Jazz Dance HistoryGHS Dance Department

Dance 1

Origins of Jazz Dance

“Jazz” is a word that came into the English language to describe the music of the early 1900s, a time when the European and African music traditions met and mingled in rich cross-cultural fertilization.

Traced to the rhythms and movements brought to America by people native to Africa.

Terminology Warm-up : To lengthen the muscles,

wake-up the body, release tension, and prevents muscle injury.

Alignment : The accepted standards for proper postural balance. It refers to the equalization for structural and muscular forces to maintain body balance.

Jazz : Dance or combination with smooth and strong movement, usually to popular music.

Isolation : Moving one body part independently of the others.

Parallel : No rotation, toes straight ahead.

Turnout : Outward rotation of the legs from the hip socket to the feet.

Spotting : Technique used in executing a turn in order to prevent dizziness.

Dance Hands : Soft hand, thumb in line with the middle finger.

Jazz Hands : Fingers spread apart…..”Spider Hand”.

Contraction : All the muscles pull center or inward….to act as if someone punched you in the stomach.

Three Step Turn : Take three equal steps while rotating 360 degrees.

Pivot Turn : Half turn on the balls of the feet to change direction.

Plié : A bending of the knees over the feet.

Chassé : To chase, a sliding action or step together step where the feet “kiss” in the air.

Pas de Bourree : A movement sideward (back side front).

Jazz Square : Four walking steps performed to the front, side, back, and side.

Pirouette : A turn performed in relevé with one leg in passé.

Chaine Turn : Chain or link, rapid turns in first position on demi-point.

Jete : Leap, take off from one foot and land on the other

Dig : To place the ball of the foot on the floor next to the other foot.

Point : To place the tips of the toes on the floor without applying weight.

Combinations Jazz dance is a combination of African and

European influences cultivated in the American urban environment.

Jazz dance began in the 1920’s with the end of the World War I and with the emergence of Dixieland jazz music.

Jazz dance is a mirror of the social history of the American people, reflecting historical events, cultural changes, ethnic influences, and especially the music and social dances of its era.

Pioneers Pioneers in the Jazz field include:

1. Katherine Graham2. Donald MacKayle3. Syvilla Forte4. Fred Astaire5. Gene Kelly6. Twyla Tharp7. Bob fosse8. The Joffrey Ballet9. Alvin Ailey

Steam Heathttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAKQauAfcZU

Jazz Choreographers Today

1. Wade Robson2. Brian Friedman3. Sonya Tayeh4. Dan Karaty5. Tyce Diorio6. Laurie Ann Gibson7. Mandy Moore8. Travis Payne

“Comanche”Choreography by Wade Robson

Brian Friedman choreography:Master Class @ Millennium in L.A.

Broadway Jazz

“Sweet Dreams”Choreography by Mandy Moore