7.2 Jazz Dance in Vaudeville and Broadway

Jazz dance exploded onto the entertainment scene through vaudeville and Broadway shows in the early 20th century. These platforms gave jazz dancers a chance to wow diverse audiences with their energetic moves, helping the style gain widespread popularity.

Key figures like Josephine Baker and Bob Fosse pushed jazz dance forward, blending different styles and creating unique choreography. Their work in theater productions elevated jazz dance to an art form, influencing social dance trends and paving the way for formal training programs.

Jazz Dance in Vaudeville and Broadway

Popularization through vaudeville and Broadway

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• Vaudeville shows provided a platform for jazz dance to gain exposure and popularity as part of variety entertainment that included dancers, singers, comedians, and acrobats in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
• Broadway productions incorporated jazz dance into musical theater choreography, often as a central feature in shows like "Shuffle Along" (1921) which introduced African American performers to mainstream audiences and "Runnin' Wild" (1923) featuring the Charleston dance craze

Influential dancers and choreographers

• Josephine Baker, an African American dancer, singer, and actress, gained fame in vaudeville and Broadway shows with her energetic and sensual dance style before becoming an international star in Paris
• Jack Cole, considered the "Father of Theatrical Jazz Dance," blended modern dance, ballet, and ethnic dance styles (Afro-Caribbean, East Indian) to create a unique jazz dance vocabulary and choreographed for Broadway shows and Hollywood films
• Bob Fosse, an influential Broadway choreographer and director, developed a distinctive style characterized by turned-in knees, jazz hands, and hip isolations showcased in acclaimed shows like "Sweet Charity" (1966) and "Chicago" (1975)

Impact on mainstream acceptance

• Vaudeville and Broadway shows attracted diverse audiences from various socioeconomic backgrounds, helping jazz dance gain mainstream acceptance and popularity
• Jazz dance elements from vaudeville and Broadway performances were incorporated into social dance trends (Charleston, Black Bottom) and further spread through Hollywood films
• The inclusion of jazz dance in professional theater productions elevated its status as a legitimate art form, paving the way for the development of jazz dance technique and training programs

Stylistic characteristics in performances

• Jazz dance choreography emphasized syncopation and rhythmic complexity, showcasing dancers' ability to interpret and embody jazz music
• Incorporated African American vernacular dance styles (Charleston, Black Bottom, Lindy Hop) and featured exaggerated, stylized movements emphasizing showmanship, athleticism, and individual expression
• Choreographers like Jack Cole and Bob Fosse integrated elements of modern dance, ballet, and ethnic dance (Afro-Caribbean, East Indian) into their jazz choreography, expanding the boundaries of the genre through a fusion of styles