Jazz Dance

The steps and essential style of jazz dancing originated from dances of Africans

The steps and essential style of jazz dancing, originated from dances of Africans brought to the America as slaves. Originally, the term jazz dance encompassed any dance done to jazz music, including both tap dance and jitterbug.

Over time, a clearly defined jazz genre emerged, changing from a street dance to a theatrical dance performed on stage by professionals. Some scholars and dancers, especially Swing and Lindy Hop dancers, still regard the term jazz dance is not an umbrella term. It is a genre which has produced specific styles from famous choreographers such as Bob Fosse, Jack Cole, and Katherine Dunham. Jazz dance can refer to these specific styles or allude to theatrical or character dance. Some people think Jazz dance produced modern jazz, but really Modern dance came more as a response against Ballet. Two main branches of Modern dance were pioneered through Martha Graham and Isadora Duncan.