Popular Dances Popular Dance and the Youth Culture

Popular Dances

Popular Dance and the Youth Culture -The discovery of new popular dance forms has long been a special interest of teens. -This social trend had its roots in the earliest dance crazes of the 20 th century. -A parallel societal theme has been the reaction of adults to the new dance crazes – mostly disapproval. -Each has been scorned by their parents generation as outrageous or irreverent. -Each new dance has been viewed by teens as a reaffirmation of their independence.

Charleston -In the 1920’s, America started listening to Hot Jazz. -A youthful rebellion against the straight laced standards of conduct was becoming viewed as old -fashioned: -19 th amendment – women were allowed to vote -Laws prohibiting alcohol production -The radio –a new invention – brought music into the homes of millions -Young women wore skirts above the knee, rolled stockings, and cut their hair in short bobs -The dance associated with this trend became a Jazz Age icon – the Charleston. -It was danced everywhere including ledges of skyscrapers and wings of airplanes. Hot Jazz Example: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=CIk. Wmjw 5 rf. Q

-The Charleston is an athletic dance that includes kicks and inward leg rotations on syncopated beats of music. -It was introduced in 1923 in the successful African American musical “Runnin’ Wild”. -danced to the tune “Charleston” by pianist and composer James P. Johnson -The Charleston represented a shift away from couple dancing toward individual expression. -that was a characteristic of twentieth-century social dancing Here’s an example of the Charleston: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=s 58 i. Tzznkp 0 Here’s how to dance the Charleston: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=f. QSY-2 Vt. Bvg

Tap Dancing -Tap dancing is a step dance in which foot movements produce audible rhythms emphasized by small metal plates on the soles of the dancers shoes. -American dance with roots in the African American community -originated in the rhythmic dances of enslaved Africans merged with the fancy footwork of the Irish step dance. -Feet are used as percussive instruments. -bright-sounding metal taps at the toe and heel of the shoe communicates complex rhythms -Tap dancers improvise elaborate rhythms by shifting their weight nimbly from foot to foot. -Tap dancers use their arms for balance and turn in space. Basic Tap Dance Moves: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=y 60 nqyhw. Yo. M

-With the coming of ragtime music, a syncopated rhythm called “buck and wing” evolved. -The style featured fast and very difficult footwork. -Most famous dancer of this style was Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. -grandson of enslaved African who sparked the tap craze when he was “discovered” in 1928. -Was 50 years old when he was discovered -danced on the balls of his feet which gave his tap dancing a feeling of lightness. -Appeared in 14 Hollywood movies, including “Stair Dance”. Bill “Bojangles” Robinson: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=f. IQJzcldz. Aw https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=wt. Hvet. Gn. Od. M

-Unfortunately, racial prejudice restricted the roles played in films by most African American tap dancers. -White dancers, however, were able to star in Hollywood musicals -Included Ruby Keeler, Eleanor Powell, Gene Kelly, and Fred Astaire. -Fred Astaire partnered with Ginger Rodgers and was condidered to be one of the best dancers of his generation. -He’s credited with introducing ballroom dance into a mix of tap, ballet, and other styles. -He brought glamour and sophistication into the lives of Depression-era Americans. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Ms. S 7 B 8 nyw 5 Y Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=T 45 i. RSvxa. VM Gene Kelly – Singin’ in the Rain: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=D 1 ZYh. Vpd. Xb. Q

-From the 1940’s to the 1960’s, tap dancers found very little work in theaters or nightclubs. -A tap renaissance began in the 1970’s with Broadway shows such as Eubie, featuring the music of Eubie Blake. Eubie: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=f. Bn. GIfw. Pdg 4 -The 1989 film Tap introduced the next tap dance superstar, Savion Glover. -only 14 years old in the film -Has appeared on “Monday Night Football” and “Sesame Street” bringing tap to diverse audiences. -gained fame for choreographing “Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk” which portrays African American history through the medium of tap and other styles. *Savion Glover: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=e. EUO 59 h. Bt 4 Q Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=k. LHUOV 7 f 78 k

Lindy Hop -Great Depression of the 1930’s ended the prosperity of the Jazz Age. -The Depression brought widespread unemployment and homelessness. -Many Americans sought the escape from reality. -Some found it in the overnight success stories told in movie musicals, which employed the new technology of synchronized sound. -Many young African Americans in Manhatten’s Harlem section danced out their frustrations in the Savoy Ballroom -this legendary ballroom had a dance floor a city block long. -Featured two dance bands nightly including Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and others. -These bands developed a new style called Swing. Count Basie – “Basie Boogie” https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Rtv. I__7 XWQ 8

-Savoy dancers’ reaction to swing music was the Lindy Hop. -A jazzy dance in which couples swing, balance, and twirl -had an exciting feature – the breakaway – dance partners separated to freely improvise any movement they choose before coming back together. Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood”: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=_CI-0 E_jses

The Latin Influence -The dance music of Latin America, especially Cuba, became popular in American cities during the 1930’s and 1940’s. -The Conga, and African-Cuban dance, gained popularity because of its catchy rhythm and because it’s easy and fun. -Later, new Latin American dances – including the cha-cha, rumba, mambo, calypso, samba, and tango – captivated American dancers. -The roots of many Latin American dance rhythms can be traced back to Africa -music and dance of these cultures are generally inseparable.

-Through out the Americas, dance music shares some basic features: -highly syncopated rhythms -improvised drumming -a variety of percussion instruments -The mixture of African and Latin American rhythms has become the primary international influence on social dancing in the world today. Steve Turre – shells and Latin jazz https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=c. RTXJHz. L 3 s 8

The Tango -The tango is a Latin American dance performed at a moderately slow, walk-like tempo in a 4/4 meter. -The primary accents occur on beats 1 and 3. How to dance the Argentine tango: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=wvew. X 55 VADs&list=PLDC 4757368 65 FDCDC Argentine Tango dancers: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=1 ft. LLKr. C 81 s

The Samba -The Samba is an African-Brazilian dance that is faster, jazzier, and more syncopated than the tango. -You can count the samba in a fast 4/4 meter, but you should feel it in strong two-beat groupings. How to dance the samba: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=r. Ms. Rzvei_AI Professional Samba dancers: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=1 e 7 EDPld. Tuw

Rock n Roll -As the 20 th century reached its mid point, a phenomenon occurred that was to radically change the course of popular music. -It was the introduction of a musical form that blended aspects of rhythm, blues, country, and gospel. -It was played by small instrument combos with guitar and tenor saxophone and had strong backbeat accents.

-In 1951, Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed gave the new music a name that would stick: “rock n roll”. He borrowed the name from the title of the song; “My Baby Rocks me with a Steady Roll”. -The performer still widely known as the “king” of rock n roll was Mississippi native Elvis Presley. -He electrified American culture in 1956 with his appearances on national television. -At first, he was only shown from the waist up. -station executives thought his hip gyrations might offend some viewers -emphasizing his hips and legs, this had actually been a feature of many African American dance styles. -This was very new to other audiences. Elvis Presley – Jailhouse Rock https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=gj 0 Rz-u. P 4 Mk Elvis Presley – Hound Dog https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=lz. Q 8 GDBA 8 Is&list=RDYrk 9 l 8 EZFC 8&index=5

The Twist -Millions of Americans were soon swept up in a rock n roll dance sensation called the Twist. -”The Twist” was both a dance and a song performed by rock singer Chubby Checker. -The dance, which could be performed by anyone, was an international craze. -The Twist is a solo dance, like other popular dances of the time -included the Pony, the Frug, Mashed Potato, and the Watusi How to dance the Twist and Mashed Potato: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=v 8 Xm. Je. ERKz. A Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=xb. K 0 C 9 AYMd 8 The Wah Watusi: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Oc. QQi 9 vb. ZZE

Disco -By the late 1960’s rock n roll became a music that was more often listened to than danced to. -The new dance beat that took the world through the end of the war in Vietnam was called disco. -eclectic mix of rhythm and blues, gospel, soul, and Latin Dance music. -short for discotheque, meaning record library -named for clubs where the music was played and danced to. -music was from recordings – not a live band -saved club owners money $$$ while permitting the club to feature the best dance music available. -Discos created a new profession: the disc jockey -job responsibilities include keeping the dance music flowing.

-Disco music was heavy on the beat and featured brass and other instruments that are seldom heard in rock music. -It was high energy, upbeat music. -Some disco dancing was free form with individuals dancing alone or joining groups. -Most disco dancing, however, had set up patterns that brought dancers back into physical contact with their partners. -Greatest hits: -”I Will Survive”, by Gloria Gaynor https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=f. CR 0 ep 31 -6 U -”Stayin’ Alive”, by the Bee Gees https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=I_izv. Abh. Ex. Y