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Mini History of Jazz Dancing

 

WHAT IS JAZZ?

When you hear the word Jazz what do you think of? 

Better yet, when you hear about jazz as a style of dance what comes to mind? 

Do you think of the Charleston? Or does your mind go straight to broadway? 

The evolution of jazz dance spans over history, and takes on many forms. 

Jazz began as a social style of dance at the turn of the century when African American dancers began blending traditional style African steps with European movement.

With that combination it allowed dancers to create a conversation with the musicians and their instruments. Like jazz music, jazz dance was centered around improving and a call and response between the dancers and musicians. 

No matter where and when jazz always has had a performative feel.

Here are some steps every beginner should know:

Ball Change: A quick transfer of weight from one foot to the other.

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Jazz Square: A four step movement in which the dancer steps across, back, and to the front. Creating a square pattern with feet on the floor.

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Chassé: Step out in any direction in píle, then jump and chase the first leg. Like a gallop.

 

A list of some famous jazz dancers throughout history:

Bob Fosse: June 23, 1927- September 23, 1987

An actor, choreographer, dancer, director, and screenwriter. 

He was known for his distinct style with his use of the pelvis, arm, and hard isolations, and rounding of the shoulders. He gave jazz a new dimension. Winning 8 Tony Awards for choreography. Some of his major works include ‘Chicago’, ‘Kiss Me Kate’, ‘Pippin’, and ‘Cabaret’. 

Jack Cole: April 27, 1911- February 17, 1974

A dancer, choreographer, and theater director.

He is considered as the “father of jazz” technique. He combined jazz with modern steps. 

Jack choreographed Marilyn Monroe’s ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friends’. ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’, and ‘Les Girl’.

This opened the floodgates to new talent and modifications to the dance form. 

Jerome Robbins: October 11, 1918- July 29, 1998 

Theater producer, director, and dance choreographer. 

He was a world renowned choreographer, know for his contribution to ballet, theater, movies, and television musicals.

His works include: ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, ‘Funny Girl’, ‘West Side Story’, and many more.

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Contemporary Dance

What Is Contemporary Dance?

Contemporary dance is a genre of dance performance that developed during the mid-twentieth century and has since grown to become one of the dominant genres for formally trained dancers throughout the world, with particularly strong popularity in the U.S. and Europe.

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The genre of Contemporary blends elements of multiple dance styles. This form of dance lets dancers express emotions through movement and breath.   

Contemporary dance is a style of interpretive dance that embraces blending improv, innovation, and technique from various styles of dance such as; jazz, modern, lyrical, and classical ballet. 

Within this genre you focus more on floor work, body shapes, and expression. Instead of relying on the strict rules that govern traditional dance styles it RELIES on your ability to move through improvisation and versatility. It allows you to have creative freedom with your movement. The fluidity of movement allows dancers to explore their mind-body connection. 

It is often referred to as a form of story-telling. Contemporary routines tend to communicate abstract ideas, moments in time, personal or historical moments. The costumes and music will typically reflect and help set the tone of the piece. Some choreographers will have their performers dance to spoken word poems, or have the dance/dancer make “music” with their bodies. 

Major power houses who helped influence contemporary included:  

✨Isadora Duncan, who was an American ballet dancer that rejected the rigid technique of classical ballet to embrace the human bodies natural lines. 

✨Martha Graham was a choreographer known for being the mother of modern dance. Her innovation laid much of the ground for contemporary movement. 

✨Lester Horton was an American choreographer who helped developed modern dance techniques inspired by Native American dances. He was also one of the first American choreographers to insist on racial integration in his performances. His legacy lives on in the work of notable contemporary choreographers including Alvin Ailey.

There are many factors, styles, and innovators who have made contemporary what it is today! This style is forever growing, and has the ability to reflect the times in a way of art movement.

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✨The hidden secret of successful dancers✨
The strength you gain as a dancer will not only help you in class and performances, but will help improve your every day life.
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The power of strength training 

Strength training is the staple when it comes to improving performance. Culturally, specific strength training has not always been a part of dance training due to stigmas in the performing arts community. Strength training helps dancers in many different ways. Training in strength as a dancer can help you leap higher, control your movements, and perform more consistently. Most importantly strength training helps prevent injury. 


Why is important for dancers to strength train? 

Dancers are required to jump, leap, catch partners, incorporate floor work, move down to the floor swiftly, and perform other explosive movements. All of these movements require muscular strength and power. Although technique classes can help improve muscular strength, power, and proper execution they don’t always focus on increasing strength and power as one of the main goals.

 

What happens when we strength train?

When we add strength training to our daily dance training everything changes. Not only do you see the results physically, you can see them within your technique. Every movement and trick becomes more substantial. You begin to have more power within your dancing. The more you train your strength along with your technique the safer your dancing becomes. You will be able to achiever harder movements and tricks. Most importantly your body with be protected, and you chances of injury lessen. 

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Why Dance Is Good For Kids

Dance is a great form of exercise for the body and brain. Finding a love for the art of dance can motivate kids to stay active into adulthood. Dance helps your child increase their flexibility, physical strength, range of motion, and stamina.

Here are some of our favorite benefits of taking dance classes!

Promotes Socialization

Within dance class children learn how to work as a team. As well as gain a great sense of truth and cooperation. Dance is a highly social activity, and with every class they interact with other dancers. More often than not those connection grow into live long friendships.

💕Dance friends are forever friends! 

Improve Physical Health

Dance will enhance your child’s flexibility, strength, and stamina. As well has help you child in other activities beyond the dance studio.

Emotional Development

Through experiencing the joy of dancing your child will learn how to express them in a new found way that is beneficial for their health. This form of expression provides an outlet for healthy emotional and physical release. Children who are given the freed to channel their emotions in a safe space helps build up their self esteem and confidence.

Encourages Creativity

No matter what style of dance your child it encourages your child to express themself while exploring their imagination. Early childhood is the best time for creative development. By encouraging your child’s creativity they will learn how to think critically while building trust.