1
Q
what is a polyrhythm?
A
a rhythm making use of two or more different rhythms simultaneously (traditionally in African music)
2
Q
what is ment by escapism?
A
using something (jazz) to take your mind off of real-life stresses and worries
2
Q
what are minstrel shows ?
A
a type of stage entertainment featuring song and dance based on stereotyped depictions of African Americans, typically performed by white actors with blackened faces
3
Q
what does satirical mean?
A
using humour, irony or exaggeration to make fun of or criticise something, often serious topics like politics or society. it’s a way to highlight flaws or issues in a clever and entertaining way to make people thing or bring about change.
4
Q
what was the red scare?
A
fear that communism (communists were known as “reds”) were secretly taking over America during the cold war. This led to punishment for people who were thought to supports communism often without real proof. cause of a lot of fear and mistrust and tension in American society
5
Q
what is McCarthyism?
A
A period in the 1950s in the United States when people were accused of being communists or working against the country, often without proper evidence. Named after Senator Joseph McCarthy who claimed that many people in the government, the army and hollywood were supporting communism.
6
Q
what was the HUAC ?
A
House of Un-American activities committee. A group in the US government that investigated people they thought might be working against America, especially supporting communism.
7
Q
what are baby boomers?
A
people who were born between 1946 and 1964. This group got their name because there was a “baby boom” after world war 2
8
Q
what is meant by the term funk in the 1960s?
A
All about groovy, danceable beats. it had a strong baseline, lots of rhythms, and focuses on making people want to move
9
Q
what is a dream ballet?
A
theatrical dance sequence within a musical that represents a character’s inner thoughts, emotions or feelings,
10
Q
what is a corps de ballet ?
A
lowest rank of a ballet company- dance together like a chorus of a show
11
Q
what is a vernacular?
A
style of dance that has developed naturally within a community
12
Q
what are the most common stylistic features of ajd?
A
Dynamics
syncopation
energetic performance
contrast in speed
13
Q
elements incorporated in ajd
A
foot stamping and tapping
hand clapping
rhythmic vocal sounds
14
Q
what are the social influences of AJD?
A
- great depression limited production budgets
-jazz dance thrived in smaller venues - focus on dynamic and energetic movements
-offered escapism through upbeat, rhythmic styles
conveyed joy and resilience - American dream
- jazz dance symbolised opportunity and self-expression
- blended diverse cultural influences
- reflected social mobility and individuality
-symbol of cultural democracy
15
Q
what was the social legislation supporting arts?
A
- WPA funded cultural activities during great depression
- made jazz dance performances more affordable and accessible
- supported artists, dancers and theatres
- elevated dance as a profession
- jazz dance gained recognition as important American art form
16
Q
how did world war 2 impact ajd?
A
- war spurred economic growth and employment
- increased disposable income for leisure activities
- jazz dance served as emotional outlet and escapism
- swing dancing popular in dance halls
- reflected ears’s lively social culture
17
Q
how did popular culture in the 1950s impact ajd?
A
- cold war and red scare created tension
- jazz dance provided escape and explored themes of rebellion
- baby bloomers emerged as distinct demographic
- jazz dance flourished in youth-focused media
- appealed to vibrant spirit of younger generation
18
Q
how did McCarthyism and the red scare influence ajd?
A
- McCarthyism forced artists into silence or conformity
- Jerome Robbins directly affected
- created tension in artistic community
- influence broadway productions
- west side story used jazz dance to express conflict and rebellion
19
Q
how did robbins and the HUAC affect ajd?
A
- Robbins testified before HUAC in 1953
- Revealed pressures artists faced
- strained relationships with collaborators
- continued to innovate jazz dance on broadway
- west side story blended jazz dance with story telling
20
Q
how did teenagers and pop culture affect ajd?
A
- teenagers became significant cultural and economic force
- interest in pop culture fuelled jazz dance popularity
- jazz dance feature in various media
- elvis Presley and james dean epitomised energy and rebellion
- inspired younger audiences to engage with expressive styles
21
Q
how did the Puerto Rican migration and cultural fusion impact ajd?
A
- Puerto Rican migration brought Latin rhythms to jazz dance
- fusion prominently seen in west side story
- combined jazz dance with latin and street dance influences
- enriched jazz dance vocabulary
- reflected Americans diverse population
22
Q
what is syncopation?
A
movements that emphasise off-beats or unexpected accents in the music
23
Q
what are the choreographic features in ajd?
A
use of levels
expressiveness
quick changes of direction
24
what are the stylistic features of ajd?
Theatrical flair
isolations
sharpe and precise movement
grounded movements
linear lines, high kicks and leaps
turns and spins
performance is key
parallel positions
movement emanating from the torso or pelvis
percussive movements
hand gestures
25
what was the early development in jazz dance?
- minstrelsy and vaudeville
-influence of ragtime and swing
- the Charleston and lindyhop
26
how was there a growing popularity of theatre and film?
- increase broadway and hollywood created a demand for structured, choreographed dance number
- adapted to fit needs of large scale productions
- rehearsed, synchronised and visually engaging for audiences
27
how did ballet and modern influence ?
- incorporating technical elements into jazz choreography for film and theatre
- emphasis on lines, posture and form brought a new level of precision to the style
28
how did professionalisation of dance training influence ?
- expansion of professional dance schools and companies meant dancers were expected to have formal training.
- jazz dance become increasingly codified with structured techniques and vocab
29
how was there an increased demand for trained dancers ?
- productions required skilled performers capable of executing intricate choreography
- blending of jazz dance with other dance forms, creating a more polished and stylised aesthetic
30
how did hollywood and broadway impact?
- musical theatre became a key platform for jazz dance, leading to its professionalisation
- jazz choreography was featured in broadway productions and hollywood films, solidifying its presence in mainstream entertainment
31
theatrical jazz dance
origins= developed from broadway and hollywood musicals, influenced by ballet and modern dance
stylistic features= strong lines and extension from ballet, expressive, character driven movement. precise and dynamic use of isolations
key practitioners= Jack cole, Bob Fosse
Examples= chicago, cabaret, west side story
32
lyrical jazz dance
origins= developed in 1950-70s, combining jazz with fluidity of ballet and modern dance.
stylistic features= emphasis on grace, fluidity and emotional expression, use of long extended lines and sustained movements. connection to music and lyrics focusing on storytelling
key practitioners = Gus Giordano, Luigi
examples = dance sequences in a chorus line and lyrical interpretations in jazz dance competitions
33
Dream ballet
stylistic features = more abstract and stylised than the rest of the show, used to blend ballet, modern and jazz dance to tell the story visually
key examples = Oklahoma, dance shows emotions rather than dialogue
impact on jazz dance= helped to make dance a key part of storytelling in musical theatre,
influenced choreographers like Robbins and Fosse who blended jazz with ballet and modern
34
Key figures in jazz dance evolution
Jack cole= “father of theatrical dance”
Bob Fosse
Katherine dunham
George Balanchine
Agnes de mile
Michael kidd
Jerome robbins
stanley donen
gene kelly
35
jerome robbins influences
ISADORA DUNCAN - the interpretative nature of Duncan's style was the first introduction to dance Robbins had as a child. This could well have set the standard for his expressionist style of choreography.
MARTHA GRAHAM - Robbins studied with a former Graham Company dancer, Bessie Schoenberg.
Graham was another expressionist choreographer who wasn't shy of using angular lines and intense body
images to express emotion. Graham's influence can be seen in the intensity of the movements in Coolfrom West Side Story.
GLUCK SANDOR - the director of New York Dance Center and Robbins' mentor. "Gluck-Sandor was a hybrid as a choreographer - ballet-trained, dedicated to modern dance, but also a veteran of Broadway,
burlesque, and vaudeville — and his expressive, theatrical style attracted Robbins from the outset."
BALLET - Robbins studied ballet with Russian teachers Daganova and Platova as well as with Balanchine
and Tudor.
MARY HUNTER - the director of the American Actors' Company. Robbins studied acting here and in particular Stanislavski. He would use Stanislavski's methods in West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof.
GEORGE BALANCHINE - Balanchine recognised Robbins' talent early on when he performed in his 'Great
Lady on Broadway in 1938. From then on Balanchine encouraged his training, performance and
choreographic careers. He asked Robbins to join his Ballet Theatre and then later New York City Ballet as Associate Artistic Director with him in 1948. Here Robbins worked with some of the giants of the ballet
world. Whilst NYCB and Balanchine would eventually be known for abstract works, at this time there were a variety of artists and diverse styles at work. Balanchine gave Robbins the freedom to fail and develop.
MICHEL FOKINE - choreographer of ground breaking ballets who cast Robbins in the title role of
Petrushka. Fokine's work was all about telling stories - something that Robbins believed in too.
ANTHONY TUDOR - influential British choreographer who performed with Ballet Theatre and NYCB.
Robbins performed in his Dark Elegies in 1940 and regularly took class with him regarding him an expert in
expressive dance. Tudor became another mentor.
'Tudor emphasized quality of movement and musicality. His art was based on an insightful understanding
of human nature and he always probed and sought ways to make dancing expressive and
communicative.....from the inside out
Judith Chazin-Bennahum: The Ballets of Anthony Tudor
Berten Shared a drive tor expelence father then, On the To it. The V est Sked Sery Costy Poins and
collaborations and Robbins' musicality was a great asset.
36
jerome robbins early biography
- born in New York city 1918 , before he was born his family moved to America from Poland in 1904
- family had financial struggles in the great depression, couldn’t afford education
- he got an apprenticeship at a dance company led by Senya Gluck-Sandor- mixed ballet, modern and broadway styles
- He trained in ballet and danced in several productions- comedic sketches and serious works
- 1930-40 performed in broadway choruses and ballets
- 1940 he was accepted into American Ballet theatre, he later created his own ballet there Fancy Free
- He then become known for his choreography in musical comedies where he told stories and developed characters
37
who was Bob Fosse?
American choreographer, dancer filmmaker and stage director, know for his work on stage and screen he is arguably the most influential figure in the field of jazz dance in the 20th century
38
what was bob Fosse famous for?
how he revolutionised the presentation of dance on screen and paved the way for a whole generation of film and video directors, showing dance through the camera lens as no one had done it before, foreshadowing the rise of MTV-era of music dance
39
What was Bob Fosses childhood like?
-showed a strong interest in dance from a young age and received formal training, which included the frederick weaver ballet school
- began performing professionally in nightclubs and burlesque shows as a teenager, becoming a child prodigy known for his top dancing. he was also the fifth of six children, the some of vaudeville
- bob was the youngest of 6 children and quickly learned to get attention from his family through dancing
40
how did burlesque influence bob fosse?
-“follies” (1971) musical by stephen sondheim and jane goldman, choreographed by Michael Bennett
- sex and sensuality, in US from 1930s onwards allowed for heterosexual male customers and encouraged male glaze by getting dancer to strip, female dancers use their sexuality through erotic movements and gestures to hold power of male audience
-costume was designed to be sensual and revealing but practical for dance, more minimalist and less ornate than follies. black costumes create emphasis on silhouette or line or the body
- use of props, chairs and hats were often favourite, burlesque dancers would often remove a male costumers hats and play with it as part of the routine
-comedy, burlesque means “to send up” and so many of fosses routines use exaggeration and comix gestures to tell stories and entertain their audience
41
how did Gwen Verdon influence Bob Foose?
- Damn Yankees, first worked together in 1955. Verdon starred as Lola, Fosse was the choreographer. Instant click verdons expressive and precise performance skills fitted fosses style perfectly
- muse(source of inspiration) verdon became fosses muse. helped to define his style on stage as verdon supported in rehearsals, staging and refining process
- marriage and separation, they married in 1960, and had a daughter( Nicole fosse). There relationship was complicated by fosses infidelity, emotional struggles, issues with fame and mental health. separated in 1970s but remained close
- legacy keeper, She was at fosses side until his death 1987, she dedicated herself to preserving his work, performing revivals of shows such as chicago and sweet charity
42
what other influences helped fosses work?
- vaudeville
- fred astaire
- the riff brothers
- Jerry lewis
- Hermes pan
- Sanford meisner
- joan mccracken
- American theatre sing
- Jerome robbins
- Jack cole
43
what was fosse most known for ?
- Turned in
- Isolatoons
- Grounded dynamics
- Comedy
- Precision
- Sensual women
- Close group formations
- Stylised walks
- props
- percussion accents
- jazz hands
- hips and pelvis
- hand gestures
dance
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