Jazz Dance

• Jazz dance is an umbrella term that can refer

to several related dance styles. All of them are
connected via common roots, namely tap,
ballet, jazz music, and African-American
rhythms and dance.
 History
• Jazz dance originated from the African
American vernacular dance of the
late 1800s to the mid-1900s. An early popular
"jazz dancer" was vaudeville star Joe Frisco in
the 1910s. He danced in a loose-limbed style
close to the ground while juggling his derby,
hat and cigar.
• Before the 1950s, jazz dance referred to
dance styles that originated from African
American vernacular dance.
• In the 1950s, a new genre of jazz dance—
modern jazz dance—emerged, with roots
in Caribbean traditional dance. Every
individual style of jazz dance has roots
traceable to one of these two distinct
origins.
• African slaves used it to express
emotions and their beliefs.
• The ethnic dances gradually became
urban which were spirited and lively;
and because new steps and
variations were constantly being
created, the American people have
taken an avid interest in this
rhythmically strong kind of dance.
 Technique
• Technique is the foundation for all dance
movement. A strong technical foundation
enables a dancer to focus on the stylistic
and performance aspects of dance.
• Technique is essential for jumps and
turns, where correct posture is essential
to properly execute such moves.
• Also, jazz dancers' strong and sharp
movements are greatly aided by a
good background in ballet technique.
• Center control is important in jazz
technique. The body's center is the
focal point from which all movement
emanates, thus making it possible to
maintain balance while executing
powerful movements.
• Katherine Dunham, considered
the grandmaster of jazz dance technique.
She was a key inspiration to most
modern jazz dance legends.
• Jack Cole, considered the father of jazz
dance technique. He was a key
inspiration to Matt Mattox, Bob Fosse,
Jerome Robbins, Gwen Verdon, and
many other choreographers.
 Characteristics
• Costumes - The outfits or costumes are usually
form-fitting because this enables the dancer
to move freely and easily while providing
comfort to the dancer.
• The dance costumes allow a lot of freedom
when it comes to color. These costumes are
designed to be showy without looking over
the top. Jazz dancers wear a shoe that is
designed to give them lots of flexibility and is
usually made of leather or canvas.
• Key features of jazz dance styles include
using feet, arm, and hand positions,
isolations (head, shoulder, hips), timing,
shape, and movements including body
rolls, jazz walks, swings, and kicks.
• Jazz, tap and musical theater dance are
“cousins.” These forms of dance are tied
to everyday music, songs and rhythms.
• Jazz dance involves a range of lively,
often sensuous body movement and
percussion techniques, with a mix of
tap steps, social dances and ballet.
New forms of jazz dance developed
with new music, such as the
Charleston, swing, rock and roll, and
the Caribbean reggae.
 Specific Dance Steps
• Some jazz dance moves includes:
• Pas de bourree: A back-side-front three step
move
• Grapevine: A series of steps that move
sideways with a side, back, side, front pattern,
and
• Jazz square: A crossed front-back-back-front
four step move in the floor pattern of a
square.