History of Jazz Dance
History of Jazz Dance
Many jazz traditions were imported from Africa, where every tribe had a set of dances of its own, characterized by many rhythms going on at the same time. Different parts of the body move to the various rhythms – arms to one rhythm, the torso to another. Typically these dances were done solo, yet in a group for various ceremonies.
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In the early 1800s, when slavery existed in many parts of the world, slave trade was a popular business. In America, the Protestant church viewed dancing as sinful therefore slaves were not allowed to dance or play their African drums. Unlike the French and Spanish Catholics who allowed slaves to dance to keep them happy and physically fit.
The slave owners ban on drums did not suppress the African slaves' interest in dancing. They discovered that foot tapping, stamping, and hand-clapping, gave the same affect as their drums. This musical improvisation later became an inseparable part of modern jazz dance. During the same time period the use of fiddles, quills, and banjos were made which eventually were used for their dancing.
As the ban on African dances was not lifted, the white owners, who found the dance form to be a part of their recreational activity, started to paint their faces black and perform the slave dance. These numbers increased in the 1850’s to 1900’s. Troupes were created and traveled to various towns and performed minstrel shows. Minstrel shows slowly made way to ballroom dances. Some songs that were written by African-American composers taught people different techniques of dancing.
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With the change in musical genre’s so did the dance steps. Post World War II, jazz music underwent many changes and Jazz dance took two different routes. It went from theatrical to popular social dancing and burlesque.
Jack Cole, popularly known as the 'Father of Modern Jazz,’ created his own unique dancing style. He studied ballet, modern and ethnic dance forms, and was highly influenced by East Indian dance forms.
Other dancers who also excelled in this form of dance, and later went on to become big names in Hollywood were Katherine Dunham, Jerome Robbins, Matt Mattox, Eugene Facciuto, and Bob Fosse. Choreographers even like George Balanchine started experimenting with the Jazz style which required the use of technically trained dancers. This is when jazz dance formed, in its original and most recognizable state.
As the popularity of jazz dance increased, more people showed their interest in learning it. Jazz schools sprang up. Over the years, various forms like breakdancing, hip-hop, swim, etc., have evolved from this dance form.
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Today, jazz is presented in many different forms at special dance schools and performances by dance troupes around the world. Jazz dance technique is based on the execution of stylistic leaps and turns, with emphasis on correct posture. The finesse depends largely on properly-executed moves, and strong and sharp body movements. Ballet technique greatly influences, and assists dancers execute the proper technical skills that are required of the demanding genre. The emphasis on core and spotting enables dancers to maintain balance and poise while executing powerful movements such as pirouettes and fouetté's.
This dance form requires warm up routines that are have moderate to intense stretching exercises. These are important to generate the muscle tone that adds to the grace and fullness of each move, and helps prevent injuries.
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Though jazz dance is believed to be an American contribution to the world of dance, it cannot be denied that without the African and European influence, it would not have developed the way we know it now.
The authors
Tami Whatcott is originally from Utah, but is currently based out of Chicago. She graduated from Utah Valley University with a BFA in Modern Dance and a BS in Dance Education. Tami has been an instructor for Universal Dance Association for the past 9 years. She has had the opportunity to travel not only across America, but internationally as well working in countries such as Spain, England, China, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Slovenia, Austria and Mexico to teach, perform, choreograph and judge in many genres from high school to college levels.
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