Jazz Dancing
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Jazz Dance is a
performance dance Concert dance (also known as performance dance or theatre dance in the United Kingdom) is dance performed for an audience. It is frequently performed in a theatre setting, though this is not a requirement, and it is usually choreography, choreogr ...
and style that arose in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
in the early 20th century. Jazz Dance may allude to vernacular
Jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
,
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...
or dramatic Jazz. The two types expand on
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
vernacular styles of dance that arose with Jazz Music. Vernacular dance refers to dance forms that emerge from everyday life and cultural practices of a specific community, often reflecting the social, cultural, and historical contexts of that community. In the context of African American culture, vernacular dance encompasses styles that developed organically within African American communities, influenced by African traditions, European dance forms, and the unique experiences of African Americans in the United States. Vernacular Jazz Dance incorporates
ragtime Ragtime, also spelled rag-time or rag time, is a musical style that had its peak from the 1890s to 1910s. Its cardinal trait is its Syncopation, syncopated or "ragged" rhythm. Ragtime was popularized during the early 20th century by composers ...
moves, Charleston,
Lindy hop The Lindy Hop is an American dance which was born in the African-American communities of Harlem, New York City, in 1928 and has evolved since then. It was very popular during the swing era of the late 1930s and early 1940s. Lindy is a fusion of ...
and
mambo Mambo most often refers to: *Mambo (music), a Cuban musical form *Mambo (dance), a dance corresponding to mambo music Mambo may also refer to: Music * Mambo section, a section in arrangements of some types of Afro-Caribbean music, particul ...
. Popular vernacular Jazz Dance performers include
The Whitman Sisters The Whitman Sisters were four African-American sisters who were stars of Black Vaudeville. They ran their own performing touring company for over forty years from 1900 to 1943, becoming the longest-running and best-paid act on the T.O.B.A. circ ...
,
Florence Mills Florence Mills (born Florence Winfrey; January 25, 1896 – November 1, 1927), billed as the "Queen of Happiness", was an American cabaret singer, dancer, and comedian. Life and career Florence Mills (Florence Winfrey) was born a daughter of for ...
,
Ethel Waters Ethel Waters (October 31, 1896 – September 1, 1977) was an American singer and actress. Waters frequently performed jazz, swing, and pop music on the Broadway stage and in concerts. She began her career in the 1920s singing blues. Her no ...
, Al Minns and
Leon James Leon James may refer to: * Leon James (composer) (born 1991), Indian film composer and singer * Leon James (dancer) (died 1970), American Lindy Hop and jazz dancer * Leon James (footballer) (born 2001), Thai footballer {{hndis, James, Leon ...
,
Frankie Manning Frank Manning (May 26, 1914 – April 27, 2009) was an American dancer, instructor, and choreographer. Manning is considered one of the founders of Lindy Hop, an energetic form of the jazz dance style known as swing. Biography Manning was b ...
,
Norma Miller Norma Adele Miller (December 2, 1919 – May 5, 2019) was an American Lindy hop dancer, choreographer, actress, author, and comedian known as the "Queen of Swing". Early life Miller was born in 1919 in Harlem, New York City, to mother Alma, a c ...
,
Dawn Hampton Dawn Hampton (June 9, 1928 – September 25, 2016) was an American cabaret and jazz singer, saxophonist, dancer, and songwriter. Hampton began her lifelong career as a musical entertainer touring the Midwest as a three-year-old member of the Ha ...
, and
Katherine Dunham Katherine Mary Dunham (June 22, 1909 – May 21, 2006) was an African American dancer, choreographer, anthropologist, and social activist. Dunham had one of the most successful dance careers of the 20th century and directed her own dance compan ...
. Dramatic Jazz Dance performed on the show stage was promoted by Jack Cole,
Bob Fosse Robert Louis Fosse (; June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was an American choreographer, dancer, filmmaker, and stage director. Known for his work on stage and screen, he is arguably the most influential figure in the field of jazz dance in th ...
,
Eugene Louis Faccuito Eugene Louis Faccuito (March 20, 1925 – April 7, 2015), known professionally as Luigi, was an American jazz dancer, choreographer, teacher, and innovator who created the Jazzercise, jazz exercise technique. The Luigi Warm Up Technique is a train ...
, and
Gus Giordano Gus Giordano (July 10, 1923 – March 9, 2008) was an American jazz dancer. He performed on Broadway, theatre and television. He founded the Gus Giordano Dance School in 1953 and Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago in 1963. He also created the First ...
. The term "Jazz Dance" has been used in ways that have little or nothing to do with jazz music. Since the 1940s, Hollywood movies and Broadway shows have used the term to describe the choreographies of
Bob Fosse Robert Louis Fosse (; June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was an American choreographer, dancer, filmmaker, and stage director. Known for his work on stage and screen, he is arguably the most influential figure in the field of jazz dance in th ...
and
Jerome Robbins Jerome Robbins (born Jerome Wilson Rabinowitz; October 11, 1918 – July 29, 1998) was an American dancer, choreographer, film director, theatre director and producer who worked in classical ballet, on stage, film, and television. Among his nu ...
. In the 1990s, colleges and universities applied the term to classes offered by physical education departments in which students dance to various forms of
pop music Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom.S. Frith, W. Straw, and J. Street, eds, ''iarchive:cambridgecompani00frit, The Cambridge Companion to Pop ...
, in addition to jazz. Some jazz dance classes may use
electroswing Electro swing, or swing house, is an electronic dance music genre that combines the influence of vintage or modern swing and jazz mixed with house and hip hop. Successful examples of the genre create a modern and dance-floor focused sound tha ...
music, which is a style combining jazz with
electronic dance music Electronic dance music (EDM), also referred to as dance music or club music, is a broad range of percussive electronic music genres originally made for nightclubs, raves, and List of electronic dance music festivals, festivals. It is generally ...
.


History

The history of modern Jazz Dance is intertwined with the cultural and social experiences of African Americans, tracing its roots back to African dance traditions. Key characteristics of traditional African dance included the use of bent knees, complex rhythms, and the isolation of body parts, all of which contributed to a dynamic and expressive form of movement. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, black performance art began to gain visibility in the United States. The emergence of Vaudeville and minstrel shows provided platforms for black entertainers to showcase their talents. These performances often included dance, music, and comedy, reflecting the everyday lives and experiences of black people. Notable shows, such as "The South Before the War" and "The Creole Show," featured black performers and contributed to the evolution of dance styles that would later influence Jazz Dance. The
Harlem Renaissance The Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual and cultural revival of African-American music, dance, art, fashion, literature, theater, politics, and scholarship centered in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, spanning the 1920s and 1930s. At the ti ...
of the 1920s marked a significant cultural movement that celebrated black art, literature, and music. Jazz music became increasingly popular. Dance styles evolved, incorporating elements from African traditions, social dances, and Jazz Music. This period saw the rise of iconic figures such as
Josephine Baker Freda Josephine Baker (; June 3, 1906 – April 12, 1975), naturalized as Joséphine Baker, was an American and French dancer, singer, and actress. Her career was centered primarily in Europe, mostly in France. She was the first Black woman to s ...
and the
Nicholas Brothers The Nicholas Brothers were an entertainment act composed of brothers, Fayard (1914–2006) and Harold (1921–2000), who excelled in a variety of dance techniques, primarily between the 1930s and 1950s. Best known for their unique interpretati ...
, who brought Jazz Dance to mainstream audiences. In 1931
the New Negro Art Theatre
presented a groundbreaking recital that included interpretive dances based on Southern spirituals. This event showcased black life through dance, setting a precedent for future performances. Dancer
Hemsley Winfield Hemsley Winfield (April 20, 1907 – January 15, 1934) was an African-American dancer who created the New Negro Art Theater Dance Group. Early years He was born Osborne Hemsley Winfield to a middle-class, African-American family in Yonkers, New Yo ...
played a crucial role in this movement, emphasizing the importance of expressing the black experience through the art of dance.


Swing Dancing

In 1917, Jazz pianist
Spencer Williams Spencer Williams (October 14, 1889 – July 14, 1965) was an American jazz and popular music composer, pianist, and singer. He is best known for his hit songs " Basin Street Blues", " I Ain't Got Nobody", " Royal Garden Blues", " I've Found a N ...
wrote a song called "Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble" which inspired a Jazz Dance called the
shimmy A shimmy or shoulder shakes is a dance move in which the body is held still, except for the shoulders, which are quickly alternated back and forth. When the right shoulder goes back, the left one comes forward. United States In 1917, a dance ...
. The shimmy is done by holding the body still "except for the shoulders, which are quickly alternated back and forth". The dances that emerged during this period were the Charleston and the
Lindy hop The Lindy Hop is an American dance which was born in the African-American communities of Harlem, New York City, in 1928 and has evolved since then. It was very popular during the swing era of the late 1930s and early 1940s. Lindy is a fusion of ...
.The Charleston is "characterized by its toes-in, heels-out twisting steps". It can be done as a solo or with any number of people. The Lindy hop was a wild and spontaneous partner dance that was extremely rhythmically conscious. When the Great Depression began in October 1929, many people turned to dance. Because of this, the Aubrielle and the Lindy hop are now considered to be under the umbrella term "swing dance stylized, continuously flowing movements that developed the technique and style for the combinations that followed". Cole's style has been called hip, hard, and cool". Fosse combined "vaudeville, striptease, magic shows, nightclubs, film and Broadway musicals".


The Charleston

The Charleston is a dynamic dance that emerged in the early 20th century, named after the harbor city of Charleston, South Carolina. The Charleston incorporated hand clapping, broad movements, and foot stamping, which were directly linked to the African origins of The Juba, a dance that originated from the
Kongo Kongo may refer to: Kongo culture *Kingdom of Kongo *Kongo cosmogram *Kongo language or Kikongo, one of the Bantu languages *Kongo languages *Kongo people *Kongo religion Places * Kongo, Ghana, a town in Ghana *Kongo Central, formerly Bas-Cong ...
. Its popularity surged in the 1920s, particularly following the release of the 1923 song "The Charleston," composed by
James P. Johnson James Price Johnson (February 1, 1894 – November 17, 1955) was an American pianist and composer. A pioneer of stride piano, he was one of the most important pianists in the early era of recording, and like Jelly Roll Morton, one of the key ...
for the Broadway show Runnin' Wild. The dance reached its peak between 1926 and 1927, captivating audiences with its energetic and lively movements. The introduction of “The Charleston” in the 1920s evolved Jazz Dance because it could be done alone. At the time, ballroom dance was the norm and required the accompaniment of a partner.


Improvisation

Improvisation is a spontaneous and structured form of choreography that draws upon a deep understanding of various dance traditions. The act of "riffing," where dancers incorporate personal movements into established patterns, exemplifies how improvisation allows for both innovation and adherence to tradition, showcasing the resilience and adaptability of African-American culture. Improvisation in African-American vernacular dancing reflects the cultural identity of its dancers by serving as a dynamic form of expression. It intertwines personal creativity with communal traditions. The practice allows dancers to convey their individual experiences and emotions while simultaneously engaging with the rich historical and cultural narratives of their communities. The improvisational aesthetic is deeply embedded in the ceremonial and communal aspects of African-American life, reflecting values of oral communication and sensory experience.


Pop music and television

Contemporary jazz became well known because of its television shows unlike ''
So You Think You Can Dance ''So You Think You Can Dance'' is a franchise of reality television shows in which contestants compete in dance. The first series of the franchise, created by '' Idols'' producers Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe, premiered in July 2005 and has ...
''.
Mia Michaels Mia Michaels Melchiona (known professionally as Mia Michaels; born February 22, 1966) is an American choreographer and judge on the television show '' So You Think You Can Dance''. She has worked with Tom Cruise, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Mado ...
's earlier work exemplifies this style. Some other companies and choreographers that create contemporary Jazz Dance are
Sonya Tayeh Sonya Tayeh is a New York City-based choreographer. She has worked nationally and internationally across the worlds of dance and theater. She has earned several accolades for her work, including the Tony award for her choreography work on the B ...
,
Mandy Moore Amanda Leigh "Mandy" Moore (born April 10, 1984) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She rose to fame with her 1999 debut single "Candy (Mandy Moore song), Candy", which peaked at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot ...
, and
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is a contemporary dance company based in Chicago. Hubbard Street performs in downtown Chicago at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance and at the Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. Hub ...
. Commercial Jazz, which has been popular since the 1980s, combines aspects of hip hop and jazz and is often done to pop music. This style can be seen in the music videos of
Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreogr ...
and
Paula Abdul Paula Julie Abdul (born June 19, 1962) is an American singer, dancer, choreographer, actress, and television personality. She began her career as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers at the age of 18 and later became the head choreographe ...
. Commercial Jazz often includes more "tricks." Commercial Jazz and contemporary jazz are both seen at dance competitions. Another variety of jazz is Latin Jazz. "Maria Torres developed and popularized the fusion at Broadway Dance Center". Latin jazz has an emphasis on the movement of hips and isolations. It can be seen in the films ''El Cantante'' and ''Dance with Me'', as well as on TV dance shows. Jazz Dance appeared throughout the 20th century and is observable through the media. For example, movies like "
A Chorus Line ''A Chorus Line'' is a 1975 musical conceived by Michael Bennett with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a book by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante. Set on the bare stage of a Broadway theater, the musical is cent ...
" and "
Saturday Night Fever ''Saturday Night Fever'' is a 1977 American Dance in film, dance Drama (film and television), drama film directed by John Badham and produced by Robert Stigwood. It stars John Travolta as Tony Manero, a young Italian Americans, Italian-America ...
" helped re-popularize Jazz Dance and added new styles and combinations. In the 1980s,
MTV MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...
revolutionized dance by showcasing high-energy music videos that combined various styles, including Jazz, Ballet, and street dance.


Dancers, Directors, Choreographers

* Jack Cole influenced
Matt Mattox Matt Mattox (August 16, 1921 – February 18, 2013) was an American jazz and ballet dancer. He was a Broadway performer and a specialty dancer in many Hollywood musicals. His best-known film role was as Caleb Pontipee in the 1954 film ''Seven Brid ...
, Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins, and Gwen Verdon, and is credited with popularizing the theatrical form of jazz dance with his great number of choreographic works on television and Broadway. *
Katherine Dunham Katherine Mary Dunham (June 22, 1909 – May 21, 2006) was an African American dancer, choreographer, anthropologist, and social activist. Dunham had one of the most successful dance careers of the 20th century and directed her own dance compan ...
was an anthropologist, choreographer, and pioneer in black theatrical dance who introduced isolations Jazz Dance. She created the Dunham technique, characterized by simple lines, torsos that move in different ways, and a greater variety of tempos and rhythms than most other Western dance styles of that time. In 1944, she opened the K.D. School of Arts and Research in Isadora Duncan's former studio in New York, followed by the Dunham School in 1945, where notable artists like Marlon Brando and James Dean studied. * Eugene Louis Faccuito also known as Luigi, was an American jazz dancer, teacher, choreographer, and creator of the first codified jazz technique, the Luigi Technique. *
Bob Fosse Robert Louis Fosse (; June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was an American choreographer, dancer, filmmaker, and stage director. Known for his work on stage and screen, he is arguably the most influential figure in the field of jazz dance in th ...
, choreographer and film director, revolutionized jazz dance with his sexually suggestive movements. His choreography is very recognizable and can be found in the musicals and films that he has choreographed, such as ''
Cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, casino, hotel, restaurant, or nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or drinking, ...
'' and ''
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
''. * Gus Giordano was a jazz dancer and choreographer in Chicago known for his clean, precise movement. *
Patsy Swayze Yvonne Helen "Patsy" Swayze (née Karnes; February 7, 1927 – September 16, 2013) was an American film choreographer, dancer, and dance instructor, and the mother of actors Patrick Swayze and Don Swayze. Her credits include choreography for ''Ur ...
, choreographer and dance instructor, combined jazz and ballet, founded the Houston Jazz Ballet Company, and served as its director. *
Hemsley Winfield Hemsley Winfield (April 20, 1907 – January 15, 1934) was an African-American dancer who created the New Negro Art Theater Dance Group. Early years He was born Osborne Hemsley Winfield to a middle-class, African-American family in Yonkers, New Yo ...
was a dancer during the Harlem Renaissance. He utilized the black body to discuss racial identity and expression, emphasizing the unique cultural heritage of African Americans. In his 1933 Forum Recital titled “What shall the Negro dance about?”, Winfield highlighted the universal human emotions expressed through movement, while asserting the importance of African cultural roots and Southern work songs. *
Josephine Baker Freda Josephine Baker (; June 3, 1906 – April 12, 1975), naturalized as Joséphine Baker, was an American and French dancer, singer, and actress. Her career was centered primarily in Europe, mostly in France. She was the first Black woman to s ...
was a dancer who gained fame in the 1920s with her performances at the Folies Bergère, where her unique style and iconic costumes, such as the banana skirt, captivated audiences. Baker's career included a national tour and recognition as the NAACP's "Woman of the Year."


See also

*
Jazz-funk dance Jazz-funk is a subgenre of jazz music characterized by a strong back beat, electrified sounds, and analog synthesizers. The integration of funk, soul, and R&B music and styles into jazz resulted in the creation of a genre that ranges from pur ...
*
Jitterbug Jitterbug is a generalized term used to describe Swing (dance), swing dancing. It is often synonymous with the lindy hop dance but might include elements of the Jive (dance), jive, east coast swing, collegiate shag, Charleston (dance), charlesto ...
*
Swing (dance) Swing dance is a group of social dances that developed with the swing style of jazz music in the 1920s–1940s, with the origins of each dance predating the popular " swing era". Hundreds of styles of swing dancing were developed; those that h ...
*
Tap dance Tap dance (or tap) is a form of dance that uses the sounds of tap shoes striking the floor as a form of percussion; it is often accompanied by music. Tap dancing can also be performed with no musical accompaniment; the sound of the taps is its ow ...
*
Vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which began in France in the middle of the 19th century. A ''vaudeville'' was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a drama ...
*
Vernacular Dance Vernacular dances are dances which have developed 'naturally' as a part of 'everyday' culture within a particular community. In contrast to the elite and official culture, vernacular dances are usually learned naturally without formal instruction.An ...


References


Bibliography

* Bailey, A. Peter. ''Revelations: The Autobiography of Alvin Ailey''. Carol Publishing Group, 1995. * Carter, Curtis. "Improvisation in Dance". ''The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism''. 58, No. 2, p. 181–90. jstor.org * Cohan, Robert. ''The Dance Workshop''. Gaia Books, 1989. * Crease, Robert. ''Divine Frivolity: Hollywood Representations of the Lindy Hop, 1937–1942''. In ''Representing Jazz''. Durham: Duke University Press, 1995. * Dunning, Jennifer. ''Alvin Ailey: A Life in Dance''. Da Capo Press, 1998. * Reid, Molly. ''New Orleans: A Haven for Swing Dance Beginners, Professionals''. ''The Times-Picayune''. 21 January 2010 * Seguin, Eliane ''Histoire de la danse jazz''. Editions Chiron, 2003. * Torbert, Margot L. ''Teaching Dance Jazz''. Margot Torbert, 2000. * Nalett, J., Kraines, M. G., & Pryor, E. (n.d.). History of jazz dance. In ''Jump Into Jazz'' (Fifth). * Jackson, Jonathan David. “Improvisation in African-American Vernacular Dancing.” ''Dance Research Journal'' 33, no. 2 (2001): 40–53.
Improvisation in African-American vernacular dancing
on JSTOR. (n.d.). ''www.jstor.org'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Jazz Dance
Jazz dance Jazz Dance is a performance dance and style that arose in the United States in the early 20th century. Jazz Dance may allude to vernacular Jazz, Broadway or dramatic Jazz. The two types expand on African American vernacular styles of dance that ...
Contemporary dance Music of New Orleans Dance in Louisiana