American Jazz Dance Flashcards
stylistic features 1
bent knees
low centre of centre gravity
use of parallel position
isolations/syncopation
pirouettes and high kicks
movement emanating for torso and pelvis
percussive movements
linear lines
hand gestures
strong use of limb/explosive energy
quick changes in direction
dramatic changes in levels
facial expressions
stylistic features 2
use of comedy/slapstick to entertain
direct correlation with the music
development of movement for camera
development of use of props
controversial subject matter
accessible
combined styles and genres
key vocab
minstrelsy
vaudeville
burlesque
social themes
narratives
syncopated
isolations
entertaining
humour
individualised
tap
naturalism
realism
origins/history-1600s-19th century
1600s-slaves were forced into America and they brought their tribal traditions of African music and dance
1740-slave act-prohibited slaves from playing African drums or performing African dances-did not suppress their desire to keep this as part of their identity
19th century-minstrel shows-stage entertainment of songs and dances where white actors usually performed in blackface; parodied their perception of slave life and popularised the African style of dance and music-lack of jobs for African-americans so they moved to Europe with new forms of jazz music that were more well received than in America.
origins/history-1910s-1930s
1910s-jazz dance migrates around America from the south to north-industrial jobs-take their culture with them
1920s-jazz music spreads across America which influences the growth of jazz dance
1920s-social dance became influenced by many key features of jazz dance
1920s-Bill “Bojangles” Robinson-flexibility in tap dance
1930s-Great Depression-social dance competitions to win cash prizes which also involved changes in jazz music
key practitioners
Gene Kelly, Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, Fred Astaire, Jack Cole, Bill “Bojangles”
