| Dance in the United States |
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The United States of America is the home of thehip hop dance,swing,tap dance and its derivativeRock and Roll, and modernsquare dance (associated with the United States of America due to its historic development in that country—twenty three U.S. states have designated it as theirofficial state dance or officialfolk dance) and one of the major centers formodern dance. There is a variety ofsocial dance and performance orconcert dance forms with also a range of traditions ofNative American dances.[1]
Thereality shows and competitionsSo You Think You Can Dance,[2]America's Best Dance Crew, andDancing with the Stars, have broadened the audience for dance.
African American dances are thosevernacular dances which have developed withinAfrican American communities in everyday spaces, rather than in dance studios, schools or companies. African American vernacular dances are usually centered onsocial dance practice, thoughperformance dance andconcert dance often supply complementary aspects tosocial dancing.
Placing great value onimprovisation, African American vernacular dances are characterized by ongoing change and development. Because they exist in social spaces and their main 'purpose' is self-expression, they are continually changing to reflect the needs, interests and personalities of their participants.
Alvin Ailey and theAlvin Ailey American Dance Theater is an important example of African American involvement in performance orconcert dance.[3]
The term "swing dance" refers to a group of dances that developed concurrently withjazz music in the 1920s, 30s and 40s. The most iconic among the various styles of swing dance is theLindy Hop, which originated inHarlem and is still danced today. While the majority of swing dances began inAfrican-American communities asvernacularAfrican-American dances,[4] some forms, likeBalboa, developed withinEuro-American or other ethnic group communities.
Dances such as theBlack Bottom,Charleston,Shag, andTap Dance travelled north withDixieland jazz to New York,Kansas City, and Chicago in theGreat Migration (African American) of the 1920s, where rural blacks travelled to escape persecution,Jim Crow laws,lynching and unemployment in the South (during theGreat Depression).
Swinging jazz music features thesyncopated timing associated withAfrican American andWest African music and dance—a combination ofcrotchets andquavers which many swing dancers interpret as 'triple steps' and 'steps' — yet also introduces changes in theway these rhythms were played—a distinct delay or 'relaxed' approach to timing.
Swing dance is now found globally, with great variety in their preferences for particular dances.
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Americanmodern dance developed in the early 20th century alongsideAmerican music. Among the pioneers of modern dance wereIsadora Duncan, the dance company ofRuth St. Denis and her husband-partner,Ted Shawn, and their pupilsDoris Humphrey andMartha Graham. The early modern dance makers broke with European classical forms by giving into the weight of gravity, initiating movement from the center rather than the limbs, and emphasizing an emotional directness in their choreography. Many of Graham's most popular works were produced in collaboration with leading American composers -- "Appalachian Spring" withAaron Copland, for example.[5]
Later choreographers,Merce Cunningham introduced chance procedures and composition by field, andAlvin Ailey incorporated African dance elements and black music into his works. Recently,Mark Morris andLiz Lerman have shown that graceful, exciting movement is not restricted by age or body type.
Dance is ingrained in society through events, the media, and awards like theGrammy Awards, theGolden Globes, and theMTV video music awards which feature dancing.
Some popular competition televised events that are made for dance areDancing with the Stars,So You Think You Can Dance andAmerica's Best Dance Crew. These dancing shows allow society to interact with them, choosing who they think suits best in the competition.[6]
Popular songs likeMichael Jackson's "Thriller",The Harlem Shake, and "Teach me how to dougie" have influenced dance moves that became trends in society. In social gatherings people may dance folk dances, ballroom dances, casual dances, or modern dances likehip-hop.