How Has Jazz Ballet Developed?

eHow
July 14, 2011

Jazz is a style of dance born out of African and Caribbean traditions and fused with techniques of classical ballet. Jazz, as it is commonly called in America, was the catalyst for musical theatre and other forms of dance, including swing and hip hop. Sometimes called “jazz ballet” in Europe, this truly American style of dance has influenced dance performance the world over.

Origins of Jazz Dance
The roots of jazz in America can be traced back to the arrival of the first slaves in the 1600s. Slaves from various tribal cultures brought to America language, music and dance, all of which were brutally suppressed by the Slave Act of 1740, which prohibited the playing of African drums and dancing. Still, the rhythm and movements of African dance seeped into white American culture, evolving into what we now know as jazz dance.

Minstrelsy and Musical Comedy
In the 19th century, whites began to imitate slave dances in minstrel and vaudeville shows, donning blackface and parodying the slave experience. These performances influenced the beginning of musical comedy in the 20th century. In the 1920s, when the economy was booming and new forms of music like ragtime and Dixieland were emerging, throwbacks to slave dances became commonplace in everyday society, most notably, The Charleston. The Depression Era of the 1930s saw a change in jazz music and the introduction of black jazz musicians like Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. This new syncopated rhythm in the music gave rise to swing and Big Band. During this same time, Fred Astaire took musical theatre to the silver screen. His unique style seamlessly blended ballet and jazz into graceful and technical, yet rhythmic, movements.

Cole and Fosse
Jack Cole is known as “the father of American jazz dance.” His style influenced the musical theatre that exists today, first showcased in classics like “West Side Story.” Latin and rock-and-roll music also had enormous influence on jazz dance during this time in the 1950s. Cole’s works inspired the styles of his contemporaries, including Alvin Ailey, Jerome Robbins and Carol Haney. Twenty years later, in the 1970s, Bob Fosse became one of the world’s leading choreographers. His style modernized Broadway with sharp, erotic movements and the ever-famous “jazz hands.”

Modern Forms of Dance
Jazz dance has evolved to influence many modern forms of dance. It gave rise to breakdancing in 1970s New York City and hip hop in the 1990s. Broadway shows and movies that centered around jazz dance brought the modern form of dance to the forefront of American culture. “Flashdance,” “Footloose,” “Fame” and “Dirty Dancing” are cultural icons that gave jazz its biggest audience in history. Styles of dance continually meld and evolve. Modern jazz is a dynamic style, unique to each individual choreographer.

References
University of Houston: Jazz Dance History; Jacqueline Nalett
Bob Boross Freestyle Jazz Dance: Jazz Dance History in America
Vance’s Fantastic Classic Black Dance Theatre: African American Contributions to Theatrical Dance

Resources
PBS: Bob Fosse