Jazz Era

Early 1700’s  8 million Africans brought to America as slaves. They brought a remarkably developed sense of rhythm, body technique, use of the whole foot, syncopation, body out of vertical alignment, isolation of body parts, and movement from the central part of the body.

1739  Unsuccessful uprising of the slaves. Laws were enacted forbidding use of the drums. Slaves transferred drum rhythms to their feet.

1830  Blacks had developed a complicated and brilliant form of rhythmic dancing.  Danced with personal expression.

Mid 1800’s  Irish immigration-brought jigs, reels, clog dances. Slaves learned the dances, changed the downbeat to a syncopated rhythm and added African influences.  Civil War

1880-Ragtime  Cakewalk-Slaves imitating their plantation owners. They would promenade in pairs, combine strutting and wild jumps that was performed to syncopated “rag” music.

Early 1900’s-Animal Dances  Invented by young people to imitate the jerky movements of animals. It also declared them independent. They had dances named: The Grizzly Bear, Monkey, Turkey Trot, Bunny Hug, Fishtail, Eagle Rock, Buzzard Lope.

1911- The Castlewalk  Created by Vernon and Irene Castle.  It consisted of strutting movement performed on the balls of the feet with the knees straight. Uses improvisation.

Dance Crazes  A dance craze is when you move quickly from one dance fad to another.

1924- The Charleston  Created by the docks in Charleston S.C.  It was regarded as a danger to public health because of the strain it put on your heart, ankles, and knees.  Signs were placed in the dance halls that read P.C.Q. (Please Charleston Quietly.)

Late 1920’s  Partners were not important.  “Cutting in” became the rage.  There were dances like the Varsity Drag, Shimmy, Sands, Black Bottom, Crank, Toe Knee Walk.

1930’s &1940’s  Lindy Hop- a difficult semi-acrobatic dance named after Charles Lindbergh who made the first non-stop transatlantic flight across the ocean.  Jitterbug was the name of a style rather than a dance. It introduced two new concepts: the breakaway and “air” steps. Big Apple (truckin’)-a circle dance that combines Lindy Hop, Pickin’ Cherries, and Screwball.

Other dances of the 30’s/40’s  Shim Sham  Heel toe  Ball change clap  Treadin’  Shorty George  Gazin’ the Fog  Suzy Q