Did you know “jazz” originally referred to any dance done to jazz music? Trademarked by rhythm, clean, strong lines and isolated torso movements, jazz dance has risen from relatively non-existent in the U.S. to one of the nation’s most visible disciplines. To pay homage to this unique style this week, here are five things you probably didn’t know about jazz...
1. Jazz dance originated from African folk dances. It began as a social dance with roots in African slave dances, and over time, developed a clearly defined technique. Unlike the early Europeans (more about them in our Five Facts about Ballet), African people believed in using the whole body as a means of dance expression, hence the rib cage isolations and hip movements you practice in class today!
2. Jazz has influenced the elements of several other dance styles. While jazz is a dance all its own, dances from the Charleston and jitterbug to the twist and disco all evolved from jazz movements. Even the elegant ballroom foxtrot borrowed European style dance steps and set them to traditional jazz rhythms. Nowadays, jazz elements can be seen on Broadway, in modern dance and even as an influence in modern ballet.
3. Jazz is one of the youngest styles of dancing. Widely known as a foundational staple in dance studios today, jazz dance was popularized less than 100 years ago in the 1930s. It paralleled the birth and spread of jazz music, made famous by the big bands of the swing era in New Orleans, Chicago and New York City.
4. Americans lost interest in jazz less than 10 years after its rise in popularity. Because it began as a social dance, when the U.S. entered World War II in the 1940s, the social dancing and jazz club scene diminished. It wasn’t until the next decade that the style came roaring back by making its way to the forefront of theatrical stages. To this day, jazz continues to be heavily influenced by culture, music, and society as it changes.
5. Today, jazz is one of the most popular and visually widespread styles of dance. No longer contained to the social scene, jazz choreography now highlights the stage in popular shows like Hamilton and West Side Story, while jazz routines are performed on popular television shows like So You Think You Can Dance? and even in the ballroom on Dancing with the Stars.
Want to learn more about jazz? Take some time to research these jazz dancers—they helped shape the steps you learn in the studio each week!
● Jack Cole — Known as the “father of theatrical jazz dance,” Cole’s choreography developed a mode of jazz-folk-ballet that prevails as the dominant dancing style in today's musicals, films, television commercials and music videos.
● Katherine Dunham — Best known for incorporating African American, Caribbean, African, and South American movement styles and themes into her ballets, Dunham influenced dancers like Alvin Ailey and made way for jazz-infused styles to be taught and performed around the world.
● Bob Fosse — A professional dancer by age 13, Fosse is best known for his choreography, which mixes the elegance of Fred Astaire with the comedy of vaudeville. Fosse turned a spotlight on jazz by incorporating his unique style into popular shows such as The Pajama Gang, Cabaret, Sweet Charity and Chicago.
● Gus Giordano — Creator of The Jazz Dance World Congress, Giordano earned jazz fame in the 1960s with his infusion of freestyle movement and head/torso isolations. While his techniques are still being taught today, Giordano is also credited with pushing jazz dancing to be recognized internationally as an acknowledged form of art.
● Jerome Robbins — Originally a ballet dancer, Robbins merged his talents in ballet and jazz to cement his place among Broadway’s all-time greats. His choreographic collaborations with Leonard Bernstein led to the creation of iconic performances in On the Town, West Side Story, The King and I, Gypsy, Peter Pan, Call Me Madam, and Fiddler on the Roof, among many other Broadway, film and ballet productions.