Swing Dance Changes

Dancing skyrocketed during the 1920s. Many styles of dance that were created before the era did not become popular until the

Dance began as a form of communication and storytelling. Thousands of years ago dancing served as a way for people to tell a story and helped distract themselves of the hardships they faced. Furthermore, dance was a form of storytelling through communication, which then turned into using storytelling through dance as entertainment. According to the History World, many dancers during the BC time danced in front of only a few people to get a story across. That later turned into hundreds of thousands of people as dance was used by many. Today, dance is also a form of entertainment and storytelling, but in a modern sense. However, today perfection and technique are stressed more than they were in the past. Yet, the passion for dance has not changed. Many dancers who share this passion also have many of the same qualities. Among a discourse community of trained dancers, one expects to find individuals who are healthy and active athletes, expect perfection from themselves through competition, and religiously attend dance performances.

Dance is a unique sport because it combines the grit and sweat of sporting events, such as track and field, with the style and extravagance of a fashion show (D.Fowler, 2000).

Since it was created, and till this day, ragtime and jazz has had many influences on people such as classical composers like Ravel and Debussy. More specific pieces composed have been used in successful films; ragtime also had an influence on the dance styles that are used today. Dances such as cakewalk, foxtrot, and two-step are very popular today (historyjazz.com). Those involved with dance, and educated on the genre of music that is being danced to, can have a better understanding of style and have more of a successful

Famous choreographer George Balanchine once said, “He is the most interesting, the most inventive, the most elegant dancer of our times” and noted dancer Rudolph Nureyev also said, “He was not just the best ballroom dancer, or tap dancer, he was simply the greatest, most imaginative, dancer of our time.” These famous dancers were referring to Fred Astaire, who has been known as one of the greatest dancers of all time. His light, artistic joyful style of dancing has impacted dance in an extremely unique way. Astaire used techniques in films as well as in dance that have shaped society. Astaire was mostly prominent throughout the 1930s during the Great Depression. Everywhere, Americans were looking for some joy in their lives, and Astaire

Dance is one of the most beautiful, expressive forms of art known to mankind. It expresses joy, love, sorrow, anger, and the list truly goes on for all the possible emotions that it can convey. Dance not only can express how one feels, but it can tell a story or even be used to praise a higher power. Dance has intricately played an important role to every culture over the course of time. Two forms of dance that have not only stood against the test of time but have influenced the development of other various styles of dance is none other than Classical Ballet and Modern Dance.

The 1920s was when dance truly flourished in America. In the earlier years of the 1900s dances like the Waltz and Foxtrot were considered scandalous, because it involved contact between the male and female partners. However, once these dances became more clearly demonstrated in America they soon became social norms. These older and more classical styles were still used in the twenties, but the younger generation of dancers began to add new twists and began pioneering new styles of dance. Now that dresses from the Victorian era were out of style and young women were not confined to their corsets, the dance moves became gaudier and the dresses shorter. Soon everyone was dancing, it had become the newest and best form of entertainment for everyone (Scott,

Whether it be Singin’ in the Rain or Dirty Dancing, American Bandstand to Club MTV or even Walk this Way to Thriller the change of dance is heavily noticed. From dancing in longer skirts to miniskirts, the media and art of dancing has changed. Dance clearly shows the change in media history, as through every new form of media introduced some way to show dance is made clearly visible. Dance and the media are two things that will never leave culture, especially

Just when social dancing was at its height, World War 2 put a stop to its popularity. Lack of attendance, plus the intricate rhythmic patterns of modern jazz music, which were too complex for social dancing, led to the closing of dance halls and ballrooms. With the demise of social dance, the growth of jazz dance as a professional dance form began. During the 1940’s, jazz dance was influenced by ballet and modern dance. By blending the classical technique of ballet with the natural bodily expression of modern dance, jazz developed a sophisticated artistic quality. Unlike early jazz dance, which was performed by talented entertainers without formal training, modern jazz dance was performed by professionals trained in ballet and modern dance.

But when did dance start? The first record dancing by our definition is among the ancient civilizations of the middle East and India and among the people in America, Australia, and Africa. Actual dance forms appear to have been in place in India around 6000 B.C. Why do people do dance? They do it because it can be used for physical fitness, or if they had a bad day or something , then they could dance it off and kinda cool down.

The term “Swing” was originally coined not for the dance, but for the music. Swing music was born during the Great Depression, while many bands had been experimenting during the early Roaring Twenties it was suggested that the “…summer of 1929 began the journey toward the summer of 1935 and the official arrival of the Swing Era” (Hennessey, 123). While the Great Depression was a time of increased poverty and unemployment, the formation of big bands was not impacted, during this time there were many available musicians who were looking to work with new bandleaders (Barnet, 44). While bands were able

Dance is the word that is broadly that used to define a human behavior characterized by expressive movements of the body. It is the grace, artistry, and classicality and precision that distinguishes ballet from other dance styles. People have danced for many different reasons such a religious, entertainment, tribal rituals, exercise or to simply to express something that cannot find voice in words. For as long as people inhabited Canada, there has been dance and it has subsequently played a role throughout Canadian history. In Canada dance history began with indigenous dance of First Nations Peoples, but with the arrival of European settlers came more European dance forms such as ballet, which have shaped dance in Canada into what it is

Before the 1960s, music was primarily listened to, not dance to. However, there was a dance craze during the sixties due to the rock and roll influence, thus dance moves such as “The Twist,” “The Mashed Potato,” and “The Swim” were created.

Playing the rhythms of rock and funk songs made it easier for people to dance.

Dance is said to have existed prior to the invention of written languages, and was perhaps an essential aspect of storytelling for the passing of knowledge and information from generation to generation. And it has been, since time immemorial, a part of every culture and religion as a means of self and collective expression.