If you’re going to see “Tap — The Show,” make sure to wear comfortable shoes, as the goal of the production is to have audiences dancing in the aisles.

After nearly every 90-minute performance of “Tap — The Show,” writer Scott Seidl sees someone — often a parent with a child — attempting to tap dance. “If we see this happen, we know that we’ve succeeded,”Seidl said.

“Tap — The Show” takes audiences on a journey through the history of tap and other forms of rhythmic dance.

The production offers numbers for those who feel nostalgic for the glory days of tap dance, bringing back an art form that has been overlooked in recent years. “In dance schools … people will touch on tap dancing because they don’t know it, but I definitely feel that it’s not common knowledge,” production manager Greg Woodruff said.

In addition to the classic tap style made famous by the likes of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, the show features tribal dancing, Irish step-dancing, and a rock-and-roll finale.

“We’re giving (audiences) lots of other fun, funky stuff that they might not think of as tap dance,” Seidl said.

He added that one of the most exciting parts of developing the full-length version of the show was adding more numbers for more demographics. “There’s something for everybody in it,” he said.

The wide appeal of the production is in step with its underlying message. “The show is about how dance in general is such a universal language. Music started with just rhythmic sounds, with Neanderthal people hitting things. So it is the most base common denominator in terms of a connective language,” Seidl said.

Maria Logan, a featured singer and dancer in “Tap,” said that each number in the show relates back to that basic message. “You want to leave the audience with that at the end. What’s important is that they leave wanting to dance,” she said.

The crew will offer an open dress rehearsal, narrated by Seidl, at 10 a.m. Friday. In addition, the company will teach a tap dance class for area dancers at 2 p.m. The educational activities are free, but registration is required.

The show will begin at 7:30 that evening at the Clemens Fine Arts Center at West Kentucky Community & Technical College. For information or reservations, visit www.artsinfocus.org or call 270-534-3212.

Call Laurel Black, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8641.

Want to go?

What: “Tap — The Show”

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12

Where: Clemens Fine Arts Center, WKCTC campus.

For information or reservations, visit www.artsinfocus.org or call 270-534-3212.