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Theatrical Jazz

Theatrical Jazz. African and Caribbean Influences. African and Caribbean Traditions, Songs and Dances were brought to the US through the slave trade. Jazz Dance is an American art form that was greatly influenced by these cultures. African and Caribbean Characteristics.

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Theatrical Jazz

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  1. Theatrical Jazz

  2. African and Caribbean Influences • African and Caribbean Traditions, Songs and Dances were brought to the US through the slave trade. • Jazz Dance is an American art form that was greatly influenced by these cultures.

  3. African and Caribbean Characteristics • Use of plie-connection to the ground • Use of parallel • Isolations • Contractions • Improvisation

  4. What is Jazz Dance? • The term "jazz dance" has been used to describe a forever-changing form of popular and creative dance movement ever since the 1920s. It represents our popular culture, and as the culture changes, so does the appearance of jazz dance

  5. What is Jazz Dance? • This means that the social dances of the 1920s like the Charleston and Back Bottom are known as jazz dances, but so are the theatre dances of choreographer Bob Fosse. • The common subject binding these obviously different things together is rhythm, or to be more exact, rhythm that is composed in African influences.

  6. Early Jazz Dance • Vaudeville- Traveling amateur acts that included dancers, acrobats, jugglers, singers, animal trainers.

  7. Early Jazz Dance • Minstrel Shows- White male performers would put burnt coal on their faces and imitate African Americans in song and dance

  8. Musical Revues • The most famous and longest running of all musical revues was the Ziegfeld Follies-run by Florenz Ziegfeld. Shows included beautiful dancing girls, songs and short theatrical scenes.

  9. The Father of Theatrical Jazz Dance • Jack Cole • Jack started out a modern dancer. He actually was a student and performer of the Denishawn dance company who was created by world renowned modern dancer Ruth St. Dennis and Ted Shawn. Dancers such as Martha Graham and Doris Humphrey came from the same school.

  10. The Father of Theatrical Jazz Dance • Modern dance shaped the way Cole would later define jazz. He merged the modern dance motivation for movement with popular jazz dance steps to make a more technical and artistic jazz dance.

  11. Jack Cole • He also took from his modern dance training, the idea of being "low to the ground". He incorporated a very low plie into much of the movement he developed. This redefined his style, which turned into a bonafide technique. This gave jazz movement a sense of power and gravity. Jack was also extremely interested in the aspect of isolation and syncopation, all which are a huge part of jazz today.

  12. Jack Cole • Cole was one of the first jazz choreographers and created the first jazz dance class. He actually was an inspiration to Robbins, Fosse, Gwen Verdon and many other well known dancers today. Jack Cole started evolving jazz dance in his musicals.

  13. Bob Fosse • Bob Fosse is probably the most influential man in jazz dance history. He choreographed several great Broadway Musicalsof our time such as 'Cabaret', 'Sweet Charity', 'Damn Yankees' and 'Chicago'.

  14. Bob Fosse • Fosse’s style really highlighted isolated movement. He’d take a group of dancers and sometimes would have only a finger or an eyebrow moving at a time. He was very simplistic yet powerful in his staging and movement

  15. Bob Fosse • In any Fosse number, you’re sure to find cigarettes, net stockings and a tipped hat. He used a cool, jazz sensibility in his choreography, yet it was Burlesque in nature and sleek by choice with pelvic movement and heavy leans.

  16. Jerome Robbins • Jerome Robbins was an Americanchoreographer whose work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater. Among the numerous stage productions he worked on were West Side Story, High Button Shoes, Wonderful Town, Bells Are Ringing and Fiddler on the Roof.

  17. Jerome Robbins • West Side Story and On the Town are two of his most memorable Broadway choreographic creations.

  18. The Evolution of Jazz Dance • Jazz Dance will continue to reflect the current era of the day. • It includes social dance as well as cultural traditions. • All forms of jazz dance have rhythm in common. • Jazz will continue evolve, change, and grow.

  19. Compare and Contrast • Fosse • Robbins

  20. Glogster • Using glogster.com you will create a poster comparing and contrasting the styles of Bob Fosse and Jerome Robbins. Due September 29th.

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