Download American Dance - Somerset Independent Schools

American Dance
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Folk & Social Dance in America:
Americans easily accept multiculturalism in
dance.
Salsa clubs are popular in certain regions of
the U.S.
Swing dance is making a comeback from the
Harlem swing of the 1940s.
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Began in New England
Immigrants from different countries would familiarize
each other with their dance traditions.
The schottische, the jig, reels and the quadrille were
a few dances that were performed in colonial New
England.
Because there were so many different dances to
remember, “callers” emerged to announce the steps.
An affordable and convenient form of entertainment
requiring only a wooden floor, a caller, and a fiddler.
By the 1950s, square dance had evolved to a very
large event.
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Most popular square dance.
Many variations from simple to complex.
The formation involves two lines of couples,
partners facing each other, with 5-7 feet
between the lines.
Lines have a head and foot (head couple is
closest to musicians).
6 couples maximum.
Step lightly on toes or balls of feet.
Calls instruct to “honor the partner,” “do-sido,” or “reel in a circle.”
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Made a comeback in U.S.
1920s—the Charleston (named for Charleston,
SC)
1930s—the Lindy Hop (energetic dance possibly
named after aviator Charles Lindbergh)
Popular forms of swing: East Coast Swing, West
Coast Swing, Jitterbug, & Jive.
Arthur Murray studios taught a large public
audience.
1950s --TV programs (American Bandstand)
were popular in the U.S.
Originated from African-American dancers,
dancing to early Jazz music.
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Beginning of the 20th Century, ragtime was a
popular form of music in U.S.
Vaudeville--a stage variety show with
singing, dancing, comedy skits/animal acts.
Late 1880s-1930s, vaudeville was the
popular form of theatre that, mixed with
ragtime music, influenced the foxtrot.
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Introduced by a young vaudeville performer named
Harry Fox.
Movies were becoming more popular, so live theatre
struggled to stay in.
In 1914, the New York Theatre was converted into a
movie house.
Vaudeville acts shown between movies—Harry Fox
hired to dance to ragtime music.
The roof of the building was converted to the Jardin
de Danse (began dancing Fox’s Trot in the evenings).
Vernon and Irene Castle, exhibition dancers, helped
popularized it in U.S.
It was set to a 4/4 beat with a slow-slow-quick-quick
foot pattern.
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Brought to U.S. from Havana, Cuba.
While vacationing, Americans learned the new
dance, which resembled the mambo and the
rhumba.
Feet close to the floor with free-flowing
pelvic or hip movement.
The movement of the feet gives us the
sounds of “cha-cha-cha.”
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2 Important figures of the modern era:
1. Martha Graham (1894-1991)—
Pioneer of modern dance in America.
Born in Pittsburgh, relocated to California.
Ruth St. Denis and Isadora Duncan are
Graham’s contemporaries.
Martha revolutionized modern dance by
making social and political statements
through dance.
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Made dancing a more athletic art.
Warm-ups of intense pelvic contractions and
relaxation (ultimate muscle control).
Cave of Her Heart (1946)—recreated the story of the
mythical character Medea.
“All things I do are in every woman.”
Appalachian Spring (1944)—follows a young bride on
the American frontier.
Women’s issues were at the heart of her dances.
Collaboration with:
Isamu Noguchi—designed simplistic architectural sets
for her dances.
Aaron Copeland—American composer who wrote
music for Appalachian Spring.
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The epitome of dance in the modern and
contemporary era.
Born in Texas.
Studied with Graham and other dance greats.
Performed in many Broadway musicals.
Opened his own dance company/school—the
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.
Traditions in African-American history and
culture using jazz, blues, and gospel music
and exemplifying folk heroes.
Included movements from African dance.
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Most of his pieces are conceptual and without
plot (abstract or non-representational).
Best pieces include: Blues Suite, Revelations,
Streams, and Witness.
Created 79 dance works.
After his death, his company was directed by
Judith Jamison.