, and your arms can swing gently opposite to your legs. Think of this section as a warm-up that gets you into the groove and ready for the harder movements coming next.
The crossover section adds traveling movement and direction changes. Here, you’ll cross your right foot over your left while doing shuffles, creating a weaving pattern as you move across the floor. The footwork includes shuffle-step combinations that take you to the right, then back to the left, covering space in a zigzag.
This section is called the “half break” because it marks the shift from the opening shuffle steps to the trickier choreography ahead. The crossover requires coordination as you keep your balance while moving sideways. Your arms should swing naturally to help with balance.
Tack Annie brings a playful, bouncing feel to the Shim Sham. This section has a special heel-drop movement combined with shuffles and steps. You’ll tap your heels quickly while adding brush sounds and small hops. The name “Tack Annie” describes the sharp, drumming nature of these movements—they sound like tiny tacks being hammered fast.
The rhythm pattern in Tack Annie is more complex than the previous sections. Your knees should stay slightly bent and springy for the quick heel drops without jarring your body. This is where the Shim Sham starts to show its complexity and musicality.
This section gets its fun name from the rolling, tilting motion of the movement. In Falling Off a Log, you’ll do shuffle-step combinations while shifting your weight in a way that creates a gentle rocking feeling. The movement here is smoother and more flowing than Tack Annie, which gives variety to the routine.
You’ll do shuffles while switching which foot holds your weight, creating a feeling of controlled wobbling—like you’re carefully walking along a log and adjusting to stay balanced. Your upper body can sway a little in response to the weight shifts. This section shows how tap dancing can be both rhythmically exact and physically expressive.
The break is where the Shim Sham changes from set choreography to individual expression. At this moment, dancers usually perform a freestyle sequence of their choice, showing off their personal style and creativity. The break lasts for eight counts and lets each dancer add their unique touch to the routine.
Beginners might simply do basic steps or repeat movements they know, while advanced dancers often add complex rhythms, turns, or other impressive elements. The great thing about the break is that it welcomes all skill levels—there’s no “wrong” choice, as long as you commit to your movement and stay with the music. After the break, everyone comes back together for a final freeze or ending pose.
While the Shim Sham has a traditional structure, tap culture encourages personal style and additions. Experienced dancers often add their own variations throughout the routine, especially during transitions between sections. Common additions include paddle turns (turning while shuffling), time steps (classic tap combinations), riffs (quick, brushing movements), wings (sideways jumps with footwork in the air), and pull-backs (jumping and landing on both heels at once).
Some dancers change the arm movements to match their personal style or add Charleston-style hand gestures that reference the routine’s 1920s origins. Others play with height, adding squats or rising on their toes during certain sections. The most important rule when adding variations is to respect the basic structure and timing of the Shim Sham so everyone can come back together at key moments. These variations show tap dancing’s balance between tradition and innovation—honoring the past while making room for individual creativity.
Watching the routine performed at full speed will help you understand how all the sections flow together and give you a feel for the rhythm and style.
The Shim Sham earned this nickname because it brings the tap community together, just like a national anthem unites citizens. Everyone knows their country’s anthem and can perform it together regardless of background. Similarly, tap dancers worldwide know the Shim Sham and can join in whenever it’s performed. This shared knowledge creates instant community at tap events, workshops, and social dances. The nickname also shows the routine’s role as an essential part of tap dance education—learning the Shim Sham is considered a major milestone, similar to learning your national anthem as a child.
The Shim Sham is best suited for experienced beginners and above, rather than brand new dancers. While the routine uses fundamental tap steps, it requires coordination, rhythm accuracy, and the ability to remember longer sequences—skills that take time to develop. Most tap teachers introduce the Shim Sham once students have firmly established their basic tap vocabulary, including shuffles, flaps, and weight changes. This typically happens after several months to a year of consistent training, depending on how often you practice. Once you have a solid foundation, the Shim Sham becomes an excellent way to refine your technique and musicality. Advanced dancers continue finding new challenges in the routine through faster tempos and creative variations.
The traditional Shim Sham is performed to medium-speed swing music, usually between 140 and 180 beats per minute. Most commonly, you’ll hear it performed around 160 BPM, which creates an energetic but manageable pace. For beginners, many teachers slow the tempo down to 120-130 BPM or even slower, letting students focus on clarity before building up speed. Advanced dancers sometimes perform the Shim Sham to faster swing recordings that go over 200 BPM, turning the routine into an impressive display of skill. The tempo you choose should match your comfort level—clarity is always more important than speed.
The most famous song for the Shim Sham is “Tain’t What You Do (It’s The Way That You Do It)” by Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra, recorded in 1939. This recording has become so connected with the routine that many dancers consider it the official Shim Sham song. However, the choreography works well with any swing music that has a steady four-beat rhythm at a moderate to fast pace.
In my demo video above, I performed the Shim Sham to “Fever” by Peggy Lee—a slower, sultry alternative that puts a different spin on the classic routine. While traditional swing songs are most common, experimenting with different musical styles like “Fever” can highlight different aspects of the choreography and allow for unique interpretations. Other popular traditional choices include “Jumpin’ at the Woodside” by Count Basie, “Flying Home” by Lionel Hampton, “Tuxedo Junction” by Glenn Miller, and “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Benny Goodman. Some modern tap dancers also perform the Shim Sham to current songs with appropriate rhythms, showing the routine’s flexibility.
While the Shim Sham really shines as a group activity—the synchronized sound of multiple tap dancers creates a powerful effect—you can definitely perform it alone. Many dancers practice the routine by themselves to build their skills, musicality, and memory. Solo practice lets you focus on your personal execution and develop your own style without worrying about staying in sync with others. That said, the group aspect is central to the Shim Sham’s cultural importance. The joy of falling into formation with other dancers, hearing the rhythm build, and sharing the break moment creates an experience that solo dancing can’t match. Ideally, tap dancers should feel comfortable performing the Shim Sham both ways—practicing alone for skill building and performing with groups for community connection.
The Shim Sham represents everything beautiful about tap dance: technical skill, musical expression, cultural heritage, and joyful community.
This routine offers a way to connect with tap’s history, improve your skills, and join a global community of dancers who share your passion.
So put on your tap shoes, find some swing music, and start learning.
The Shim Sham is waiting for you!
