Exploring Early American Dance Influences: Native American Rhythms, European Traditions, and More

1. Chapter 5 Rhythms That Dance

2. Early American Influences • Native American developed a rich tradition of dance to serve social, ceremonial, and spiritual purposes. • American dance traditions can be traced to European and African roots.

3. European Influences • Reels – Irish dances from a word meaning “a weaving motion”, danced to quick music in duple meter, for 2-16 dancers, forerunners of square dancing • Jigs – Irish dances that use music in 6/8 time with a triple meter, name refers to the dancers up and down movement • Ceili (kay-lee) – includes mainly reels and jigs, a traditional Irish or Scottish social dance. • Some of the reels and jigs were forerunners to CLOGGING – • 1994 – Riverdance became popular, combined traditional step dancing with contemporary music and costumes.

4. Conjunto • Conjunto – a dance music created by Mexicans in Texas, influenced by European neighbors it includes polka sounds with traditional Mexican sounds. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCjLTXVCd1s

5. Hula • Film industry grew popular in Hawaii in the 1930s (before it became a state in 1959). • The hula was seen as superficial entertainment, but now provides links to Hawaii’s past. • Hula means movement and gestures. • Ukulele – small 4 stringed guitar, used to accompany the hula • The hula can be performed standing or seated. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_WmLl9p_MM • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9dof5o64H8

6. Classical Dance • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcC6ISw-dEs • Ballet – refined style of classical dance emphasizes the verticality of the body, an outward rotation of the legs with fluid foot and leg work, and virtuosic turns and jumps • Ballet emerged from Italy and France during the 16th century. It has roots in European court dances. • Popular ballets – Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz_f9B4pPtg • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOARfu8modE

7. Ballet Breaks New Ground • 1913 – Popular choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky worked on a ballet, The Rite of Spring – by Russian Igor Stravinsky. • Nijinsky’s choreo broke established rules of classical ballet. The dancers’ legs were bent and turned in; their movements were heavy. • A riot broke out – people threw whatever was handy at the musicians and dancers: food, programs, and items of clothing. • It was only danced 7 times with the original choreography. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6d8wacBjPQ

8. West Side Story • Dance found its way to broadway musicals through Operettas and Vaudeville shows. • In West Side Story the dances are memorable because they are integral to the story. It opened on Broadway in 1957 as a modern-day version of Romeo and Juliet. • The music is by composer Leonard Bernstein who, for the musical/movie, carefully blended Latin American dance rhythms with American jazz.

9. Mambo – a type of ballroom dance that originated in Cuba • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kokbJvSEMUY • Cha-cha – a rhythmic Latin American dance with the basic pattern of three steps and a shuffle • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXNZFe63brY

10. Charleston – an athletic dance that includes kicks and inward leg rotations on syncopated beats of the music. • Tap dancing – step dancing in which foot movements produce audible rhythms emphasized by small metal plates on the soles of the dancer’s shoes • Bill “Bojangles” Robinson • Savion Glover • Lindy Hop – a jazzy dance where couples swing, balance, and twirl, featured “the breakaway”

11. Tango – a Latin American dance performed at a moderately slow, walk-like tempo in 4/4 meter • Samba – African-Brazilian dance that is faster and jazzier than the tango • Rock and Roll – musical blend of rhythm and blues, country, and gospel styles • The Twist – a dance and song by Chubby Checker • Disco – electric mix of rhythm and blues, gospel, soul and Latin dance music; short for discotheque – meant music library • Developed a need for DJs • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUID0jSh2Ic