Jazz dance has its roots in social dances from the late 19th century and styles that emerged in the early 20th century like the cakewalk, Charleston, and fox trot. It incorporates movements from African dance like foot stamping and rhythmic isolations. Jazz dance is closely connected to jazz music styles and interprets their syncopated rhythms, polyrhythms, and swung notes. It remains a popular commercial dance style today seen in routines that combine fancy footwork, leaps, and fluid motions performed with strength, balance and musicality.

1. UNIT 47-JAZZ DANCE
There are different types of jazz style dance which could include classic jazz,
hot jazz, primitive, lyrical. For example, there is a new genre of jazz dance
called modern jazz dance. Which has emerged with the roots of Caribbean
traditional dance. Most of the jazz dance styles has roots to one of those
origins. Jazz is a dance style that is loved all over the world and was something
that has been cherished ever since the 1950’s. it is a dance style that has
become widely known. Some of the rhythmical structure that is used in jazz
dance is rhythm, pulse, accent, off beat and syncopation. Jazz dance has been
greatly influenced by social dance and popular music. Jazz dance took some
aspects from the African dance through the rhythm and movements such as the
foot stamping and tapping, hand clapping and rhythmic movements. Also, the
growth of the dance style was mostly influenced by the genre Dixieland jazz
music. Jazz dance has helped with impressive series of dance technique.

2. RELATIONSHIP TO THE MUSIC-
PULSE
In jazz dance, the term swing is used to describe the sense of
propulsive rhythmic “feel” or “groove” in it. This is created so that
the performers are able to get some sort of sense and feel
especially with the music used to create this intention(visceral
response) such as feet tapping or head nodding which is seen in
pulse. The term, “swing” is used to describe other types of concepts
within jazz style of dance which is including the swung note(a
rhythm showed with unequal notes), which is a genre of swing, a
jazz dance style. Jazz continues to influence developing musical
styles. The rhythm which is shown in Latin dance and dances has
enlarged the appeal of how jazz dance is being conveyed.

3. The common time structure used in jazz dance and music is 2/2,2/4,4/4,3/4,
5/4,7/4,3/8. which can be shown as a type of compound time as well. Some
of the key features of jazz dance is syncopated movements, polyrhythmic
movements, contraction, extension, use of parallel and turn out such as
jazz fourth, moving individual body parts in isolation i.e. the head,
shoulders, rib cage. Some of the technical skills that are required for jazz
dance is accuracy, balance, strength, co-ordination, core stability, posture
and flexibility. Whereas, there is also performance elements which are
required for jazz or any sort of dance style which includes expression,
focus, musicality, communication, emphasis of each movement and timing.
For example, in the Charleston, dancers used body isolations for the first
time in a social dance and also using feet stamping and hand clapping from
the African dance.

4. For example, syncopation is a stress normally on a unstressed beat, or missing a
beat when a stressed one would normally be expected. Syncopation is used in
many styles such as jazz. Which incorporates different elements of Caribbean
and Latin folk music into its composition. This shows some of its rhythmic
characteristics. The rhythm and stylistic qualities of the dance hints out a way of
how this dance needs to include a good amount of performance and musicality
skills. The music used in jazz dance has had an high influence on how that dance
will have the impact on the dynamic quality of the movements which could
contain the jazz movements such as hand clapping and feet stamping. Also, for
example commercial dance works also in the category of jazz dance. It
encompass a myriad of styles of dance. Also, commercial dance, is a hard hitting
punchy style that is popular around the world.

5. THE CAKEWALK
The cakewalk style of jazz dance was
a socially acceptable way slaves
made fun of their owners. Dances
were usually held at the master's
house on the plantation and often took
the form of a competition with cake as
the reward for the winning dancers,
hence the name of the style. Slaves
would line up and high step in a
straight line, mimicking their masters
and other aristocrats. The style died
out between 1915 and 1920.

6. FOX TROT DANCE
This dance was shown in 1910’s, but however it became more popular in the
1930’s. Unlike the Charleston, this dance style is more of a smoother dance.
The may seem similar to the waltz but the music is much more faster. The
dance was originally danced to ragtime. However, now the fox trot is typically
danced to big band swing style type of music. The dance combines quick
steps with small steps.

7. GREASE- BORN TO HAND JIVE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY5pmzmiDO8
This dance uses a mixture of hand clapping and feet stamping with
jazz music that is associated of the 1950’s rhythm and blues in
particular. Of Which involves a complicated pattern of hand
movements, that follows at various parts of the body. Of which
could be following and/or imitating the percussion instruments.
These hand movements include thigh slapping, cross-wrist
slapping, fist pounding, hand clapping and hitch hike moves.

8. LITTLE MIX- MOVE IT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFKP4UDZcvg
This dance is shown as commercial jazz type of style. It is shown as
energetic. Combining fancy footwork, quick turns and big leaps, jazz
dancers quickly gain attention because not only of their fluid
movements, but also the grace and balance in which these movements
are performed. Routine is based on lyric. Lyrical gestures. Strong arm
movements type. Main motif- the choreography of the chorus does not
change and it stays the same.