Musical Theatre Dance

Origins – Ancient Beginnings Greeks – song + dialogue Romans – song + dialogue + dance routines for major characters To make dance steps more audible: Scabilla (bits of metal) were nailed to bottom of sandals - 1st tap shoes

Origins – Minstrels Review: Minstrel shows – white men blackened their faces with burnt cork and performed songs and skits that sentimentalized the slave life on Southern plantations Over time both white and black performers donned blackface and audiences of all colors loved it. Dance was the key element: Hardshoe and the shuffle Irish jigs and clog dancing

Origins – The Black Crook Review: The Black Crook – 1st musical (1866), a 5 hr long mishmosh that became an unprecedented hit Dance: Beginnings of BALLET 100’s of fleshy ballerins in skin-colored tights singing “The March of the Amazons” while dancing about in a moonlit grotto. Age when women used butles and hoop skirts to hid their physiques = so this was most provcative! Ballet remained the norm in musical theatre through the end of the 19th C.

Origins – Vaudville Review: Vaudville – a variety of dance, song, sketches, magic acts, animal acts, strong men/women, acrobats, etc. Dance: all combinations, varieties and styles Teens helped to popularize the latest dance steps Pavlova Gavotee, Fox Trot, The Hesitation Walts, The Maxixe, The Toddle and The Tango Hardshoe and Clog Dancing dev. Into TAP DANCING… gained popularity due to Bill “Bojangles” Robinson

Origins – Follies Review: Follies – introduced by Florenz Ziegeld (1907-1931) as a series of spectacular revues “glorifying the American Girl” Dance: NOT highly technical choreography but did require some talent and teaching. Dances were both energetic and graceful Chorus kick line created with geometric formations – still popular today Classify chorus dances according to height – set precedent as to define the look of the classic Broadway show girl It was here that a RESPECT for dance on Broadway rose

A New Era – OKLAHOMA! Review: Oklahoma! – noted as the 1st book musical (1943) Dance: most influential innovations of the use of dance Agnes De Mille – choreographer (1905-1993) “To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking” Created dances that joined the songs and libretto, giving the show a power that no other musical comedy had shown before. Dream Ballet – created 1st time here

Choreographers Jerome Robbins – classical ballet training West Side Story (1957), Fiddler on the Roof (1964), a Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962) Bob Fosse – vaudeville & nightclubs; trademark = playful sexuality Chicago (1975), Pippin (1972), Sweet Charity (1968) Gower Champion – Ballroom dancing training Bye Bye Birdie (1960), Carnival (1961), Hello Dolly (1964) Tommy Tune – musical comedy performer; trademark = razzmatazz with showstoppers Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1978), Nine (1982), My One and Only (1983), Grand Hotel (1989)

A Choreographer should… 1. Read the script 2. Study the score (not just the libretto) 3. Get a copy of the Broadway Soundtrack 4. Discuss any cuts with the Musical Director 5. Discuss each musical number with the Director 6. Stay in touch with the Set Designer / and the set design

How to Choreograph 1. Research social dances of the time period 2. Try improvising to explore and find movement 3. Be familiar with the Broadway or movie choreography 4. Create variations on a theme 5. Don’t be afraid to re-use movement 6. Keep things simple 7. Consider how to use your stage space

Choreography should…. 1. Further the plot 2. Introduce and give deeper analysis of characters 3. Express emotion

Basic Choreography Ball change Kick ball change Pique (turns) Chaine turns (ballet) https://youtu.be/UKeXDmVFz18 Stage Leaps Arabesque Basic Jumps (tuck jumps) Hitch kicks (jazz)https://youtu.be/YvmV51CUKkI Chasse (jazz) https://youtu.be/HjOd-2g508k https://youtu.be/U-dJMbLJsI4 1st position, 2nd position, 5th position, Plié (ballet) Step touch, step point, step heel Walks, Sways 3 step turn pivot turn Push turn Box step Jazz square Grapevine