Jazz dance, a dynamic and ever-evolving art form, mirrors the times, constantly reinventing its aesthetics through new themes, rhythms, and bodily expressions. Unique for its capacity for reinvention within a relatively short history, jazz dance both leads and reflects sociocultural shifts. At its heart, jazz dance is built upon foundational elements rooted in West African traditions. From its vernacular beginnings to its fusion with Eurocentric classical forms in the 20th century, jazz dance, whether choreographed or improvised, consistently showcases a combination of key elements.
These fundamental Dance Elements include:
- Groundedness: A deep connection to the earth, characterized by a lowered center of gravity.
- Inclined and Articulated Torso: The use of a flexible spine and expressive torso movements.
- Bent Limbs: Relaxed and bent knees and elbows, facilitating fluidity and dynamism.
- Isolations and Polycentricism: Movement independence of different body parts and the use of multiple centers of the body.
- Syncopation and Polyrhythm: Complex rhythmic patterns emphasizing off-beats and layering multiple rhythms.
- Musicality: A profound connection to and expression of the music.
- Dynamism: A wide range of energy and movement qualities.
- Improvisation: Spontaneous movement creation within the structure of the dance form.
- Call and Response: A dialogue between dancers or between dancers and musicians.
- Presentational Performance Attitude: A direct and engaging interaction with the audience.
- Fluid Exchange Between Individual and Group: A balance between personal expression and collective movement.
While the rise of fusion genres in the 1980s and the dominance of hip hop in American vernacular dance have shifted the landscape, diminishing the explicit claim of “jazz” by contemporary dancers, the essence of “jazziness” persists. Particularly within the African Diaspora, choreographers continue to weave elements of jazz into their work. These qualities, often mistakenly attributed solely to an inherent African heritage, are equally American. The distinctive use of weight, momentum, and rhythmic interplay in jazz dance stems directly from the sensibilities of Black Americans, a unique blend of African influences shaped by the American experience. While acknowledging the undeniable African lineage is crucial, overlooking the American evolution of these elements provides an incomplete picture.
To understand jazz dance’s presence today, we need to recognize its manifestations, both overt and subtle. It’s important to distinguish between dance that is definitively “jazz dance” and dance that is “jazzy.” Contemporary choreographers explicitly working within jazz or related forms like tap clearly align with the diverse styles within the jazz dance family tree.
For an in-depth exploration of jazz dance history, Jazz Dance: A History of the Roots and Branches, edited by Lindsay Guarino and Wendy Oliver, offers valuable insights.
From authentic jazz to Latin jazz, theatrical jazz, funk, and rhythm-based jazz, movement vocabulary, musical accompaniment, and stylistic choices clearly identify these as belonging to the realm of jazz dance. However, “jazzy” dance is more nuanced. It might appear as modern dance or a fusion of styles to the untrained eye, possibly sharing presentational qualities with contemporary or street dance. Yet, the foundational dance elements of jazz, predating these forms, subtly permeate the movement. Even when these elements are not immediately apparent, their influence remains potent. In social settings or formal training, the pervasive impact of jazz on African-American dancers throughout the mid-to-late 20th century is evident in dance that carries this “jazzy” essence.
