Key Features Of Jazz Dance

| WHAT IS JAZZ DANCE |

Jazz dance is a form of dance that efficiently combines African and European dance styles into one. Jazz dance is seen normally as a high-energy style of dance and has a liveliness that sets it apart from traditional dance forms, for example classical ballet. Along with this, along with jazz music, jazz dance features the use of improvisation.

[ used "https://www.masterclass.com/articles/jazz-dance-guide" to help write my definition for jazz dance]

When it comes to the origins of jazz dance, it originated from North America but is seen to be rooted into African traditions. This was a culture which used dance and music in their daily lives.

| CHARACTERISTICS |

When it comes to the key-characteristics of jazz dance it is shown that it uses a lot of rhymical complex and syncopated movements. 

5 examples of characteristics that jazz dance includes is ;

> Isolation movements 

> Precise leg

> Arm and foot movements

> Breath-taking jumping techniques

> Twists

| KEY MOVEMENTS |

chaines;

A Chaine turn is usually a short and rapid turn that is done in a straight line. making half a turn per step.

Piques;

A Pique is the pricking of the foot against the floor. This move is executed by stepping on pointe of the working foot in and direction with the other foot raised in the air.

Tour jetes;

A tour jete is a high turning leap that is most commonly seen ballet but used a lot in jazz dance. This move starts with battement and finishing in arabesque.

Jazz walk;

Jazz walks are regular walks but combined with a tiptoeing motion that makes the walk like a "cat strut". Jazz walks are most commonly used when transitioning from one part of your routine to another.

| BOB FOSSE |

Bob Louis Fosse is a key practitioner that stated his own style when it came to jazz dance. although he was not one of the first ever jazz practitioners, his style was very unique and changed the way a lot of people saw jazz dance and how it could be executed. He was born June 23, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois and sadly passed away on September 23, 1987 (age 60) in Washington, D.C. In his life time, Bob fosse was an American choreographer, dancer and as well a director who is best know today for the Tony Award-winning musicals which include "Chicago" and "Cabaret".

BACKGROUND;

Fosse was born to a Norwegian American father, Cyril Kingsley Fosse who in his time was a traveling sales man for the Hershey Company. He also had an Irish American mother, Sarah Alice Fosse, who job is not specified. When growing up Bob had five siblings and he was the fifth kid out of six to be born in his family.

As a kid he was drawn to dance and he partook in lessons. When he was 13, he performed professionally in Chicago and he toured vaudeville and movie houses in Chicago, as well as USO theatres and Eagles Clubs. Although he was underaged, no one seemed to care or mind that he was working and acting in adult clubs, meaning he was exposed to adult behaviours from a young age, even first had as he got sexually harassed by women in these clubs. But due to this, the erotica that he saw at this age helped his future work. 

[ information collected from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Fosse" and referenced ]

STYLE HE WORKED IN;

When it came to the work that Bob Fosse created in his time he came up with his own chorographic style that included; sexually suggestive forward hip-thrusts; the vaudeville humour of hunched shoulders and turned-in feet; the amazing, mime like articulation of hands. (the sexual nature of some of these moves can be inferred to be influenced by the adults clubs he worked in at a young age). When it came to the pieces he made he often dressed his dancers in all black and put them in white cloves and derbies, this recalled the image of Charlie Chaplin. 

SOME EXAMPLES OF HIS WORKS;

Chicago was an award winning musical that Bob Fosse helped choreograph. Here is a video of a number that he choreographed from Chicago;

Cabaret was another award winning musical that Bob Fosse directed in his time. Here is a video of a number that he directed from Cabaret;