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Beginning in the 1830s, minstrel shows were a popular form of entertainment featuring white performers in blackface who imitated and appropriated African American music and dance, including early forms of tap dance. This had a complex impact on tap dance, at once spreading its popularity and intertwining it with racist stereotypes.

Known as the 'Father of Tap Dance', Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson revolutionized tap dance in the early 20th century by bringing it to Broadway and Hollywood. His style and elegance helped elevate tap dance's status as an art form.

The Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s gave rise to a cultural explosion in which tap dance flourished among other arts, showcasing African American performers and contributing to a greater appreciation of tap's artistic and cultural significance.

In the 1950s, tap dance suffered a decline due to changing musical tastes, the rise of rock 'n' roll, and the shift in popular entertainment. Though less visible, tap endured in smaller venues and through dedicated artists.

Created in the 1920s by Leonard Reed and Willie Bryant, the Shim Sham Shimmy is a tap routine that became the standard encore of vaudeville acts and is still performed by tap dancers worldwide, contributing to the shared repertoire.

Rhythm tap focuses on musicality and has roots going back to African traditions. It gained prominence in the 20th century and distinguished itself from the earlier Broadway style by emphasizing percussive footwork over visual elegance.

Fayard and Harold Nicholas, known as the Nicholas Brothers, were influential in the mid-20th century with their highly acrobatic technique known as 'flash dancing.' Their performances pushed the boundaries of tap dance and physicality.

The Hoofers Club was a meeting place for tap dancers in Harlem where they could hone their skills and share steps. This informal setting was a major hub for tap innovation in the 1920s and 1930s.

Gregory Hines was instrumental in reviving tap dance in the 1970s and 1980s by incorporating new rhythms, styles, and an improvisational approach. His work brought tap to a new generation.

Established in 1986 by Gregory Hines, the American Tap Dance Foundation works to preserve and promote the art of tap dance through education and performance. It's been a key institution in tap's continued evolution.

As tap dance has spread globally, it has absorbed influences from various cultures, including Latin, Asian, and European movements and rhythms. This cross-cultural fusion has enriched tap dance vocabulary and broadened its appeal.

Women have been instrumental in tap's history, with pioneers like Lois Bright, Ruby Keeler, and Ann Miller. They broke gender barriers and shaped the art form, despite often being overshadowed by their male counterparts.

The 1979 documentary 'No Maps on My Taps' featured tap legends like Chuck Green, Bunny Briggs, and Sandman Sims, and played a critical role in sparking renewed interest in tap dance during a time of decline.

Tap challenges, where dancers would have impromptu battles displaying their skill, became prominent during the '30s and '40s. These friendly competitions fostered community, innovation, and the progression of individual styles.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers popularized tap dance globally through their elegant and sophisticated dance sequences in film, bringing tap into the mainstream and influencing future generations.

The inclusion of tap dance in the World Dance Championships, which began in 1999, gave it a formal competitive platform, showcasing the skill and creativity of tap dancers and elevating its status in the competitive dance world.

In the 1990s, Savion Glover reinvigorated tap with his Broadway show 'Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk', which told the story of black history through tap and brought an aggressive, streetwise energy to the dance.

In the late 20th century, tap dance began to be included more frequently in dance curricula, recognizing its importance within the broader context of dance education and ensuring its techniques and history would be passed down to future dancers.

The film 'Tap', featuring Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis Jr., showcased tap dancing's past and present, and introduced the art form to a broader audience, initiating what many saw as a renaissance of interest in tap.