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. In the late 1960s, many West African dancers came to America and settled in the South Bronx. Breakdancing emerged not as an entertainment form, but as a competition, as a means of attaining superiority in street corner fraternities; it was an alternative to gang warfare. In the 1980s, breakdancing exploded out of the ghettos and into mainstream American dance culture. In bizarre movements; it was slick, erotic and this same period of time, jazz dance further intense. He was a one-man jazz phenomenon expanded its horizons when it combined with whose style continued to make its mark on the physical fitness classes to make exercise more Broadway stage and in Hollywood throughout fun and sociable. The result was a new the 1980s. hybrid; aerobic dance classes.

The 1970s also saw the huge impact of John The most prominent name in the 1980s Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, which musical theatre was Andrew Lloyd Webber, boosted the image of the who is acclaimed for shifting the focus of the male dancer; of Michael Broadway musical from America to the Bennett’s production of A London stage. His musical hits include Chorus Line; and the Jesus Christ Superstar, Phantom of the notable jazz production Opera, and the hottest musical of the 1980s, of Grease. But another Cats, with choreography by Gillian Lynne. major influence on jazz Jazz dance in the 1980s dance came not from a received a tremendous person, but from an area. boost from prominent Out of the ghetto movies of the decade: neighborhoods of New York City came the Fame, Flashdance, dance phenomenon called breakdancing. Footloose, Staying

Alive, Breaking and Breakdancing is an umbrella term for all Dirty Dancing. forms of modern street dance: breaking Attendance in jazz (specific moves done on or close to the floor); dance classes freestyle (gymnastic moves and partner lifts); skyrocketed with electric boogie (flowing movements that enter students eager to conquer this exciting dance one part of the body and exit another); form. American businesses noticed the large audience appeal of jazz dance and moved in appearances. In addition, Frank is one of the quickly to capitalize on the craze. As never featured master teachers for the annual Jazz before, jazz dance appeared in television Dance World Congress. The Frank Hatchett commercials for Panasonic, Coca-Cola, and style is a blend of strength, funk, and many fast food chains. individual interpretation, with an emphasis on selling your performance. Associated The 1980s also saw the introduction of MTV exclusively to Frank Hatchett, his unique a new energy and spirit have medium come to be called VOP. for Joe Tremaine started dance studying in New York and in the 1960s and later appeared in many television specials and variety shows. His teaching style is professional dancers. When MTV began comparable to his broadcasting in 1981, music videos combined style on the dance high-energy jazz, ballet, street dance and floor; up to the social dance in striking and innovative ways. minute, fast, flashy, and funky. The variety of Some major choreographers of the period techniques he brought from New York are were Michael Peters, Jeffrey Hornaday, also a part of his unique style which many Lester Wilson, Toni Basil, Paula Abdul, refer to as “West Coast Jazz” or “L.A. Jazz”. Madonna, and Janet This style is driven by current musical trends, Jackson. The supreme is rhythmic and jazzy. He has channeled his video star of the enthusiasm for dance in another direction as 1980s was of course, well; his own dance conventions and Michael Jackson. competitions. Michael Jackson made a major impact In the 1990s jazz dance world, the buzz words on the direction of in training centers were street dancing, street jazz dance with his funk, and hip hop. Street dance is inner city creative dance steps, dance taken directly from the street corners his videos, his with performers using “boom boxes” as their presentation and his accompaniment. The Fly Girls dancers choreography, most featured on the early 1990s hit show In Living of which was done by Color, gave many Michael Peters, or primetime viewers Jackson and Peters as their first look at a team. street dance. Choreographer Two other names to add to the list of Rosie Perez is professional instructors who have influenced credited with the development of jazz dance are Frank developing this style Hatchett and Joe Tremaine. Entertainers, of jazz, which mixed students, and dance teachers from all over the street moves with world come to study with Frank Hatchett. technical ballet and Frank continuously tours the country giving jazz moves. Street dancing may be master classes, and making special guest considered an umbrella dance term that encompasses funk, popping, breakdancing, American culture. Today jazz dance is and hip hop. Hip hop dance is done to hip hop recognized as a uniquely American music. The dance style uses the whole body contribution to dance art. including complex footwork, body isolations, breakdancing and gymnastic moves. Hip hop is a style of clothing, attitude, dance and music.

Jazz dance in the new century continues to both look back to the classics for inspiration and move forward to create new dance performances. In film, jazz dance, hip hop and ballet fused in the box office success

Center Stage. In some ways, Center Stage is reminiscent of Flashdance in storyline and also in that dance was given a tremendous boost and dancers yet again realized the importance of training in wide varieties of dance styles. The current jazz dance performance world has sought a wider variety of performance platforms, including cabaret and lounge shows, cruise ship entertainment, and touring dance companies. Concert shows with musical superstars feature dancers as an integral part of their concert entertainment. Jazz dance, and in particular musical comedy, has become a primary theme park entertainment. Music videos, major television productions, such as award presentation galas, and industrials (promotional business shows) still prominently use jazz dance. The history of jazz dance has evolved in pace with the music and moods of each decade. African American culture has been a huge influence on the development of jazz dance. For example, the Charleston, Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Swim, Watusi, Breakdancing, and Hip Hop all grew out of the full-bodied, free- spirited music and dance heritage of African