DANCE History and Styles

HISTORY Pre-Renaissance: dance for spiritual ceremonies/rituals 1400’s: Renaissance Ballet and Ballroom 1500’s: Classical Ballet 1600’s: Court Ballet 1700’s: Reform Ballet 1800’s: Romantic Ballet; International Ballroom 1900’s: Modern Ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern

1400’s- Ballet Ballet is one of the oldest established types of dance Characterized by orderly, symmetrical movement Originated in the courts of Italy during the Renaissance, but has its roots in the dancing of the Middle Ages religious themes, folk dancing, open-air dancing, and mock battles Domenico da Piacenza, history’s first choreographer

1500’s- Classical Ballet Classical ballet- the storyline is the focus Moved from Italy to France At first, the French merely mimic the Italian style until Balthasar blends Italian and French ideals and approaches into one performance

1600’s- Court Ballets Popular in France Only in courts for aristocracy Very extravagant Louis XIV establishes Royal Academy of Dance “Professional” dancers appear Women in the field

1700’s- Reform Ballets “Ballerina” becomes scandalous Rapid spread across Europe Other art forms incorporated (ex. Mime) New costumes and techniques appears

1800’s- Romantic Ballets Satin slipper introduced “Pointe” ballet dancing Dramatic gesture, more expression, extreme plots Jean-Francois Coulon- father of romantic ballet

1900’s- Modern Ballet Russia is center for ballet famous “tutu” introduced Modern ballet developing worldwide England- classical style United States- contemporary (Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham) Russia- political tools Tchaikovsky’s ballets: Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker

1400’s/1900’s- Ballroom Set of partner dances for social or competitive purposes Traditional- First appeared in courts during Renaissance International- Developed internationally as cultures mingled Smooth/Standard Waltz, Tango, Quickstep, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz Rhythm/Latin Cha cha, rumba, swing, jive, merengue, samba, bolero, mambo, salsa

FRED ASTAIRE AND GINGER ROGERS Iconic dance partners of the 30’s Made 10 movies together Blended ballroom, tap dancing, singing, and acting

1900’s- Jazz Mixture of European and African dance styles Two phases: 1) 1920’s- mirrored jazz music of the time (ex. Charleston) 2) 1960’s- jazz music became complicated; blended with ballet and modern dance Jack Cole- father of jazz. Other names: Gus Giordano and Bob Fosse

GUS GIORDANO Founded the Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Company in Chicago Organized the first Jazz Dance World Congress Authored the first book on jazz His company toured Russia in1955

BOB FOSSE Couldn’t conform to the rigidity of ballet Used characteristics props—bowler hats, canes, chairs Had a successful career on Broadway as both a performer and a director

1900’s- Modern/Contemporary Anti-ballet Emotional and personal rather than structured and formal Three generations: 1920’s- born out of interpretive dance 1940’s- post WWII; more theatrical 1960’s- social upheaval; more sophisticated Focuses more on conveying emotions than technique, and the movements are more loose and flowing Still organized but adds variations and personal stylizations on the dance movements

ISADORA DUNCAN Founder of modern dance Dance style characterized by free movements Free-flowing costumes, bare feet, and loose hair

MARTHA GRAHAM Became a teacher at the Eastman School of music and theater in 1925 Developed dramatic situations or characters to express a feeling Founded the Martha Graham Dance Repertory Theater in 1930

MIA MICHAELS Leading contemporary choreographer So You Think You Can Dance star Grammy award winner

Late 1900’s- Hip Hop 1970’s- DJ’s in New York isolate rhythms for dance Transmitted among people, not formal classes Influenced by disco and break dance block parties Hip hop is characterized with the almost unlimited ability to freestyle and to add personality to dance moves

MICHAEL JACKSON Joined the family band at the age of five Amazing dancing/stage presence Music videos helped him break the color barrier in media at the time Became the most popular performer in America by 1983

LAURIE ANN GIBSON One of the major hip hop choreographers Choreographs for current movies Worked with stars like Michael Jackson, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga

TABITHA AND NAPOLEAN Husband and wife choreographers SYTYCD and ABDC stars Grammy award winners Innovative hip-hop (lyrical)