2. JAZZ STYLES
• African - A rhythmic style influenced by ethnic rituals
• Broadway - A highly theatrical style influenced by musicals
• Hip-Hop - An energetic funky style influenced by breakdancing
• Lyrical- A soft flowing style influenced by ballet
3. Ragtime -1900s
• 1896 is considered to be the start of
Ragtime
• During this age, the cake walk was a
dance named for the ornate prize for
the best dancers.
• The cakewalk was the first African-
American dance to attract the
public’s attention. It influenced a
“performance style” atmosphere.
4. Jazz Age - 1920s
• The 1920s were known as the jazz age.
• The end of WWI, a time of
celebration, caused people to express
themselves through music and social
dance
• Age of the flappers
• The Charleston was a very popular
dance during this time.
• Important figures: Josephine Baker and
Bill Bojangles
5. Big Band Era - 1930s
• Also known as the “swing” era
• Characterized by music composed of full
orchestras
• Marked the end of social dance due to the start
of WWII and the Depression
• The music of great artists such as Duke
Ellington and Louis Armstrong provided an
escape from the Depression
• Popular dances of this era include the boogie-
woogie and the jitter-bug/lindy hop
6. Bebop - 1940s
• The 1940s brought about
music that was more complex
• Broadway musicals became
very popular
• Jazz dance developed into a
more technical aspect with
the increased demand of
dancers
• Jack Cole and Katherine
Dunham were pioneers for
jazz dance
7. Rock-n-roll - 1950s
• Marks an age where dance
and drama merged
• Captivating musicals such as
West Side Story
• Elvis Presley’s music was
characterized by a blend of
hillbilly, gospel, and blues
• Social dances were on the
rise again including The
Madison, Locomotion, The
Chicken and Mashed Potato
8. Motown - 1960s
• The revolution of music occurred in the
1960s
• Broadway continued to thrive
• Dance fads increased and social dance
became even more popular (Popular
dance included The Twist)
• Variety shows highlighted professional
dancers and the need for formal training
increased
• Jazz dance became even more technical
9. Disco - 1970’s
• Popular dances of this time included the
Bus Stop, the Roller Coaster, the Hustle,
and the Bump
• Breakdance emerged making its way from
the streets of New York
• Breakdance was a competitive dance
form; it provided an alternative to gang
warfare for some
• Bob Fosse gained the attention of
Hollywood with “A Chorus Line, “Pippin,”
and “Dancin”
10. MTV - 1980s
• Dance became more commercialized and
appeared in various films and music videos
• Popular dance films include Fame,
Flashdance, That’s Dancin’, Staying Alive,
and Dirty Dancing
• Choreographers such as Michael Peters and
Paula Abdul utilized jazz and social dance in
videos for artists such as Madonna, Janet
Jackson, and Michael Jackson.
• Aerobics and jazzercise attracted new
audiences
