Jazz dance history

Jazz dance: What is it? Jack Cole, a jazz dance innovator, called jazz dance “urban folk dance.” Jazz developed in an American urban environment that was primarily influenced by African and European culture. Jazz dance reflects American social history including the people, events, cultural changes, ethnic influences, and music and social dances of its eras.

Jazz dance: what is it? Jazz dance is bonded to jazz music and the evolution of jazz dance parallels the development of jazz and popular music. Today we see jazz dance in many forms: the Broadway show, the concert stage, film/TV, Las Vegas/Hollywood, and dance clubs.

The beginning Jazz music and jazz dance are traced to the rhythms and movements brought to America by African slaves. The suppression of the diverse African cultures led to the creation of a new culture with both African and American elements. Although the use of African drums and ritual dances were prohibited, African slaves used foot stamping and tapping, hand clapping, and rhythmic voice sounds to cling to their cultural identity.

Minstrel shows In the 1800s, African dance and music was popularized by the minstrel show. The cakewalk dance, which became the finale of the minstrel show, became popular throughout the country.

Minstrel Shows Vaudeville shows developed and introduced the buck and wing. It was influenced by the Irish jig and English clog, but its hallmark was the swinging, syncopated rhythm of jazz. The use of syncopation, accenting the offbeat, is a trademark of jazz music. At the close of the minstrel period, early jazz dances that incorporated the syncopated rhythms of American ragtime bands were appearing in ballrooms throughout the country.

The 1920s After the end of WW I, American dances emerged that reflected a public need for fun and freedom. Dixieland jazz music and the Charleston, a dance featured in the Broadway musical Runnin’ Wild, helped meet these needs for the people.

The 1920s The Charleston featured dancers using body isolations for the first time in social dance. Body isolations are a trademark of jazz dance : it is the movement of only one part of the body.

The 1920s The 20s were also the era of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, a black tap dancer who achieved world fame through the clean and clear percussive rhythms of his feet. Bojangles performed on Broadway, in Hollywood films, and in shows that toured the country.

The 1930s Talkies were introduced and Americans flooded to the movie houses: jazz dance was popularized worldwide. The most popular jazz dancer of the 30s was Fred Astaire. He studied ballet, tap and ballroom dancing to create an elegant dance style.

The 30s also brought the Depression The 30s also brought the Depression. People escaped from their dreary lives at dance marathons and big band performances. “Symphonic jazz” and the swing music of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong got the public’s attention. The jitterbug and boogie woogie became popular dances.

The 1940s WW II and increasingly complex jazz music led to a decline in social jazz dancing. Jazz dance became influenced by ballet and modern dance. Modern jazz dance began to be performed by professionally trained dancers. Jazz dance claimed the Broadway stage and gained the respect of choreographers.

The 1940s With the increased demand for jazz dance on the stage, it became necessary to develop a more serious and defined jazz dance technique. Jack Cole, trained in modern dance, is often considered the father of jazz dance technique.

The 1940s Also at this time - Afro-Haitian, West Indian, and Latin dance forms fused with jazz dance movements, and Gene Kelly brought his athletic and gymnastic based dance style to film.

The 1950s In the 50s, young people began to dance again, but this time, they danced at home and dance hops to rock ‘n’ roll. Teenagers used this new type of music and dance as a means of social protest and rebellion. American Bandstand became a nationally successful TV show presenting young people dancing to popular music.

The 1950s Jazz dancing continued to be popular on the movie screen and the Broadway stage. West Side Store, with choreography by Jerome Robbins and music by Leonard Bernstein captured the style of New York’s “cool” West Side ghetto youth.

The 1960s The early 60s introduced the twist to social dancing: adults began to dance. Later, teens became attracted to the dance floor by the music of the Beatles. A new type of music influenced by psychedelic drugs and political protest encouraged solo improvisational dancing. Social dancing in nightclubs became popular.

The 1960s Television shows such as Shindig and Hullabaloo featured music and professional dancing. “Luigi” Facciuto and Gus Giordano achieved fame as developers of jazz technique and choreography.

The 1970s The public responded to more variety in entertainment. Discos promoted line dances such as the bus stop, roller coaster and hustle. Breakdancing, a term for New York based acrobatic, street dance, begins to influence jazz dance.

The 1970s At the theatre, dance became the primary theme of a production as was seen in Michael Bennett’s A Chorus Line and Bob Fosse’s Chicago. Fosse became an outstanding name in jazz dance primarily for his creativity and unusual style in choreography.

The 1980s Jazz dance continued to thrive on the Broadway stage, on the concert stage and in films such as Fame, Flashdance, Footloose, Staying Alive, Breaking and Dirty Dancing.

The 1980s On TV, MTV began broadcasting in music videos combined high- energy jazz, ballet, street dance and social dance in striking and innovative ways. Some major choreographers of the period were Michael Peters, Jeffrey Hornaday, Lester Wilson, Toni Basil, Paula Abdul, Madonna, and Janet Jackson. The supreme video star of the 1980s was of course, Michael Jackson.

The 1980s The new wave and punk rock music of the 80s showed an increased social awareness and rebellion and evoked the bizarre and irrational. Dances that evolved were the pogo and slam dancing.

The 1980s Aerobic dance became popular as a response to an increased public awareness of poor health habits in America.

The 1990s In the 1990s jazz dance world, the buzz words in training centers were street dance, street funk, and hip hop. Street dance is inner city dance taken directly from the street corners with performers using “boom boxes” as their accompaniment. Street dancing may be considered an umbrella dance term that encompasses funk, popping, breakdancing, and hip hop.

The 1990s Hip hop dance is done to hip hop music. The dance style uses the whole body including complex footwork, body isolations, breakdancing and gymnastic moves.

The 1990s The Fly Girls dancers featured on the early 1990s hit show In Living Color, gave many primetime viewers their first look at street dance. Choreographer Rosie Perez is credited with developing this style of jazz which mixed street moves with technical ballet and jazz moves.

Jazz Dance in the 21st Century Jazz dance in the new century continues to look back to the classics for inspiration and move forward to create new dance performances. Professional dancers need to train in a wide variety of dance styles. Jazz performance platforms include cabaret and lounge shows, cruise ship entertainment, touring dance companies, and reality TV dance competitions.

Jazz Dance in the 21st Century Musical superstars feature dancers as an integral part of their concert entertainment. Jazz dance, and in particular musical comedy, has become a primary theme park entertainment. Music videos and major television productions use jazz dance.

Jazz Dance in the 21st Century In the 21st century, technology will influence the spectacle and expression of jazz dance in its various venues.

In closing The history of jazz dance has evolved in pace with the music and moods of each era. Jazz dance is recognized as a uniquely American contribution to dance art.