Jazz Dance: A Versatile and Expressive Genre, Study Guides, Projects, Research of Dance

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Chapter ??

Jazz Dance

C H A P T E R

Chapter 11

Jazz Dance

Enduring understanding:

Jazz dance is an American classic and contemporary dance genre used in entertainment, media, and concert dance.

Essential question:

How does jazz dance help me express myself as a dancer?

Introduction

An American dance genre, jazz grew out of the popular dances of the early 20th century.

Throughout its development, jazz dance has absorbed many dance forms from society and the stage or was influenced by music and trends of an era.

Jazz dance is a versatile and adaptable dance genre with social, concert dance, musical theater, and entertainment styles.

Chapter 11 Vocabulary Terms

Parallel Position

Isolation

Ball Change

Three Step Turn

Grapevine

Pivot Turn

Leap

Hop Jump

Fan Kick

Dig

Spotting

African Dance Characteristics

in Jazz Dance

• Grounded stance
• Percussive rhythm
• Isolated body parts
• Movement initiated from the torso

20th-Century Roots

of Jazz Dance

• Social dance forms
• Ragtime
• Swing music

Jazz dance before 1960 was based on social dances of the era.

Jazz Dance Artists

• Jack Cole blended Indian, Afro-Cuban, and Spanish dances into his work.
• Katherine Dunham used Afro-Haitian dance and complex rhythms.

(continued)

Jazz Dance Artists (continued)

• Jerome Robbins was choreographer and director of West Side Story.
• Lester Horton’s work influenced West Coast jazz dance. He used cultural dance forms and developed strong, versatile dancers.
• Alvin Ailey used Horton technique, African overtones, and social components in his jazz choreography.

Parts of the Jazz Dance Class

• Warm-up: total-body movements and isolations
• Isolations: head, shoulders, ribs, hips, legs, and feet
• Standing exercises
• Moving across the floor: walks, jumps, leaps, kicks, and turns
• Combination
• Cool-down

Jazz Dance Class Safety

Safety in jazz dance class begins with appropriate dancewear and footwear selections and removal of jewelry and secure hair.

Jazz dance steps and combinations make awareness of space essential.

Forced Arch

Jazz Dance Positions of the

Arms and Hands

• Positions of the arms
  • First, second, third, fourth, and fifth positions
• Jazz hands
  • Fists or soft fists
  • Relaxed
  • Stretched

Summary

Jazz is an ever changing creative expression that echoes the life and times of the people in each decade. It has complex roots, and it is intertwined with many other dance genres.