African Origins of an American Art Form

• Jazz dance, known as a true American dance form is deeply rooted in African dance dating back to transatlantic slave trade

• African dances were transformed into African-American dances by the blending of cultural African dances with the dances of the white culture

• Cultural groups brought with them their own beliefs, cultural practices, rituals and dances but during enslavement there was no attempt to keep families or people of the same culture together to maintain their unique cultures, therefore dances blended and merged

From Slavery to the Stage• Dances such as Buck Dance, Juba, Snake Hips, Pigeon

Wing, Turkey Trot, Cakewalk and Water Dances emerged from the blending of various cultural groups.

• During enslavement drums and drumming (which was a major part of African culture) were prohibited but dancing continued openly for pleasure, for entertainment of the slave owners or in sacred rituals privately among enslaved people

• These dances have in common patting the body or ground, replication of animals or objects in nature, congenial but competitive dancing and commemorative and religious acts

From Slavery to the Stage• From 1724-1817 Congo Square (now part of Louis

Armstrong Plaza in New Orleans) was the gathering location for people of all cultures, African and Whites together, where all that gathered participated in dancing, stomping, patting or calling.

• This began the major blending of European dancing and music with African based movement.

• By the 1830s minstrel shows became popular where white folks performed the blended dances that largely caricatured black people.

• This moved into the trend of “blackface” performers where white performers would paint their faces black to even further embody the characteristics of black people.

• The most common finale of a minstrel show was to end with all participants engaging in a cakewalk.

From Slavery to the Stage• By the 1870s vaudeville performances began to develop

and black performers alongside white performers (with black painted faces) became the norm and formed the entertainment of the time

• Vaudeville performances were variety shows that could include juggling, acrobats, chorus girls and child performers.

• The music that accompanied these performances derived from African traditions of percussion, syncopation and polyrhythm and served as the antecedent to Jazz music.

• Dance of this time was a mix of folk and vernacular dances and later became more stylized for performance and theater.

Conclusion

• Jazz dance is considered a truly American art form solely because of the blending, whether by choice or by force, that happened on this continent.

• We can acknowledge that African people in the West before, during and after enslavement contributed to the greater dance landscape through the development of Jazz dance.