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Jazz
During the World War 1, most people were down, unhappy and depressed. As soldiers began to return home, everyone wanted to return to their state of happiness. It was time to begin living life to the fullest no matter what. And then there was the birth of Jazz!! It became the dance without rules where dancers could let loose and go wild. They could let go of their inhibitions and be someone else for a change. Jazz Originated at the close of the 19th century in the seamy dance halls of the south and Midwest. Jazz originated in many locations like New Orleans St. Louis Memphis and Kansas City just to name a few. New Orleans had the largest fan base making it one of the more popular spots.
This was an era of the last generation including the Flapper with their short skirts and straight up and down look. The people scandalized the elder in the nightclubs and the speakeasies that replaced ballrooms of the pre war days. The dancing became informal with close embraces and frequent changes of partners were now socially acceptable. This kind of dancing was influenced a lot by blacks. In the early 19th century dances like cakewalk and turkey trot, diluted forms of black social dances were adopted into white community. Some jazz dances, such as the Charleston, jitterbug, and twist, have movements to that of Africans and early slave dances, others, such as the fox-trot, can be seen as European couple dancing adapted to jazz rhythms. There was only a kind of music that pleased this generation, which was Jazz Music. The multitudes of people who gravitated to the bars and brothels were a major part of the development of jazz. In the 1800’s-1900’s Jazz Dance was actually danced to jazz music now it is more to hip-hop and other wild types of music.
After about 1940 American theatrical dance evolved, and in the fifty’s and sixty’s a style emerged that combined elements of ballet, modern dance, and tap-dance. It emphasized bodyline and flexible torso; fast, accurate footwork with the feet basically parallel unlike ballet that focuses on a turnout at all times; and exaggerated movements of individual body parts, such as the shoulders. In general, it concentrated on floor-oriented steps as opposed to high lifts or leaps.
There have been many notable dancers throughout the history of jazz. For instance, Jack Cole was considered the father of Jazz. He danced and choreographed in nightclubs and would go on to work for Broadway and the movies. Jazz dance steps were popular at the time but lacked a technical side. Cole was the first to merge the modern dance aspect of motivation for movement with popular jazz dance steps to make technical and artistic jazz dance. He was most famous in Hollywood for his work with Rita Hayworth and Marilyn Monroe. Bob Fosse was a jazz choreographer who created a new form of jazz inspired by Fred Astaire and the burlesque and vaudeville styles. This choreographer was known for his work with msuicals such as Pajama Game (1953), Damn Yankees (1955) , How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1961), Sweet Charity (1965), Dancin' (1978). He also worked on films such as Cabaret (1972) and All That Jazz (1980). He won Tony awards for both Pajama game and Damn Yankees. Noted for its intentionally exaggerated staging and unique arrangements of dancers, Fosse's choreography emphasized stylistic techniques such as locked ankles, hip thrusts, shoulder rolls, and leaning postures.
Cole and Fosse’s dance moves are still widely notable as well as seen in routines now a days. For instance, on the popular reality show So you think you can dance? , The judges always pointed out Fosse’s movements in Mandy Moore’s choreography on various Jazz routines. We’re now in 21st century and Jazz is still very much Alive!!!
During the World War 1, most people were down, unhappy and depressed. As soldiers began to return home, everyone wanted to return to their state of happiness. It was time to begin living life to the fullest no matter what. And then there was the birth of Jazz!! It became the dance without rules where dancers could let loose and go wild. They could let go of their inhibitions and be someone else for a change. Jazz Originated at the close of the 19th century in the seamy dance halls of the south and Midwest. Jazz originated in many locations like New Orleans St. Louis Memphis and Kansas City just to name a few. New Orleans had the largest fan base making it one of the more popular spots.
This was an era of the last generation including the Flapper with their short skirts and straight up and down look. The people scandalized the elder in the nightclubs and the speakeasies that replaced ballrooms of the pre war days. The dancing became informal with close embraces and frequent changes of partners were now socially acceptable. This kind of dancing was influenced a lot by blacks. In the early 19th century dances like cakewalk and turkey trot, diluted forms of black social dances were adopted into white community. Some jazz dances, such as the Charleston, jitterbug, and twist, have movements to that of Africans and early slave dances, others, such as the fox-trot, can be seen as European couple dancing adapted to jazz rhythms. There was only a kind of music that pleased this generation, which was Jazz Music. The multitudes of people who gravitated to the bars and brothels were a major part of the development of jazz. In the 1800’s-1900’s Jazz Dance was actually danced to jazz music now it is more to hip-hop and other wild types of music.
After about 1940 American theatrical dance evolved, and in the fifty’s and sixty’s a style emerged that combined elements of ballet, modern dance, and tap-dance. It emphasized bodyline and flexible torso; fast, accurate footwork with the feet basically parallel unlike ballet that focuses on a turnout at all times; and exaggerated movements of individual body parts, such as the shoulders. In general, it concentrated on floor-oriented steps as opposed to high lifts or leaps.
There have been many notable dancers throughout the history of jazz. For instance, Jack Cole was considered the father of Jazz. He danced and choreographed in nightclubs and would go on to work for Broadway and the movies. Jazz dance steps were popular at the time but lacked a technical side. Cole was the first to merge the modern dance aspect of motivation for movement with popular jazz dance steps to make technical and artistic jazz dance. He was most famous in Hollywood for his work with Rita Hayworth and Marilyn Monroe. Bob Fosse was a jazz choreographer who created a new form of jazz inspired by Fred Astaire and the burlesque and vaudeville styles. This choreographer was known for his work with msuicals such as Pajama Game (1953), Damn Yankees (1955) , How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1961), Sweet Charity (1965), Dancin' (1978). He also worked on films such as Cabaret (1972) and All That Jazz (1980). He won Tony awards for both Pajama game and Damn Yankees. Noted for its intentionally exaggerated staging and unique arrangements of dancers, Fosse's choreography emphasized stylistic techniques such as locked ankles, hip thrusts, shoulder rolls, and leaning postures.
Cole and Fosse’s dance moves are still widely notable as well as seen in routines now a days. For instance, on the popular reality show So you think you can dance? , The judges always pointed out Fosse’s movements in Mandy Moore’s choreography on various Jazz routines. We’re now in 21st century and Jazz is still very much Alive!!!