🪩Dance in American Cultures Unit 4 – African American Dance Legacy

Historical Context

• African American dance has its roots in the cultural traditions brought by enslaved Africans to the Americas during the transatlantic slave trade
• Enslaved Africans used dance as a means of preserving their cultural identity, expressing resistance, and maintaining community bonds in the face of oppression
  • Dance served as a form of communication and storytelling, allowing enslaved Africans to pass down their histories and traditions
• African dance traditions blended with European and Native American influences, giving rise to unique African American dance forms
• Following emancipation, African American dance continued to evolve, reflecting the changing social, political, and economic realities of African American life
  • The Great Migration of the early 20th century led to the spread of African American dance styles from the South to urban centers in the North and West
• African American dance played a significant role in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s, a period of artistic and cultural flourishing in the African American community
  • During this time, African American dancers and choreographers gained increased visibility and recognition in the mainstream arts world

Key Figures and Pioneers

• Katherine Dunham (1909-2006) was an anthropologist, dancer, and choreographer who pioneered the study of African diaspora dance and developed her own dance technique based on Caribbean and African influences
  • Dunham's work helped to legitimize African American dance as an art form and paved the way for future generations of dancers and choreographers
• Pearl Primus (1919-1994) was a dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist who studied African dance traditions and incorporated them into her work
  • Primus's performances and research helped to raise awareness of African dance and its cultural significance
• Alvin Ailey (1931-1989) founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958, which became one of the most prominent African American dance companies in the world
  • Ailey's choreography celebrated the African American experience and helped to bring African American dance to a wider audience
• Bill T. Jones (b. 1952) is a dancer, choreographer, and director known for his politically and socially engaged work
  • Jones has explored themes of race, identity, and social justice in his choreography and has been a vocal advocate for the arts and arts education
• Judith Jamison (b. 1943) is a dancer and choreographer who served as the artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from 1989 to 2011
  • Jamison's leadership helped to solidify the company's reputation as a leading force in modern dance and a champion of African American artistry

Dance Styles and Techniques

• African American dance encompasses a wide range of styles and techniques, each with its own distinct history and cultural significance
• Tap dance emerged in the 19th century as a fusion of African rhythms and European clog dancing
  • Tap became a popular form of entertainment in minstrel shows and vaudeville, and later evolved into a sophisticated art form in its own right
• Jazz dance developed in the early 20th century, drawing on African American vernacular dance, European ballet, and popular music
  • Jazz dance has been a major influence on Broadway and Hollywood musicals, and continues to be a popular style in contemporary dance
• Modern dance, which emerged in the early 20th century as a rejection of the strict formalism of ballet, has been heavily influenced by African American dancers and choreographers
  • African American modern dancers have used the form to explore themes of identity, social justice, and the African American experience
• Hip-hop dance originated in the 1970s in African American and Latino communities in New York City, and has since become a global phenomenon
  • Hip-hop dance encompasses a variety of styles, including breaking, locking, and popping, and has had a major impact on popular culture and fashion
• African dance techniques, such as Dunham Technique and Horton Technique, have been developed by African American dancers and choreographers as a way of incorporating African dance traditions into Western dance forms
  • These techniques emphasize the use of the pelvis, spine, and polyrhythms, and have been influential in the development of modern and contemporary dance

Cultural Significance

• African American dance has played a crucial role in the preservation and transmission of African cultural heritage in the Americas
  • Dance has served as a means of maintaining cultural identity and community bonds in the face of oppression and displacement
• African American dance has been a powerful tool for social and political resistance, from the slave rebellions of the 18th and 19th centuries to the civil rights movement of the 1960s
  • Dance has been used to express resistance, assert dignity and humanity, and demand social and political change
• African American dance has been a major influence on American popular culture, from the minstrel shows of the 19th century to the music videos of the 21st century
  • African American dance styles and techniques have been appropriated and adapted by mainstream culture, often without proper recognition or compensation for African American artists
• African American dance has served as a means of cultural diplomacy and exchange, with African American dancers and choreographers performing and teaching around the world
  • African American dance has helped to promote understanding and appreciation of African American culture and history, and has fostered cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration
• African American dance has been an important means of self-expression and self-definition for African American artists and communities
  • Dance has provided a space for African Americans to explore and assert their identity, creativity, and agency in the face of marginalization and oppression

Influences on American Dance

• African American dance has had a profound impact on the development of American dance as a whole
• African rhythms, movements, and aesthetics have been incorporated into a wide range of American dance styles, from ballet to modern dance to hip-hop
  • The syncopated rhythms and polyrhythms of African music have been particularly influential, shaping the timing and phrasing of American dance
• African American dancers and choreographers have been at the forefront of innovation and experimentation in American dance
  • African American artists have pushed the boundaries of what is possible in dance, and have challenged traditional notions of beauty, technique, and expression
• African American dance has been a major influence on American popular dance, from the cakewalk and the Charleston to the Twist and the Moonwalk
  • African American dance crazes have often crossed over into mainstream culture, becoming national and international phenomena
• African American dance has been a key element of American musical theater, from the minstrel shows of the 19th century to the Broadway musicals of the 21st century
  • African American dancers, choreographers, and composers have made significant contributions to the development of the American musical, and have helped to shape its style and content
• African American dance has been a major influence on American social dance, from the jitterbug and the lindy hop to the hustle and the electric slide
  • African American social dances have often emerged from African American communities and been adopted by mainstream culture, becoming popular forms of recreation and self-expression

Contemporary Developments

• African American dance continues to evolve and innovate in the 21st century, reflecting the changing social, cultural, and political landscape
• Hip-hop dance has become a global phenomenon, with dancers and choreographers from around the world incorporating hip-hop styles and techniques into their work
  • Hip-hop dance has also become a major force in popular culture, with dance crews and competitions attracting millions of fans and participants
• African American dancers and choreographers are using dance to address pressing social and political issues, such as racism, police brutality, and LGBTQ+ rights
  • Dance has become an important tool for activism and social change, with artists using their platforms to raise awareness and inspire action
• African American dance is being preserved and celebrated through a variety of initiatives, including dance festivals, workshops, and educational programs
  • Organizations such as the International Association of Blacks in Dance and the Black Dance Stories project are working to document and promote the history and legacy of African American dance
• African American dance is being recognized and celebrated by mainstream cultural institutions, with major museums and performing arts centers presenting exhibitions and performances focused on African American dance history and artistry
• African American dance is being studied and analyzed by scholars and researchers from a variety of disciplines, including dance studies, African American studies, and cultural studies
  • This interdisciplinary approach is helping to deepen our understanding of the cultural, social, and political significance of African American dance

Social and Political Impact

• African American dance has been a powerful force for social and political change throughout American history
• During the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, African American dancers and choreographers used their art to challenge segregation and discrimination
  • The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, for example, toured the American South in the 1960s, performing for integrated audiences and challenging racial barriers
• African American dance has been a means of asserting black pride and cultural identity in the face of racism and marginalization
  • Dance has provided a space for African Americans to celebrate their heritage, express their creativity, and assert their humanity
• African American dance has been a tool for political protest and resistance, from the anti-lynching campaigns of the early 20th century to the Black Lives Matter movement of the 21st century
  • Dancers and choreographers have used their performances to raise awareness of social and political issues, and to call for change
• African American dance has been a means of building community and solidarity among African Americans
  • Dance has provided a space for African Americans to come together, share their experiences, and support one another in the face of adversity
• African American dance has challenged stereotypes and misconceptions about African Americans, and has helped to promote a more nuanced and complex understanding of African American culture and identity
  • Through their artistry and innovation, African American dancers and choreographers have challenged dominant narratives about race and culture, and have asserted the diversity and richness of the African American experience

Performance and Preservation

• African American dance is kept alive through a variety of performance and preservation initiatives
• Dance companies and ensembles, such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and the Step Afrika! dance company, continue to perform and promote African American dance on stages around the world
  • These companies not only showcase the artistry and innovation of African American dance, but also serve as important cultural institutions and community resources
• Dance festivals and showcases, such as the DanceAfrica festival and the Black Choreographers Festival, provide opportunities for African American dancers and choreographers to present their work and connect with audiences and peers
  • These events also serve as important platforms for cultural exchange and dialogue, bringing together artists and audiences from diverse backgrounds and perspectives
• Educational programs and initiatives, such as the Dunham Technique certification program and the Ailey School, are working to train the next generation of African American dancers and choreographers
  • These programs not only provide technical training, but also help to instill a sense of cultural pride and historical awareness in young dancers
• Archives and museums, such as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, are working to collect, preserve, and make accessible the history and legacy of African American dance
  • These institutions play a crucial role in ensuring that the contributions and achievements of African American dancers and choreographers are recognized and celebrated for generations to come
• Digital platforms and social media are providing new opportunities for African American dancers and choreographers to share their work and connect with audiences around the world
  • Online dance classes, virtual performances, and social media challenges are helping to make African American dance more accessible and engaging than ever before