踢踏舞是一种以双脚律动为主的舞蹈，这类型的舞蹈不仅让人享受到韵律感，更可以是自我特质和仪态的表表现，它和芭蕾或现代舞不同，比较讲求行动力、技巧性，甚至于持久力，有些人学踢踏舞就是用来训练美姿仪态和体力。
踢踏舞的英文名称是“TAP DANCE”，TAP是拍打扣击的意思，它的正式形成是在20年代的美国。在这之前，爱尔兰移民和非洲奴隶把各自的民间舞蹈带到了这块移民大陆上，这些民间舞蹈逐步融合形成了新的舞蹈形式——踢踏舞。
　踢踏舞历经近百年的发展，形成了不同的风格，最主要的两大分支，就是爱尔兰风格的踢踏舞和美国风格的踢踏舞。历史最悠久的踢踏舞要算发源于美国本土的，被称为HOOFING的流派。HOOFING本身就有踢踏、跳舞的意思，因此当时跳踢踏舞的人也被叫做HOOFER，HOOFER这个词还有黑人的意思，这说明了当时的踢踏舞者多为黑人，同时也说明了踢踏舞与黑人舞蹈的渊源。
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There lived a certain man in Russia long ago
He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow
Most people looked at him with terror and with fear
But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear
He could preach the bible like a preacher
Full of ecstacy and fire
But he also was the kind of teacher
Women would desire

RA RA RASPUTIN
Lover of the Russian queen
There was a cat that really was gone
RA RA RASPUTIN
Russias greatest love machine
It was a shame how he carried on

He ruled the Russian land and never mind the Czar
But the kasachok he danced really wunderbar
In all affairs of state he was the man to please
But he was real great when he had a girl to squeeze
For the queen he was no wheeler dealer
Though she had heard the things he had done
She believed he was a holy healer
Who would heal her son

RA RA RASPUTIN
Lover of the Russian queen
There was a cat that really was gone
RA RA RASPUTIN
Russia's greatest love machine
It was a shame how he carried on

(Spoken:)
But when his drinking and lusting and his hunger
for power became known to more and more people,
the demands to do something about this outrageous
man became louder and louder.

"This man s just got to go!" declared his enemies
But the ladies begged "Donot you try to do it, please"
No doubt this Rasputin had lots of hidden charms
Though he was a brute they just fell into his arms
Then one night some men of higher standing
Set a trap, they are not to blame
"Come to visit us" they kept demanding
And he really came

RA RA RASPUTIN
Lover of the Russian queen
They put some poison into his wine
RA RA RASPUTIN
Russias greatest love machine
He drank it all and he said "I feel fine"

RA RA RASPUTIN
Lover of the Russian queen
They didnot quit, they wanted his head
RA RA RASPUTIN
Russias greatest love machine
And so they shot him till he was dead

(Spoken:) Oh, those Russians