The 1970’s was a time period of growth and livelihood. The 70s introduced great choreographers Bob Fosse and Michael Bennett, dance movies, as well as the introduction of breakdancing. Music in the 1970s was brought about by ABBA, the Rolling Stones, and David Bowie. Jazz dance in the 1970s was heavily influenced by the rise in pop and funk music, as well as in the entertainment industry with jazz being introduced in stage and film.
Breakdancing was born as a result of the song “Get on the Good Foot” by James Brown when it was featured on television. People would attempt to copy his moves in their living rooms. Clive Campbell, or more famously known as DJ Kool Herc, is credited with evolving breakdancing. Breakdancing started with fancy footwork and intricate tricks such as head spinning. Breakdancing became popular in dance and disco clubs. As breakdancing further evolved, there was the addition of groundwork with moves like handgliding, windmilling, and headspinning. This addition of groundwork helped shape what we know breakdancing to be today (Bedinghaus).
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During this time, the Bee Gees were gaining popularity, and a lot of their music is featured in Saturday Night Fever. Their music, combined with the dancing, influenced the way that dance began to change. There was the emergence of more disco style dance being incorporated into jazz dance. “The 1970s also saw the huge impact of John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, which boosted the image of the male dancer…” (Nalett). Seeing a male actor starring in a dancing role in a feature film was a great encouragement for men to dance. They had a sense of security that it was “cool” and
Dancing skyrocketed during the 1920s. Many styles of dance that were created before the era did not become popular until the 1920s. For example, the Charleston did not swept the world until after the moves appeared in “Running Wild”, a show on Broadway. The Charleston dance was a fast paced dance that went with the song “The Charleston” by James P. Johnson. Many dance clubs banned the Charleston because the dance was unsuitable for the youth to be dancing. Also new dance styles were being created, for example, the Foxtrot. The Foxtrot was one of cherished dances during the era. The Foxtrot is a partner dance and many disapproved of how close the partners were to each other while dancing, often cheek-to-cheek.
The Waltz isn’t a new dance but the dance had evolved from what it was in the past and became less directional. The dance was meant to be a slower dance than all the popular dances of the 1920s and it was more passionate and romantic. The most popular ballroom dance style was the Foxtrot and it just so happened that it was the easiest dance also. This dance consisted of smooth walking and could be danced to both fast and slow jazz tempos making it easy to transition between the two whenever the music switches up. The Foxtrot can be danced with simple steps if that was how the person felt was better or it could be danced with a series of complex steps meaning that it was a customizable dance. The Tango is another popular ballroom dance and came from Argentina. It’s popularity skyrocketed after “Rudolf Valentino performed it for a movie named Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”(Nelson). The Tango arrived to the dance scene earlier than all the other dances, making its first appearance in 1912. The Tango was a passionate dance meant to be danced with a partner and the steps had a distinct vibe that added a sense of drama to the dance.There were also other popular mentions: The Shimmy which was banned from most dance halls because of its impurity and was also known in gypsy dances, The Black Bottom which eventually beat the Charleston and became the number
No doubt, the film became one of the most popular films of the 1970s up until the next generations for it manifest a paradigm of great marketing by exploiting to the viewers the new trends like music, lifestyle, and its ideology. One of them was the oozing and the refreshing music that must have become an ultimate bomb at the time, since Music is revolutionary; the music used in the movie becomes a pave way for the new birth of genres of dances and songs. Saturday Night Fever is a masterpiece of ambivalence and skillfully fabricated piece of merchandize that has
The 1980s also introduced the production of MTV, displaying new music videos incorporating jazz, ballet, street dance, and social dance in new ways. Many important choreographers came out during this era, such as Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul and Madonna. These artist influenced the integration of choreography and music into video. “Old school dancers like the cabbage patch,
A club known as the Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers possibly began this trend in 1935 when they formed their group of 12 dancers (Swingin’). This group of dancers began, and performed the majority of their lifetime as a group in the Savoy Ballroom. They created the Lindy Hop quite simply, using movements from the Charleston as well as basic tap movements. And because of their dance, they had the opportunity to perform both on Broadway, and even in some movies. First, two partners would dance around together in various ways. Then, the man would complete a series of lifts with the girl, usually ending with them apart. Finally, a section of solo footwork would occur to bring the couple back
Irish Step Dancing started around 1750, when the appearance of dance masters came about. Dance Masters would travel from town to town teaching their dances to people that were interested and that could pay for it. They would teach in barns, kitchens, crossroads, and hedge schools. These teachings went on in secret due to Penal Laws that were enacted in the late 17th century. The English were determined to suppress Irish culture and abolish Christianity so these laws banned the education of catholic children, which was why the Irish created hedge schools. The Dance Masters would start with dances like the Reel and the Jig. Each dance master had his own collection of dance steps and would also create their own over time, which lead to Step Dancing. 8 measures or bars or music is one step, thus the name “Step Dancing”. Often competitions were held where Dance masters would show off there steps and perform on small areas like a table top, top of a barrel, or a small stage. Dancing in these small areas showed great talent. The greater number of steps that were preformed or known the more respect a dance master received. Some Dance Masters would even compete at Feisianna, which was a combination of a trade fair, political gath...
Breakdancing, a form of dance that combines acrobatics with dance, also came originated in block parties and house parties. B-Boys, as well as B-Girls, would dance to the breaks in the music, hence the name.
Famous choreographer George Balanchine once said, “He is the most interesting, the most inventive, the most elegant dancer of our times” and noted dancer Rudolph Nureyev also said, “He was not just the best ballroom dancer, or tap dancer, he was simply the greatest, most imaginative, dancer of our time.” These famous dancers were referring to Fred Astaire, who has been known as one of the greatest dancers of all time. His light, artistic joyful style of dancing has impacted dance in an extremely unique way. Astaire used techniques in films as well as in dance that have shaped society. Astaire was mostly prominent throughout the 1930s during the Great Depression. Everywhere, Americans were looking for some joy in their lives, and Astaire was able to give them hope in a period of history that lacked optimism. Fred Astaire’s carefree dance movement style and techniques, specifically in the films Swing Time and The Gay Divorcee, help America through the Great Depression and signifies the importance of art in this time period.
Further, Fosse’ admired and adored the woks of Fred Astaire. His main subject of talk was dancing. In addition, he used to watch Astaire films in a repeated manner without getting. Paul Draper’s work in the dancing field thrilled Bob. Draper was one of the starters of dancing who invented a special ballet-tap style of dancing that was mostly performed to classical music. These two icons served as role models to Bob and guided each and every choice he made pertaining
... The Web. 18 Nov. 2011. Dirks, Tim. A. The "Film History of the 1970s.
Music of the 1970’s saw the rise of disco, which became one of the biggest genres of the decade, especially in the mid-to-late 1970s. Although the hype was short lived many great hits formed from this genre. The Bee’s Gee’s released their well known song “Stayin’ Alive,” The Village People released the “YMCA,” and “Macho Man,” plus many more. Other than disco, funk, jazz fusion, smooth jazz and soul continued to prominent throughout the decade. One major genre that played an important part in the Western music scene was Rock. Sub-genres of rock, in particular glam, hard rock, progressive, art rock, and heavy metal amounted a substantial amount of success during this decade.
Breakdancing The history of choreography is also very important: Any choreography that seems new, fresh and different is usually a variation of something that has been done before. As long as men and women have lived upon this earth, they have danced. The art of movement is among the oldest of the arts. So for eight months I’ve been learning the skills of hip hop and breakdancing by going to a hip hop club every week where I learned the basic skills of breaking like how to top-rock and six-step.
Jazz and “boogie-woogie” of the Thirties moved popular music away from the light entertainment of the publishing houses toward a more exciting and dance oriented style that made the swing era a golden age. As the bigger bands died out and the star singers again grabbed the spot light the songwriters again found their services in demand. Without jazz driving it and Americans rebuilding their lives and starting baby booms people were too busy to waste time dancing. Popular music turned back to light sentimental songs and cute novelty music song by polished voices and backed by sweetly generic instrumentals.
There are many elements of film musicals, which are present in typical Hollywood, and Broadway musicals. For example the synchronized dancing can be seen in many musicals such as 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' and 'Cabaret'. The musical films are a development from the dance halls and silent movies and became very popular in the 1930's. This popularity remained until the television boom in the 70's and 80's, and also due to the fact that more realistic films were being released and people saw the films as unrealistic and fantastical.