Modern Jazz Dance
Athletic, exciting and powerful describe the energy and movement of modern jazz dance. Usually performed to upbeat, lively music, you can see examples of this dance style in everything from old movie musicals like "West Side Story" and "Guys and Dolls" to the back-up dancers for popular musical artists in 2010. The work of some very innovative and creative dance choreographers influenced and created this uniquely American dance form.
Early Origins
The origins of modern jazz dance go back to the minstrel shows of the 1800s. Featuring white performers in blackface imitating African-American movement and song--this not too auspicious beginning eventually became a popular and accessible dance form. When minstrel dancing meshed with English clog dancing in the early 19th century, the first official style of jazz dance was born--tap dance. Performing with wooden shoes eventually gave way to metal taps on leather shoes in the 1920s.
The Roaring 20s
After World War l, the country celebrated and embraced life to the fullest. Music and dance reflected this attitude. The word jazz--which up until then was slang for sex--came to refer to the music and dance. Partner-less dances like the Charleston, the black bottom and the rag appeared--steps that still appear in modern jazz dance in 2010.
Katherine Dunham
In 1937, Katherine Dunham, a former student of ballet and modern dance, formed the Negro Dance Group after returning from academic study in the Caribbean. The group incorporated African and Caribbean dance movements with more traditional dance forms. Dunham's fusion of modern, ballet and ethnic dance is an important component of modern jazz dance.
Jazz Pioneer Jack Cole
Choreographer Jack Cole is less well known than other jazz dance innovators. However, in the 1940s, he merged modern dance steps with popular jazz dances like the Charleston, creating a recognized jazz movement vocabulary and technique for the first time. Cole also incorporated new jazz dance concepts into his jazz dance style, such as syncopation--shifting the accent to the weaker beat--and isolations--moving only one part of the body while keeping the rest still.
Jerome Robbins
In the 1950s and 60s, New York City Ballet associate artistic director, Jerome Robbins was a hugely influential and successful theatrical jazz dance choreographer as well as a ballet choreographer. Dance historians credit Robbins with the refinement of the jazz gesture--and the melding of ballet and jazz for a more lyrical and dramatic form of jazz dance. In addition to his ballets for NYCB, Robbins choreographed Broadway musicals like "West Side Story," "The King and I" and "Fiddler on the Roof."
Gus Giordano
Gus Giordano expanded on the work of his teacher Katherine Dunham and created his own jazz technique that emphasized the pelvis. The base of the movement undulates upward through the upper body and arms. In 1978, Giordano recorded this movement vocabulary in the first jazz dance book entitled, "Anthology of American Jazz Dance." As of 2010, it remains one of the most influential and popular books on modern jazz dance.
Bob Fosse
Influenced heavily by choreographers Jack Cole and Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse expanded on the use of the isolation and gesture--sometimes moving only a finger or a hip as part of his choreography. Fosse's physical limitations--turned in knees and hunched shoulders--became part of his dance vocabulary. Bowler hats, canes and chairs became standard props in jazz dance thanks to Fosse. Fosse's original production of the musical "Chicago" opened in 1975. A new production, with his choreography, opened in 1996 and, as of 2010, is still running.
