Tap Dance Fever

Young And Old Discover The Joy Of Tapping

(CBS)  With all of the song and dance numbers in the new movie "Chicago," you might feel inspired to start tap dancing yourself.

The Early Show Contributor Laurie Hibberd found out in this week's Hib Report that you won't be tapping alone.

Blame it on Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger or the success of Broadway musicals, such as "Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk" and "42nd Street." There is a renewed interest in tap dancing. It is proving to be good for your mind and your body.

At the Broadway Dance Center in New York City, men and women of all ages gather every day to share their passion for tapping.

Lane Napper teaches beginner tap classes at the facility.

"I'm getting people from all over," says Napper. "We're getting kids, adults, construction workers. I've got people from Broadway who are coming to class now. I got grandmothers that are here; grandfathers who are here."

The students seem to love it. They describe it as a lot of fun, good exercise and mentally stimulating.

Dr. Don Rose practices dance medicine and he says tapping works both the mind and body. "Tap dancing improves bone density by the low impact nature of the dance," says Rose. "By repetitive low impact stress on the bone, the bone actually increases its strength."

It also strengthens one's inner strength.

Tap dancing has been around since the turn of the century and has had a resurgence in popularity in the '80s and '90s with Savion Glover. Today, tap is alive and well in films like "Chicago" and on Broadway with the revival of the hit musical "42nd Street."

"It's energizing and exciting and aerobic," says Nadine Isenegger of "42nd Street." "And it makes you wanna get up and do it with the people that are doing it."

While the curtain goes down each night on Broadway, each day the students in Lane's class are just getting warmed up.

You can look in your local Yellow Pages for a tap dance class near you.