African and Caribbean

Traditions, Songs and Dances were brought to the US through the slave

trade. Jazz Dance is an

American art form that was greatly

influenced by these cultures.

Use of plie-connection to the ground

Use of parallel

Isolations

Contractions

Improvisation

The term "jazz dance" has been used to describe a forever-changing form of popular and creative dance movement ever since the 1920s. It represents our popular culture, and as the culture changes, so does the appearance of jazz dance

This means that the social dances of the 1920s like the Charleston and Back Bottom are known as jazz dances, but so are the theatre dances of choreographer Bob Fosse.

The common subject binding these obviously different things together is rhythm, or to be more exact, rhythm that is composed in African influences.

Vaudeville- Traveling

amateur acts that included

dancers, acrobats, jugglers,

singers, animal trainers.

Minstrel Shows- White male

performers would put burnt coal on their faces and imitate African

Americans in song and dance

The most famous and longest running of all musical revues was the Ziegfeld Follies-run by Florenz Ziegfeld. Shows included beautiful dancing girls, songs and short theatrical scenes.

Jack Cole Jack started out a modern dancer.

He actually was a student and performer of the Denishawn dance

company who was created by world renowned modern dancer Ruth St. Dennis and Ted Shawn. Dancers such as Martha Graham and Doris Humphrey came from

the same school.

Modern dance shaped the way Cole would later define jazz. He merged the modern dance motivation for movement with popular jazz dance steps to make a more technical and artistic jazz dance.

He also took from his modern dance training, the idea of being "low to the ground". He incorporated a very low plie into much of the movement he developed. This redefined his style, which turned into a bonafide technique. This gave jazz movement a sense of power and gravity. Jack was also extremely interested in the aspect of isolation and syncopation, all which are a huge part of jazz today.

Cole was one of the first jazz choreographers and created the first jazz dance class. He actually was an inspiration to Robbins, Fosse, Gwen Verdon and many other well known dancers today. Jack Cole started evolving jazz dance in his musicals.

Bob Fosse is probably the most influential man in jazz dance history. He

choreographed several great Broadway Musicals of our time such as 'Cabaret', 'Sweet Charity', 'Damn Yankees' and

'Chicago'.

Fosse’s style really highlighted isolated movement. He’d take a group of dancers and sometimes would have only a finger or an eyebrow moving at a time. He was very simplistic yet powerful in his staging and movement

In any Fosse number, you’re sure to find cigarettes, net stockings and a tipped hat. He used a cool, jazz sensibility in his choreography, yet it was Burlesque in nature and sleek by choice with pelvic movement and heavy leans.

Jerome Robbins was an American choreographer whose work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater. Among the numerous stage productions he worked on were West Side Story, High Button Shoes, Wonderful Town, Bells Are Ringing and Fiddler on the Roof.

West Side Story and On the Town are two of his most memorable Broadway choreographic creations.

Jazz Dance will continue to reflect the current era of the day.

It includes social dance as well as cultural traditions.

All forms of jazz dance have rhythm in common.

Jazz will continue evolve, change, and grow.

Fosse Robbins

Using glogster.com you will create a poster comparing and contrasting the styles of Bob Fosse and Jerome Robbins. Due September 29th.