What features made swing tap different from rhythm tap?

Swing tap, also known as classical tap, is distinguished by its integration of upper body movements derived from 20th-century ballet and jazz dance combined with percussive, syncopated footwork. This style was utilized extensively in motion pictures.1

In contrast, rhythm tap—along with related styles like close floor and paddle and roll—emphasizes intricate footwork using heel and toe taps, typically characterized by a rapid and rhythmic nature. While swing tap incorporates a broader aesthetic of movement, rhythm tap focuses primarily on the percussive potential of the feet, with practitioners like John Bubbles famously utilizing the heel tap to drive rhythms from the jazz beat into the swing beat.1