Dance 101

Dance shoes. Tap.

Ballet

The word ballet was borrowed into English from the French around 1630. The French originated the word ballet from the Italian word balletto. This is a form of the word ballo which means dance. Ballet is a type of dance that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century. Ballet later developed into a stage performance in France and Russia. It is a highly technical form of dance which has defined the foundational techniques used in many other genres of dance. Ballet has its own vocabulary based upon French terminology. This form of dance requires a great deal of practice to learn. In order to become a master of the art of ballet, years of constant training are necessary. There are various styles of ballet; classical, neoclassical, and contemporary.

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Jazz

Jazz is an American form of dance that was developed in the early 1900s as African and European people began to mix their dance traditions. Africans focused on rhythms and body movement while Europeans focused on musical harmonies. In Africa, each tribe had their own sets of dances done for various ceremonies of celebration. In America, these moves we refer to as jazz dance, became competitive for the purpose of entertainment. Jazz dance as we know it, involves a variety of lively, fast-paced body movements with a mix of ballet techniques and tap steps. Jazz dance has and continues to develop over time as music of the times continues to change.

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Lyrical

Lyrical is a style of dance which fuses ballet and jazz dance techniques. This type of dance is challenging for both dancers and choreographers. The purpose of lyrical is to use motion to interpret music and express emotion in an attempt to show the meaning of the music. Lyrical is unique and has a relatively recent history. It is performed to music with lyrics to be used as the key inspiration for the movement. Often, it is choreographed to songs about freedom, overcoming obstacles, or releasing sad emotions. Lyrical dances are always expressive, emotional, and many times, unpredictable. Lyrical is not just a form of dance, but a means of expressing emotions.

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Tap

Our American tradition of tap dancing has roots from the 20th century intertwined with the development of jazz and blues music. However, its roots can be traced far back to the dance movements of African slaves during the 17th and 18th centuries. Tap dance is a style characterized by using the sound of taps hitting the floor as an instrument. The sound is made by shoes worn by the dancer with metal taps on the heel and toe. There are two common forms of tap dance; rhythm (jazz) tap and Broadway tap. Rhythm tap focuses on musicality while Broadway tap focuses more on the dance itself. Another form of tap dance is soft-shoe tap. This is a rhythm form of tap that doesn't require special shoes. The rhythm in this form of tap dancing is still formed by the tapping of feet as well as sliding of the feet. Tap can be done either with music, following the beats, or without music to accompany the performance. This is called a cappella tap dancing.

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Hip-Hop

The history of hip-hop is shorter than that of other styles. Hip-hop began to evolve in the late 1960s. It wasn't until the 1970s that it became widely recognized when the first professional street-based dance crews formed in the United States. Hip-hop is not a style derived in a studio setting. It was developed by street dancers in urban neighborhoods. Hip-hop dancing encompasses a wide variety of styles; primarily breaking, locking, and popping. Hip-hop is freestyle in nature, or improvisational. When it first came about, hip-hop dance was performed on the streets in what is referred to as "dance battles." Nowadays, hip-hop is performed on stage as well by dancers in national competitions. This started in the 1990s when this style became more mainstream and popular.

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Modern

Modern dance is also referred to today as contemporary dance. This form of modern dance we practice today emerged in the 1950s. This style of dance combines early modern dance elements with classical ballet elements. Parts of it also derive from modern European themes such as poetic elements, broken lines, non-linear movements, and repetitions. Many modern dancers are trained in classical ballet to keep up with the technicality of the given choreography. This style of dance is also a form of expression, similar to lyrical. Modern dancers choose music that relates to a story they wish to tell and a costume to reflect the emotion they are trying to portray.

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