1. American Dance

2.  Folk & Social Dance in America:  Americans easily accept multiculturalism in dance.  Salsa clubs are popular in certain regions of the U.S.  Swing dance is making a comeback from the Harlem swing of the 1940s.

3.  Began in New England  Immigrants from different countries would familiarize each other with their dance traditions.  The schottische, the jig, reels and the quadrille were a few dances that were performed in colonial New England.  Because there were so many different dances to remember, “callers” emerged to announce the steps.  An affordable and convenient form of entertainment requiring only a wooden floor, a caller, and a fiddler.  By the 1950s, square dance had evolved to a very large event.

4.  Most popular square dance.  Many variations from simple to complex.  The formation involves two lines of couples, partners facing each other, with 5-7 feet between the lines.  Lines have a head and foot (head couple is closest to musicians).  6 couples maximum.  Step lightly on toes or balls of feet.  Calls instruct to “honor the partner,” “do-si- do,” or “reel in a circle.”

5.  Made a comeback in U.S.  1920s—the Charleston (named for Charleston, SC)  1930s—the Lindy Hop (energetic dance possibly named after aviator Charles Lindbergh)  Popular forms of swing: East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Jitterbug, & Jive.  Arthur Murray studios taught a large public audience.  1950s --TV programs (American Bandstand) were popular in the U.S.  Originated from African-American dancers, dancing to early Jazz music.

6.  Beginning of the 20 th Century, ragtime was a popular form of music in U.S.  Vaudeville--a stage variety show with singing, dancing, comedy skits/animal acts.  Late 1880s-1930s, vaudeville was the popular form of theatre that, mixed with ragtime music, influenced the foxtrot.

7.  Introduced by a young vaudeville performer named Harry Fox.  Movies were becoming more popular, so live theatre struggled to stay in.  In 1914, the New York Theatre was converted into a movie house.  Vaudeville acts shown between movies—Harry Fox hired to dance to ragtime music.  The roof of the building was converted to the Jardin de Danse (began dancing Fox’s Trot in the evenings).  Vernon and Irene Castle, exhibition dancers, helped popularized it in U.S.  It was set to a 4/4 beat with a slow-slow-quick-quick foot pattern.

8.  Brought to U.S. from Havana, Cuba.  While vacationing, Americans learned the new dance, which resembled the mambo and the rhumba.  Feet close to the floor with free-flowing pelvic or hip movement.  The movement of the feet gives us the sounds of “cha-cha-cha.”

9.  2 Important figures of the modern era:  1. Martha Graham (1894-1991)—  Pioneer of modern dance in America.  Born in Pittsburgh, relocated to California.  Ruth St. Denis and Isadora Duncan are Graham’s contemporaries.  Martha revolutionized modern dance by making social and political statements through dance.

10.  Made dancing a more athletic art.  Warm-ups of intense pelvic contractions and relaxation (ultimate muscle control).  Cave of Her Heart (1946)—recreated the story of the mythical character Medea.  “All things I do are in every woman.”  Appalachian Spring (1944)—follows a young bride on the American frontier.  Women’s issues were at the heart of her dances.  Collaboration with:  Isamu Noguchi—designed simplistic architectural sets for her dances.  Aaron Copeland—American composer who wrote music for Appalachian Spring.

11.  The epitome of dance in the modern and contemporary era.  Born in Texas.  Studied with Graham and other dance greats.  Performed in many Broadway musicals.  Opened his own dance company/school—the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.  Traditions in African-American history and culture using jazz, blues, and gospel music and exemplifying folk heroes.  Included movements from African dance.

12.  Most of his pieces are conceptual and without plot (abstract or non-representational).  Best pieces include: Blues Suite, Revelations, Streams, and Witness.  Created 79 dance works.  After his death, his company was directed by Judith Jamison.