Throughout the past century Jazz dance has evolved alongside popular culture

and music. Most recently the cult TV show So You Think You Can Dance
brought dance to the forefront of popular television entertainment. In this essay
students are required to study Hanna Maria Hayes article Carrying the Jazz
Dance Torch and discuss the effect that popular culture has had on the practical
delivery and performance of Jazz dance as well as to discuss whether the original
art form of Jazz dance is at risk of being cast aside or forgotten in todays dance
industry.

Jazz dance to this day is still one of the most popular and commonly used
styles of dance in the entertainment industry. Whether you are watching a
Broadway show or competing in a dance competition you are bound to see
an element of Jazz on both large and small scales. Hannah Maria Hayes
discusses issues in her article about modern society and how popular
culture is ruining the roots of what the real meaning of what the jazz style
is. This piece will explore her arguments in relation to Bob Borosss
opinion on how students of the 21
st
century should be educated in dance
and also the quarrel as to whether the adjustments that are being made to
this style are something that comes with time and Era progression. These
sentiments will be based on such experiences as the Broadway production
of Pippin and opinions on the reality TV show So You Think You Can Dance.
Whilst exploring the idea of the style of dance itself this essay aims to
highlight the music and how this has changed the view on what people see
as jazz in todays world.

Upon analyzing this article it is evident that there are a large amount of
scholarly professionals in the dance industry who are concerned about the
constant change in the style of jazz dancing. In Hayes article, Bob Boross
says; Dancers from todays time period have no exposure to that potent
source, so their movement ability is deficient.
1
This is in relation to the
history in which many of the classic and memorable dance moves come
from like the Charleston and the twist. It is unfortunate that as a young
collective of dance artist we dont have the supposed knowledge that can
somewhat be required to have a better understanding of what they are
physically doing on stage. The core of Jazz is sometimes hidden by popular
culture and then is seen to be forgotten about. This does hold some truth
and it is known that majority of dance teachers today would agree with
this statement but there is also another side to this argument. Our
continuously evolving world makes changes by the second and in this case
it is happening to jazz. Without evolution other things in live cannot move
forward and we would therefor be stuck in the same place in time forever.
The people of today are not interested in the original jazz style of the mid
1900s. This is proven by many of our television programs such as So You
Think You Can Dance.


1
http://www.dance-teacher.com/2010/09/carrying-the-jazz-dance-torch/


Throughout the past century Jazz dance has evolved alongside popular culture
and music. Most recently the cult TV show So You Think You Can Dance
brought dance to the forefront of popular television entertainment. In this essay
students are required to study Hanna Maria Hayes article Carrying the Jazz
Dance Torch and discuss the effect that popular culture has had on the practical
delivery and performance of Jazz dance as well as to discuss whether the original
art form of Jazz dance is at risk of being cast aside or forgotten in todays dance
industry.

The world acclaimed television reality show So You Think You Can Dance
features a handful of the countries finest dancers who are in the fight to
win the viewers votes based on styles of dance performed week in week
out until there is only one winner. This worldwide competition is a terrible
example for a discussion relating to the evolution of jazz, as it has become
a moneymaking phenomenon reeling in the ratings for the network lucky
enough to host it. Its aim seems to have changed from originally focusing
on the dancer themselves and their pure talent to simply giving audiences
what they want to see, including drama, injuries and sometimes
choreography that completely contradicts its said style. It is very rare in
this show that you will see what Boriss calls a true jazz
2
number. This
may seem as though it is negative exposure and completely obscured but
the blatant truth is that the network is doing all the right things to please
all the right people. Continuing the evolution of society in the dance
industry. Whilst reality TV and social media can be subject to blame for a
certain loss of originality in jazz, there is hope for the style in musical
theatre. One place in Particular is the Music Box Theatre in New York City
where you will find the Revival of Pippin The Musical.

The Musical theatre world has always been a basis for many of the greatest
jazz choreographers in the world. Broadway is a place in which they can
take their work and experiment with it using like-minded people to
achieve the ultimate goal of a forever-memorable trademark style. One of
histories most well known choreographers Bob Fosse is remembered for
his creation of musicals such as Chicago and The Pajama Game. It was
these shows that changed peoples view on Jazz and began a new era of
evolution through dance. The current revival of Pippin The Musical on
Broadway has taken Fosses choreography and linked it to elements of
circus. Its a style of dance thats completely changed the face of jazz
dance and the face dance in general,
3
says Phillip Rosenberg from the
cast. Witnessing these two styles join forces on Broadway gives you the
confidence to know that just because a style of dance is altered, it does not
mean that it has forgotten its origins, and this is evident in this current
production. Aside from the physical aspect of jazz dance, it is also

2
http://www.dance-teacher.com/2010/09/carrying-the-jazz-dance-torch/
3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwbZCduQ5fo&feature=youtu.be


Throughout the past century Jazz dance has evolved alongside popular culture
and music. Most recently the cult TV show So You Think You Can Dance
brought dance to the forefront of popular television entertainment. In this essay
students are required to study Hanna Maria Hayes article Carrying the Jazz
Dance Torch and discuss the effect that popular culture has had on the practical
delivery and performance of Jazz dance as well as to discuss whether the original
art form of Jazz dance is at risk of being cast aside or forgotten in todays dance
industry.

important to discuss the music and how this has affected the different
elements that we see today.

The mid 1900s saw some of the most talented jazz musicians in the world
ranging from Luis Armstrong to Cab Colloway and a handful more. These
artists were the creators of some of the most memorable jazz dance songs
still used occasionally today. Part of the issue in which Hayes is trying to
unravel in her article is why it isnt being brought into the jazz dance of
today and being embraced by our younger performers. The truth is most
people would struggle to name even two well-known traditional jazz
musicians of the 21
st
century. Thats because there isnt the market for this
style anymore. Because there is not the interest that there once was for
this music it then affects the dancing, as it is almost impossible to
choreograph what Boriss call a true jazz number to Beyonc or Nikki
Minaj. To keep up with the evolving world, dance teachers, performers and
choreographers need to adjust to the era, meaning that they need to add
elements of other styles such as hip hop and contemporary to fit the music
of todays popular culture.

The dance and entertainment world can be viewed in so many different
ways but it is evident that the industry is always evolving whether anyone
likes it or not. Dancers of today dont have the resources that were
available like real just music in the 193Os. Reality TV is taking over the
popular culture by luring them in with commercialized pieces of art.
Fortunately the live theatre industry still holds the origins close but
although the elements of jazz dancing is changing constantly it does not
mean in anyway that we have forgotten about where it all began.












Throughout the past century Jazz dance has evolved alongside popular culture
and music. Most recently the cult TV show So You Think You Can Dance
brought dance to the forefront of popular television entertainment. In this essay
students are required to study Hanna Maria Hayes article Carrying the Jazz
Dance Torch and discuss the effect that popular culture has had on the practical
delivery and performance of Jazz dance as well as to discuss whether the original
art form of Jazz dance is at risk of being cast aside or forgotten in todays dance
industry.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Broadway: The American Musical. "Bob Fosse | The Stars | PBS." Accessed
September 16, 2014.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/stars/bob-fosse/.


Hayes, Hanna M. "Carrying the Jazz Dance Torch | Dance Teacher
magazine | Practical. Nurturing. Motivating. The voice of dance
educators." Dance Teacher magazine. Accessed September 16, 2014.
http://www.dance-teacher.com/2010/09/carrying-the-jazz-dance-
torch/.


Dance Lessons DVD - Learn How to Dance Instruction Video. "History of
Jazz Dance - Dance History Articles." Accessed September 16, 2014.
http://www.dancelessons.net/dance_history/HistoryofJazzDance.ht
ml.


"PIPPIN: Circus Meets Dance." YouTube. June 17, 2013.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwbZCduQ5fo&feature=youtu.be
.