History of Jazz Dance by Jacqueline Nalett Adapted from Jump Into Jazz, Fifth Edition, 2005, by Minda Goodman Kraines and Esther Pryor, Published by Mcgraw Hill
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History of Jazz Dance By Jacqueline Nalett Adapted from Jump Into Jazz, Fifth Edition, 2005, by Minda Goodman Kraines and Esther Pryor, published by McGraw Hill. The varieties of jazz dance reflect the dance and music. With white dancers as the diversity of American culture. Jazz dance star performers of the minstrel and vaudeville mirrors the social history of the American show, it was difficult for a black dancer to people, reflecting ethnic influences, historic gain stature as part of a dance troupe. Because events, and cultural changes. Jazz dance has of this, many black performers migrated to been greatly influenced by social dance and Europe, where they introduced the newly popular music. But, like so much that is “from emerging forms of jazz music and jazz dance. America”, the history of jazz dance begins In Europe, these talented and innovative somewhere else. performers were more well received than in America. The minstrel show evolved and was The origins of jazz music and dance are found eventually absorbed into the 20th century in the rhythms and movements brought to musical comedy. America by African slaves. The style of African dance is earthy; low, knees bent, Through the end of the 1920’s, Dixieland jazz pulsating body movements emphasized by music, with its fast ragtime beat, spread from body isolations and hand-clapping. As slaves New Orleans to Chicago and New York. The forced into America, starting during the growth of jazz dance was directly influenced 1600’s, Africans from many cultures were cut by this musical genre. In 1923, the Charleston off from their families, languages and tribal was introduced and Americans were quick to traditions. The result was an intermingling of adopt it. In the Charleston, dancers used body African cultures that created a new culture isolations for the with both African and European elements. first time in a The Slave Act of 1740 prohibited slaves from social dance, and playing African drums or performing African the hand dances, but that did not suppress their desire clapping and to cling to those parts of their cultural foot stamping identity. The rhythms and movements of that it African dance: the foot stamping and tapping, incorporated hand clapping and rhythmic vocal sounds were a direct were woven into what we now call jazz. link to the dance’s African In the 19th origin. century, American This was also whites decided the era of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, a black that they enjoyed tap dancer who achieved world fame through the music and the clean and clear percussive rhythms of his dance the slaves feet. The early forms of tap dance evolved had created. In from the Irish jig, which incorporated limited minstrel shows, upper body movements. As the movements of white entertainers the tap dance became more flexible, the parodied their lightness of Robinson’s style influenced the conception of future of tap dance by changing the placement slave life and popularized the African style of of the tap steps from the full foot to the ball of the foot. Bill Robinson was seen performing by ballet and modern dance. By blending the on Broadway, in Hollywood films, and in classical technique of ballet with the natural shows that toured the country. bodily expression of modern dance, jazz developed a sophisticated artistic quality. During the Depression of the 1930’s, people Unlike early jazz dance, which was escaped into dance competitions in hopes of performed by talented entertainers without winning a cash prize. The sound of jazz music formal training, modern jazz dance was started to change due to the “symphonic jazz” performed by professionals trained in ballet of Paul Whiteman. He brought full and modern dance. orchestration to his music and made syncopation a part of every song he played. It was during this time that man who later (Syncopation places the accent or emphasis came to be known as the “Father of Theatrical on normally unaccented beats of music. It Jazz Dance”, adds to the surprise and spontaneity of jazz Jack Cole, was dance.) The music of the black American busy developing bands of Duke Ellington and Louis his technique. Armstrong gave birth to swing music. The Jack Cole had “Swing Era” also termed the “Big Band Era”, studied modern, generated well-known dances such as the ballet, and Lindy Hop and the Boogie Woogie. ethnic dance, had been a During the 1920’s, Fred Astaire had been a student at vital part of Denishawn and Broadway, but in had done choreographic work in the nightclub 1933 when musicals scene. In the 1940’s there was a serious found their fame in demand for groups of trained dancers for film Hollywood, he work and Jack Cole was the one who started became the leading developing these trained jazz dancers for the man for movie Hollywood movie musicals. Also, during this musicals. Astaire time Gene Kelly, began making his mark as a created a unique dancer in Hollywood musicals. His impact on dance style that jazz was his individual, energetic dance style brought elegance to that combined athletic, gymnastic qualities the dancer’s image. He blended the flowing with jazz and tap. steps of ballet with the abruptness of jazz movements and was the first dancer at that During the time to dance every musical note so that the 1950’s, Rock rhythmic pattern of the music was mirrored in and Roll the dance steps. music, which had been Just when social dancing was at its height, played by World War 2 put a stop to its popularity. Lack black of attendance, plus the intricate rhythmic musicians patterns of modern jazz music, which were for many too complex for social dancing, led to the years already closing of dance halls and ballrooms. With at this point, became popular with teenage the demise of social dance, the growth of jazz audiences and thus new kinds of social dances dance as a professional dance form began. were created to go with this type of music. During the 1940’s, jazz dance was influenced During this decade, the influence of Latin American music and dance enriched jazz It carried through the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s in dance as was seen in the landmark Broadway groups like En Vogue, The Jacksons, The production of West Side Story, choreographed Backstreet Boys, N’Sync, and is still strong by Jerome Robbins. It was also during this today in all the vocal stage choreography you time that Matt Mattox, who had been a dancer see where a singer has backup dancers. of the Jack Cole style in many Hollywood musicals, began to develop his own teaching During the 1960’s, and performing style. He was another dancer two other names who had studied ballet, modern, and tap and emerged among the then found his love of jazz in his late 20s. ranks of professional Matt Mattox went on to teach dance in New jazz dance greats: York for many years before moving to Luigi and Gus Europe in the 1970s and developing his Giordano. Luigi school and style based on what he calls “ developed his Freestyle” although many people still label technique as a result him as a jazz dance teacher and of an auto accident choreographer. that left him paralyzed on the right side. With the 1960’s came the twist, as easy to Doctors claimed he perform, overnight craze which brought would never walk, let adults back to the social dance floor. At this alone dance again, but he persisted through point, Motown was the new hot musical operations, physical therapy, and his own craze. It came out of Detroit and the groups study of body development based on dance featured choreographed routines mostly done exercise, and eventually was able to not only by Charles walk again, but to dance and to teach. The “Cholly” technique he Atkins. This developed is idea of the influenced by lead singer ballet and is very being lyrical. His spotlighted technique in front requires that the while the body be back up exercised to its singers fullest to develop performed the strength necessary for muscle control, yet still look beautiful. Gus Giordano’s style is classical but greatly choreographed moves, was new and is influenced by the natural and freer body credited to Mr. Atkins, who was brought in to movements of modern dance. His technique Motown to work with these groups and give teaches isolation movements, emphasizing the them a uniform look onstage. His work can be head and torso and creating an uplifted look seen on Motown groups such as The of elegance. Yoga is incorporated into Supremes, Smoky Robinson and the Miracles, Giordano’s technique as a means of and The Temptations. On the dance floor in relaxation. the clubs, just as we do today, people copied those dance steps they saw the singers doing, In the 1970s Bob Fosse became the which in turn popularized that style of dance. outstanding name is jazz dance. He performed on Broadway and in films, but his true popping (any staccato movement); Egyptian success was as a choreographer. His work (an imitation of Egyptian style art); and includes the films All That Jazz and Sweet floating (steps such as the moonwalk, in Charity, the Broadway hit Dancin, and the which the feet seem to float across the floor). television special Liza With a Z, among many These dance other famous works. He choreographed a styles can be reproduction of Chicago in 1975. Fosse’s traced to the style was distinct; it was highly creative and West African often included cultures of Mali, Gambia, and Senegal.