Led by Linda Jamieson, a dance instructor with more than 30 years of experience, the Linda Jamieson School of Dance provides high-quality dance education to students age 3 to 19. Through the Linda Jamieson School of Dance, students learn a variety of dance styles, including jazz.

1. A Brief History of
Jazz Dance
LINDA JAMIESON SCHOOL OF DANCE

2. Introduction
Led by Linda Jamieson, a dance instructor with more than 30 years of
experience, the Linda Jamieson School of Dance provides high-quality
dance education to students age 3 to 19. Through the Linda Jamieson
School of Dance, students learn a variety of dance styles, including jazz.
Similar to jazz music, the roots of jazz dance can be traced back to
African folk dances. These folk dances used the entire body to express
certain feelings, and many communities in Africa enjoyed dance and
music daily. Although this expressive way of dancing appalled white
society, it survived during the 16th through 19th centuries, when many
African individuals were brought to the Americas as slaves and began to
be integrated into other dance forms. For example, Irish clog dancing
adopted the exaggerated body movements and arm swings
characteristic of African folk dancing.

3. Jazz Dance
At first, the term “jazz dance” was used to reference tap dancing.
However, it later expanded to include dances such as the Lindy Hop, the
Cakewalk, and the Charleston, all of which developed from the folk
dances of Africa. Over time, jazz dance began developing alongside jazz
music. It grew and diminished in popularity until the late 1940s and, by
1950, several prominent dancers, such as Katherine Dunham, began
showcasing jazz dance more regularly. Jazz eventually became a
common dance in music videos and film, cementing its popularity
among dancers.