Choose your favorite video clip from this Module and post it in the answer box (1 point) Tell me what drew you to this Ballet over all the other Ballet vid

As you watch this documentary on Blacks, Vaudeville, and the roots of theatrical dance in America, do you think people get more credit for the art forms they invent these days, as opposed to the days of the Minstrel show?

The Roaring 20’s

If there was one dance that symbolizes the Roaring 20's, it was the Charleston. First watch this version of the Charleston. You don't have to watch the whole thing, just enough to get a feel for it. But please read this article on the complex history of the 20's and Swing Dancing, and who has gotten credit for creating this art form!  Origins of Swing DancingLinks to an external site.

Then watch this version synced to a more contemporary piece of music. Amazing how little we have added since the Roaring 20's to the tempo of our social dances!

 

This is the most famous clip of the Lindy Hop from the movie "Helzapoppin".

When watching these examples of the Charleston and the Lindy Hop, have we really invented anything since the 1920's? Or have we just slightly altered steps that were already invented? Also, 

What is Jazz Dance?

Jazz dance is an American art form, much like its companion, jazz music. 

Jazz dance is a classification including a broad range of dance styles. Before the 1950s, jazz dance referred to dance styles that originated from African American 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.

In the 1950s, a new genre of jazz dance— modern jazz dance—emerged, with roots in Caribbean traditional dance. Every individual style of jazz dance has roots traceable to one of these two distinct origins. Jazz dance often referred to tap dance because tap dancing, set to jazz music, was one of the predominant dances of the era. Jazz dance evolved over time to spawn a diverse range of social and concert dance styles. During the later Jazz Age, popular forms of jazz dance included the Black Bottom, Charleston, Jitterbug, Boogie Woogie, swing and the related Lindy Hop. 

Modern Jazz Dance Styles and Techniques

Technique is the foundation for all dance movement. A strong technical foundation enables a dancer to focus on the stylistic and performance aspects of dance. Technique is essential for jumps and turns, where correct posture is essential to properly execute such moves. Also, jazz dancers' strong and sharp movements are greatly aided by a good background in ballet technique.

Center control is important in jazz technique. The body's center is the focal point from which all movement emanates, thus making it possible to maintain balance while executing powerful movements.

Notable Directors, Dancers, and Choreographers in the Genre of Jazz Dance

 

Katherine Dunham

We have discussed her contributions to dance in the vein of Modern dance, but she is also considered one of the grandmasters of jazz dance technique. She was a key inspiration to most modern jazz dance legends.

Dunham Contributions to Jazz (Links to an external site.)

 

Jack Cole

Jack Cole is considered the father of jazz dance technique. He was a key inspiration to Matt Mattox, Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins, Gwen Verdon, and many other choreographers.

https://youtu.be/p6HZfDQekiA 

 

Bob Fosse

Fosse is a noted jazz choreographer who created a new form of jazz, inspired by Fred Astaire and the burlesque and vaudeville styles.

Bob Fosse (Links to an external site.)

 

Gus Giordano

He is a highly influential jazz dancer and choreographer.

Giordano Dance (Links to an external site.)

 

Eugene Louis Facciuto

A.K.A. Luigi, a dancer who in the 1950s created a warm-up routine designed to prepare his body for dancing after being paralyzed in a car accident. Luigi is the Father and Innovator of  Jazz Dance (Links to an external site.).

 

Jerome Robbins

A choreographer for a number of hit musicals, including Peter Pan, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof, Gypsy, Funny Girl, and West Side Story and he also directed the last four. In addition founded the ballet company Ballets USA.

Jerome Robbins (Links to an external site.)

 

Gwen Verdon

A dancer and actress known for her roles in Damn Yankees, Chicago, and Sweet Charity.

Fosse and Verdon (Links to an external site.)

 

Musical Theater

Musical Theater has and dance have a long standing association. Before Musical Theater was established in the United States there were popular shows from the 1800s-early 1900s that influenced it:

· Honky Tonk (Saloon) Shows – variety shows – 1800s

· Vaudeville – variety shows that were family friendly

· Little skits – sing, dance, comedy, think of Lucille Ball in I Love Lucy

· Burlesque – more sensual shows with performers scantily clad

· Minstrel Show – (defined in your reading)

· Opera – imported from Europe

These shows became unpopular with the advent of radio and tv, just like attendance of live concerts have decreased over the years with the amount of content of youtube and other media/social media platforms.

Musical Theater Facts!

· Musical Theater is a performance where a story conveyed through dance, music, singing, and acting.

· Music was used to set a mood for the story being told, and was a collection of different sounds( i.e. R&B, Blues, Jazz, Rock n Roll)

· Jazz Dance, Social Dances, & Tap were used to develop Musical Theater Dancing Styles

· “The Black Crook” 1866 was directed by Davis Costa and was the first theater piece to use dance to move the storyline along.

· "Shuffle Along” 1921 was the first African American musical, and paved the way for African American performers.

· Seymour Felix was the first to put together a Libretto (script, music, lyrics) and dance as a part of musical theater. 

· The first officially recognized Musical Theater piece was Oklahoma

· Choreographer: Agnes de Mille, known especially for the Dream Scene Ballet because it used the dancing to move the story line along.

· Oklahoma Musical (Links to an external site.)

·

· Musical Theater hit its height in popularity in the 60s/70s

· After the actors, musicians, and employees became unionized the cost of production became way to high so the shows were no longer as financially lucrative. 

· Andrew Lloyd Webber is one of the most well-known composer for musical theater. Some of his works include: Cats, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Evita, The Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, etc.

· In the past 30 years there has been a resurgence of interests in Musical theater due to shows like The Color Purple, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, Hairspray, Rent, Hamilton, etc. One of my favorites, has always been The Lion King!

Dance in 'the Lion King'

There are many shows that are dance-centric, but none like the Lion King! Watch these next couple video to get a deeper insight to how the choreography of Garth Fagan and the production as a whole come together to tell this very popular story.

The Lion King – Behind the Scenes (Links to an external site.)

 https://youtu.be/tc97XZLPAaA

Tap Dance

· A combination of the Irish Jig, English Clog Dancing, and the Juba Dance (Negro Shuffle)

· Created in the mid-1800's

· Shoes worn with metal taps (originally pennies or bottle caps were nailed to the bottoms of shoes, before tap shoes were manufactured)

· Introduced in Minstrel Shows, dominated by Vaudeville and Musical Theater

 

 

Four Styles of Tap

Rhythm Tap

This style can be identified by intricate and complex rhythms and foot work. Some famous rhythm tappers are Gregory Hines and Savion Glover (the Tap dancer for all of the rhythm and tapping you hear in the film Happy Feet).

White Nights film – Gregory Hines Solo

Savion Glover

Savion Glover – "Happy Feet" (Links to an external site.)

 

Classic Tap

There is rhythmic footwork coupled with the ballroom aesthetic to provide finesse and elegance to the upper body. Can be performed individually or with a partner. In these next clips of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers notice the choreographic element of space.

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire (Links to an external site.)

Show Tap

The type of Tap uses acrobatics and athletic movements with the Tap techniques. The best example of this is the incomparable Nicholas Brothers.

Nicholas Brothers in Jumpin Jive

 

Soft Shoe

Danced without the metal taps on the shoe so the sounds are more mute/muffled. Prominent figure in soft shoe is Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. He is known for his partner dancing with Shirley Temple in various Hollywood Films. He has been a tapper since the age of 12 and started in Vaudeville. Bojangles is considered one of the first Rhythm tappers.

Bojangles and Shirley Temple

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