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JAZZ DANCE HISTORY. ORIGINS OF JAZZ DANCE. People of African and Caribbean decent, performed dances that represented different cycles of life including; birth, puberty, marriage, and death.
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ORIGINS OF JAZZ DANCE • People of African and Caribbean decent, performed dances that represented different cycles of life including; birth, puberty, marriage, and death. • Africans were brought into America as slaves and were subjected to the restriction on a European dominated culture. • Because of the European dominated culture, dance was therefore regulated into a form of socialization and entertainment instead of religious rituals. • Americans realized they could relate themselves to certain characteristics of Africans in the 19th Century. This led to the rise of minstrel shows.
THE ROARING 20’s and the 1930’s • The beginning of the Jazz Age. • Popular dance steps were introduced such as; the “Jitterbug”, the “Boogie-Woogie”, and the “Lindy Hop”. • Singing and dancing to songs on the radio became popular throughout this era. • Broadway producers saw an opportunity to hire dancers and have them appear in shows.
The 1940’s WWII Era • WWII brought down the popularity of social jazz dance. • Jazz dance technique was becoming more professionalized with influences such as ballet and modern. • New music styles were introduced such as rockabilly, R&B, and classic rock n’ roll. • Young kids began reviving and/or introducing new dances. • Media outlets such as American Bandstand promoted these latest styles.
1950’s Era • Jazz dance was incorporated into stories used in musicals and staged shows such as: • “Singin’ in the Rain”, choreographed by Gene Kelly in 1952 starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. • Original Broadway Production of “West Side Story”, choreographed by Jerome Robbins in 1957 then turned into a film in 1961 starring Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer.
1960’s Era • The British Invasion drastically disrupted dance music. • American Renaissance trends such as soul, folk rock, and other West Coast styles took over the music and dance industries. • Dance music was forced underground in the mid 60’s and later re-popularized in the 1970’s.
CHARACTERISTICS OF JAZZ DANCE • Isolations • Syncopation • Rhythm • Use of the pelvis • Bent knees • Rotations • Opposition of body parts
