A Backstage Pass into Dance History
Have you ever wondered where dance came from? Maybe where it all started? Or maybe even who started it? Well this blog will give you an exclusive backstage pass into the behind the scenes of how certain dance styles became what they are today!
When we actually sit down to list all of the dance styles we have today we would be here for hours! Dance began back in about 6000 BC and has only grown and evolved from there. Scientists have a hard time pin pointing the exact time period in which dance actually emerged but make their estimates based upon ancient artifacts and paintings depicting people playing instruments and dancing. Dance is used for a broad means of things such as for spiritual rituals, a way of mating, for pure entertainment, a form of exercise, in some cases a form of therapy, and simply to express a thought or idea that people just can't find the right words to actually say.
To keep things rather simple, I choose to look at a few dance styles in more detail in which I myself have performed and trained in for many years now.
Jazz - Most people you talk to today about jazz dance don't have much of a clue as to where jazz dancing originated as it has taken so many forms over the years. It actually came all the way from Africa as slaves brought their dancing traditions across the Atlantic with them which became their way of self expression. The emergence of jazz music help set off and in some way begin to define the style of jazz dance. One of the first jazz dancers was Joe Frisco, in 1910, made his name through jazz dancing as he brought such high-powered energy that brought excitement to his audiences. The informal nature of jazz dance slowly came to be the norm accepted by all. Jazz made way for many other new dance forms such as the black bottom, Charleston, fox trot, rag, and shimmy. Now, dance studios teach this form and is today seen as just as popular as ballet is. Much like music, jazz dance has definitely evolved over time and still is today as when you watch dance competitions peoples takes on jazz have become very different but still all in all just as entertaining.
Contemporary - Contemporary dancing is a hard one to describe in the sense that it has evolved so much over time and is still changing on a daily basis. The technique behind contemporary dance looks more at the unconventional moves that drift away from the structure of ballet. Roughly contemporary dancing came about in the 20th century by various individuals coming together and just moving. Martha Graham is credited as the founder of contemporary and modern dance and is the one who brought modern dancing to be the basis of what it is today. Modern Dance works by using the raw emotions, moods, facial expressions and general self expression from individuals that are seen to have no place in any other dance styles. This expression comes from a different place depending on the individual and their life experiences, and in the 20th century began with dancers need to express themselves during the period of the Great Depression. It was during this time which modern dance underwent the final fundamental changes to reach the current form it is today.
Hip Hop - Hip-hop began roughly in the early 1970's at a point when DJ's and MC's began experimenting and producing music. Slowly as hip-hop began catching on, different artists were beginning to create their own styles of hip-hip dance. Now, there are many different types of hip-hop dance that all emerged from three main components of hip hop dancing: popping, locking, and breaking. Dance crews then began to come about as a group where dancers could show off their moves and battle against each other for titles. Through these battles and the collaboration of hip hop dancers from all over owing together to share their ideas that new dance forms and techniques were created and are still being created today and now make up a huge part of what hip hop is and is becoming.
To keep things rather simple, I choose to look at a few dance styles in more detail in which I myself have performed and trained in for many years now.
Ballet - The history of ballet all began in Italy during the 15th to 16th century also known as the Renaissance period. During this time, court ballet was used to combine many art forms such as dancing, music, and poetry. Social court dances became popular to the point where families would try to outdo one another by having elaborate dances.The very first ballet was called Le Ballet Comique de la Reine. Most people don't know but early forms of ballet featured only male performers. If there were women parts that needed to be played then men would simply put on masks to play women. Finally, in 1681, professional ballet allowed women on stage making "The Triumph of Love" the first ballet they performed. Since the Renaissance time period, ballet has transformed into a credited and studied art form that is known around the world today.
Jazz - Most people you talk to today about jazz dance don't have much of a clue as to where jazz dancing originated as it has taken so many forms over the years. It actually came all the way from Africa as slaves brought their dancing traditions across the Atlantic with them which became their way of self expression. The emergence of jazz music help set off and in some way begin to define the style of jazz dance. One of the first jazz dancers was Joe Frisco, in 1910, made his name through jazz dancing as he brought such high-powered energy that brought excitement to his audiences. The informal nature of jazz dance slowly came to be the norm accepted by all. Jazz made way for many other new dance forms such as the black bottom, Charleston, fox trot, rag, and shimmy. Now, dance studios teach this form and is today seen as just as popular as ballet is. Much like music, jazz dance has definitely evolved over time and still is today as when you watch dance competitions peoples takes on jazz have become very different but still all in all just as entertaining.
Tap - The exact origins of tap dancing are difficult to pin point, much like other styles of dance. Over time, two different branches of tap dancing have come to be. One was called precise "Broadway" tap. This type of tap dancing was known by its glamorous shows featuring large chorus lines of women. It was presented in the form of a chorus line so that everybody looked the same, doing the same steps, and the same time. To make sure the chorus line effect could be pulled off, the tap steps themselves were very simple however very appealing to watch as you present such a large number of people doing the same moves all at once perfectly! The other type of tap dancing, also what is known as the main branch of tap, is rhythm or jazz tap. This type of tap actually came from the American slave trade. It features more complicated rhythms, a looser body, and lots of improvisation on the dancers part. Some people would say that rhythm/jazz tap dancing has evolved much more than Broadway tap dancing, however, most studios today are actually blending the two to make an very intricate yet appealing dance.
Contemporary - Contemporary dancing is a hard one to describe in the sense that it has evolved so much over time and is still changing on a daily basis. The technique behind contemporary dance looks more at the unconventional moves that drift away from the structure of ballet. Roughly contemporary dancing came about in the 20th century by various individuals coming together and just moving. Martha Graham is credited as the founder of contemporary and modern dance and is the one who brought modern dancing to be the basis of what it is today. Modern Dance works by using the raw emotions, moods, facial expressions and general self expression from individuals that are seen to have no place in any other dance styles. This expression comes from a different place depending on the individual and their life experiences, and in the 20th century began with dancers need to express themselves during the period of the Great Depression. It was during this time which modern dance underwent the final fundamental changes to reach the current form it is today.
Simply put..here is the evolution of dance in nothing but a dance itself!
Click the link below!
(All pictures used in this post are mine, see if you can find me in them!)
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