7.1 Roots of Jazz Dance in African American Culture

Jazz dance emerged from African traditions brought to America through slavery. It blended African rhythms, movements, and improvisation with new influences, creating a unique form of expression. This fusion reflected the resilience and creativity of African Americans in the face of oppression.

As jazz dance evolved, it became a powerful means of cultural preservation and resistance. It flourished in African American communities, spreading through dance halls, competitions, and migration. Jazz dance embodied the spirit of innovation and self-expression, challenging racial barriers and shaping American culture.

African Roots and Influences on Jazz Dance

African roots of jazz dance

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  Reclaiming African roots through dance | UCT News View original

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• African dance traditions brought to America through the transatlantic slave trade
  • Enslaved Africans from various regions and cultures, each with distinct dance traditions (West African, Central African, etc.)
  • African dance traditions preserved and adapted in the New World despite oppression and cultural suppression
• African dance elements influenced the development of early African American dance forms
  • Ring shouts, field hollers, and work songs incorporated African rhythms and movements (call-and-response, polyrhythms)
  • African-derived social dances gained popularity (Juba, Cakewalk)
• African American vernacular dances evolved and contributed to the emergence of jazz dance
  • Dances rooted in African dance traditions (Charleston, Black Bottom, Lindy Hop)
  • Dances performed in African American communities and later spread to mainstream culture

Key elements from African dance

• Polyrhythmic movements
  • Multiple body parts moving to different rhythms simultaneously
  • Reflects complex rhythmic structures found in African music (drumming, percussion)
• Improvisation and individual expression
  • Dancers encouraged to add unique style and flair
  • Contrasts with more structured and uniform European dance traditions (ballet, ballroom)
• Call-and-response patterns
  • Interaction between dancers and musicians or among dancers
  • Derived from African musical and dance practices (responsorial singing, drum communication)
• Grounded and low-centered movements
  • Bent knees, crouched postures, emphasis on footwork
  • Reflects connection to the earth, a significant element in African dance (agricultural dances, fertility rituals)
• Syncopation and off-beat phrasing
  • Movements emphasizing weak beats or between beats
  • Aligns with syncopated rhythms prevalent in African-influenced music (ragtime, blues, jazz)

Social and Cultural Context of Jazz Dance

Social context of jazz dance emergence

• Jazz dance developed in late 19th and early 20th centuries
  • Period marked by racial segregation, discrimination, limited opportunities for African Americans
  • Dance served as means of expression, resistance, community building
• African American dance halls and clubs provided spaces for jazz dance to flourish
  • Venues like Savoy Ballroom in Harlem became hubs for jazz dance and music
  • Allowed African Americans to celebrate culture and showcase talents
• Jazz dance styles spread through traveling performers and dance competitions
  • Dancers and musicians toured the country, exposing wider audiences to jazz dance
  • Dance contests helped popularize and innovate jazz dance styles (Harvest Moon Ball)
• Influence of African American migration on dissemination of jazz dance
  • Great Migration of African Americans from South to Northern cities in early 20th century
  • Brought jazz dance to new urban centers, facilitating cultural exchange and evolution (Chicago, New York)

Role of dance in African American culture

• Dance as means of preserving and transmitting African cultural heritage
  • African dance traditions adapted and maintained in face of oppression and cultural suppression
  • Served as link to ancestral roots and way to assert cultural identity
• Dance as form of communication and storytelling
  • Movements and gestures used to convey emotions, experiences, social commentary
  • Reflected joys, struggles, aspirations of African American communities
• Dance as source of empowerment and resistance
  • Provided outlet for creative expression and self-affirmation in face of racial oppression
  • Challenged stereotypes and asserted humanity and artistry of African Americans
• Dance as unifying force within African American communities
  • Brought people together for social interaction, celebration, shared cultural experiences
  • Fostered sense of solidarity and collective identity
• Dance as catalyst for cultural innovation and cross-fertilization
  • Jazz dance influenced and was influenced by other African American art forms (music, literature)
  • Contributed to broader development of African American cultural expression and its impact on American culture