utsa dance exam 4 2003 001

Minstrel Shows

(1830s) Black songs/dances performed by white people in black face in theatres. They parodied songs/dance of black culture.

Cakewalk

a contest among dancing couples who attempted to outdo each other in the mock imitation of the White man's manners and behavior.

Vaudeville

a training ground for performers destined for Broadway, nightclubs, and film.

The Black Crook

1866, one of the first musical theatre productions. Dance moved the story along, and it began the trend of musical theatre.

Shuffle Along

1921, first major musical by African Americans to gain national fame.

Agnes De Millie

Choreographed dance in Oklahoma called the "dream sequence". Its impact raised choreographers to the same status as director, composer, and playwright in musical theatre.

Jack Cole

"Father of Theatrical Jazz Dance" Denishawn company dancer, appeared on and choreographed for Broadway. He developed the basic vocabulary of jazz dancing.

Bob Fosse

known for jazz hands and influenced Jack Cole's style.

Tap

A blend of the Irish jig, English Clog, and African Shuffle. Sound produced by feet. Popular in minstrel and vaudeville shows.

Hoofers

intricate footwork.

Class Acts

elegant movements, execute steps in a refined manner.

Flash Acts

combines tap dance with acrobatics.

Soft Shoe

skims floor to produce soft muted sounds.

Bojangles/Bill Robinson

Vaudeville tapper from the age of 12. He is one of the first African American performers to be employed in white theatre/movies. Tap danced with Shirley Temple.

Gene Kelly

athletic tap style, not graceful. Most famous tap dance: Singin' in the Rain.

World dance

dances that are affiliated with a specific country.

World concert dance

performed in front of an audience

Ritual dance

sometimes performed in front of an audience or just at traditional gatherings if it is too sacred of a ritual.

Bugaku

OLDEST form of cultural dance & music still performed today. Unison dancing by 2 or 4 dancers. Origin- to appease the gods, purify evil spirits from the region, good harvest.

Noh

Main performer wears a MASK. Dance is full of symbolism, spiritual, emphasizes life and death. Male performers.

Kabuki

Elaborate scenery/costumes. Traditional, while contemporary ideas infiltrate the performance. Invented by women.

Yoruba dance

helps people communicate with their ancestors and gods.

Bata Dance

gods possess certain Yorubian people who dance that god's movements/message.

Commercialized

World Dance is changed or adds elements to make more appealing to uneducated eye...causing audience attendance and ticket sales increase.

Folk dances

social/recreational in nature and passed down from one generation to the next, changing with new social and cultural norms.