Tap started in the early 19th Century. Its early form was called buck-and-wing. It was like tap, only with wooden shoes. Leather sole shoes came in about 1900 made famous by George Primrose. By 1920 metal taps had been added to the bottoms of the leather shoes. Black dancers contributed greatly to tap.
John Bubbles created a slower form of tap. Bill Robinson became the most famous tap dancer in America. The style was popularized even more in the 1930's and 1940's by dancers such as Fred Astaire, Ray Bolger, and Paul Draper. In the 1950's, Gene Kelly added his own moves from ballet and modern dancing.
Tap became even more famous in the 1970's and 1980's. Today, it is still just as popular. Tap is one of the most skillful dance styles ever created.