CHAPTER 5
Rhythms That Dance
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.
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EUROPEAN INFLUENCES
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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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8EXDtoGfrs
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
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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.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_WmLl9p_MM
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9dof5o64H8
CLASSICAL DANCE
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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
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz_f9B4pPtg
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOARfu8modE
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
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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.
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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
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
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Bill “Bojangles” Robinson
 Savion Glover
Lindy Hop – a jazzy dance where couples swing,
balance, and twirl, featured “the breakaway”
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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
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