Tap is a 1989 film drama written and directed by Nick Castle

Nick Castle

Nick Castle is an American actor, screenwriter and film director, best known for his role as Michael Myers in Halloween. He also co-wrote Escape from New York with his friend, John Carpenter.-Early life:...

. It stars Gregory Hines

Gregory Hines

Gregory Oliver Hines was an American actor, singer, dancer and choreographer.-Early years:Born in New York City, Hines and his older brother Maurice started dancing at an early age, studying with choreographer Henry LeTang...

 and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Sammy Davis, Jr.

Samuel George "Sammy" Davis Jr. was an American entertainer and was also known for his impersonations of actors and other celebrities....

Plot

Max Washington, just released from prison after serving time for burglary

Burglary

Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...

, is a talented tap dancer. His late father owned a dance studio that is now run by Little Mo, whose daughter Amy Simms gives lessons to children.

Back on the streets, Max isn't interested in dancing again but he is interested in seeing Amy, his former girlfriend. A local gangster, Nicky, doesn't care for Max personally but does try to recruit him to take part in a robbery.

Amy has a job as dancer in an upcoming Broadway show and tells its choreographer about Max, hoping to land him a role in the chorus. Max is reluctant to agree to it, then incensed when he is humiliated during the auditions. Max must decide whether to swallow his pride and dance the way the man wants, or give up his art once and for all and return to a life of crime.

Production

This was the final film appearance of Sammy Davis, Jr.

The cast also included Suzzanne Douglas, Savion Glover

Savion Glover

Savion Glover is an American tap dancer, actor, and choreographer. As a learning prodigy, he was taught by notable dancers from previous generations. Glover is currently interested in restoring African roots to tap...

, Joe Morton

Joe Morton

Joseph Thomas "Joe" Morton, Jr. is an American stage, television, and film actor.-Early life:Morton was born in The Bronx, a borough of New York City, New York. He is the son of Evelyn, a secretary, and Joseph Thomas Morton, Sr., a U.S. army intelligence officer. Because of his father's...

, and Terrence E. McNally

Terrence E. McNally

Terrence E. McNally is an American actor and radio host.He has appeared in such films and television shows as Star Trek: The Next Generation, Dallas, Nine to Five, Taking Care of Business, Looker, and Battle Beyond the Stars....

. The original score was composed by James Newton Howard

James Newton Howard

James Newton Howard is an American composer best known for his scores to motion pictures. He is one of the most popular and respected composers for cinema, and has scored over 100 films...

 and the dance were routines performed in Washington's old hangout, a club patronized by "hoofers"

Dance

Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....

, were choreographed by Henry LeTang

Henry LeTang

Henry LeTang was an American theatre,film, and television choreographer and a dance instructor.-Biography:Born in the Harlem neighbourhood of Manhattan, LeTang was the second son of Clarence, born in Dominica, and his wife Marie, who emigrated from St. Croix. The couple owned and operated a radio...

.

Also included are cameos, particularly during a challenge sequence, by veteran dancers Arthur Duncan

Arthur Duncan

Arthur Duncan is a tap dancer, known for his stint as a performer on The Lawrence Welk Show from 1964 to 1982; which made him the first African-American regular on a variety television program....

, Bunny Briggs

Bunny Briggs

Bunny Briggs is an American tap dancer who was inducted into the American Tap Dancing Hall of Fame in 2006.Briggs was born in Harlem, New York on February 26, 1922. At one point he thought about becoming a Catholic priest but instead began performing as a tap dancer and singer. He performed with...

, Howard Sims, Steve Condos

Steve Condos

Steve Condos was an American tap dancer. He was a member of the Condos Brothers, with siblings Nick and Frank....

, Harold Nicholas

Harold Nicholas

Harold Lloyd Nicholas was an American dancer specializing in tap. He was the younger half of the world famous tap dancing pair the Nicholas Brothers, known as two of the world's greatest dancers. His older brother was Fayard Nicholas...

, and Jimmy Slyde

Jimmy Slyde

Jimmy Slyde known as the King of Slides, was a world-renowned tap dancer, especially famous for his innovative tap style mixed with jazz....

.