DANC101 Final (Flach)
Gower Champion
"42nd Street"- best known for; died opening night, "Hello Dolly", "Bye, Bye Birdie"- he was the initial choreographer, "Carnival", "I Do! I Do!"
Twyla Tharp
"Baryshnikov by Tharp", "Hair", "Amadeus", "White Nights"- B in it; about the soviet union,"Singing in the Rain", "Movin' Out", "Come Fly Away". "The Times They are a-Changin" (protest poet-a deliberate attempt to create an anthem of change for the time), "Push Comes to Shove"- B was in it, "The Catherine Wheel"
Stage Musicals
live
Bob Fosse
"Cabaret", "Chicago", "Pippin", "Damn Yankees", "The Pajama Game"- first fully choreographed show, made him an overnight success, "Redhead", "Bells Are Ringing:, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: ,"Sweet Charity", "Dancin'", "All That Jazz"
Katherine Dunham
"Cabin in the Sky" - worked with Alvin Ailey; centers on Little Joe, a kindhearted but morally ambivalent Everyman, who is stabbed in a dispute over a crap game, dies and is bound for Hell, but is saved by his good wife's prayers and given extra time on earth to qualify for admission to Heaven, "Stormy Weather" - movie she did w a famous singer
Gillian Lynne
"Cats"- tells the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles and the night they make what is known as "the Jellicle choice" and decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life, "Phantom of the Opera" (most known for; the Phantom, a musical genius who dwells deep beneath a majestic opera house in Paris. Shunned by society for his horrible facial deformity, he takes a promising young soprano, Christine, under his wing and grooms her for operatic fame, all the while falling deeply in love with her. As Christine grows ever more successful, and a handsome young man from her past begins to successfully court her, the Phantom descends into a jealous rage and terrorizes the opera company with increasingly dangerous threats), "Aspects of Love"; "The Secret Garden", "Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang"
Susan Stroman
"Contact"- best known for, won the 2000 Toby Award for Best Musical, "The Producers" - most famous- collaborated with actor and writer Mel Brooks, and has worked with him on the musical version of this, "Young Frankenstein"- also collaborated with Brooks and was the choreographer and director, "Crazy for You" - broadway show, "Steel Pier", "Center Stage" Revivals: "Showboat", "Oklahoma", "The Music Man"
George Balanchine
"On Your Toes"- story within story; his wife at the time was a star of it, "Babes in Arms", "The Boys from Syracuse"- retelling of a Shakespeare play, "I Married An Angel"
Agnes de Mille
"Rodeo", "Oklahoma!"- how it gained its statehood; most famous for this; it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance with farm girl Laurey Williams. A secondary romance concerns cowboy Will Parker and his flirtatious fiancée, Ado Annie, "Brigadoon"- dream ballet; town in Scotland that appears every 100 years; Gene Kelly is it; they come around this town; gene falls in love with a woman in the town; should he stay there with the girl and disappear or leave and never see her again?, "Carousel"- beach ballet
Musicals Starring Ginger and Fred
"Royal Wedding", "The Barclays of Broadway", "The Gay Divorcee", "Flying Down to Rio", "Top Hat". "Swing Time", "Holiday Inn"
Gene Kelly Productions
"Singing In the Rain", "An American in Paris", "On The Town", "Brigadoon"
Gregory Hines
"Sophisticated Ladies"; leading man in "Jelly's Last Jam"; "White Nights"; Tap - Broadway, Film, Television
Jerome Robbins
"West Side Story", "Fiddler on the Roof", "Peter Pan", "The King and I", "Gypsy"- auditioned strippers bc it is about burlesque which was the end of vaudeville, "Fancy Free"- started his career; its about three sailors and a day in NY for them
Florenz Ziegfeld
(1867-1932); producer that produced variety shows; Comics and show girls; Theater owner/producer/director. Produced a new follies each year until the Great Depression (1930s) Presented shows called: "The Ziegfeld Follies"
Bill "Bojangles" Robinson
(1878-1949); & Shirley temple (2nd favorite couple) only couple to compare to Fred and Ginger One of the many African American artists who popularized tap dance; he was a vaudeville tapper who first performed in 1891 when he was 12. He was also one of the first black performers to have regular employment in the mostly white theatre, and one of the first rhythm tap dancers. One of the greatest tap dancers of the vaudeville era; One of the first black performers who presented artistic dance on the vaudeville stage; he had a graceful and delicate style; he worked on Broadway and in movie musicals The Little Colonel and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm- the film tells the story of a talented orphan's trials and tribulations after winning a radio audition to represent a breakfast cereal (danced with Shirley in these)
Kathleen Marshall
(b. 1962); an American choreographer, director, and creative consultant; started with revivals Important to be considered a triple threat in musical theater someone who is equally talented in dance voice and acting. Broadway: "Nice Work If You Can Get It" (choreographed; her own), Revivals: "Anything Goes", "Grease", "The Pajama Game", "Little Shop of Horrors", "Wonderful Town"; "Kiss Me Kate", "Grease" (directed these, not her own)
Fred Astaire
(1899-1987); very popular no one does it better than Ginger Rodgers and him (power couple- made tap especially popular in musical theater productions; included ballroom dancing (mixed with tap and ballet) in their movies, bringing this unique combination of dance styles to the public). They performed Top Hat (1935), which contains many wonderful tap sequences and The Gay Divorcee. Known for their gracefulness. Fred is always dressed up nicely; tap dance and the golden age of movie musicals wanted no close ups, him and Ginger formed class act, taught camera how to capture dance on film, elegant; lifted, in tuxs Thought the dancer should always be shown in full figure, as little angle changes as possible; changed the way the camera viewed dance; was into extreme editing and effects
George Balanchine
(1904-1983); established NYC ballet and school of ballet; Russian A student of the Russian Imperial School of Ballet, he toured with a small troupe of dancers until he was offered a job at Ballet Russes, where he stayed for four years. After serving as a resident choreographer for the Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo, he came to the US in 1933 at the invitation of art patron Lincoln Kirstein. In the US, he established the School of American Ballet and had four successive companies: The American Ballet, American Ballet Caravan, Ballet Society and the NYC Ballet (only one still in existence). He is best known for his sophisticated use of music, plotless ballets and minimal costume and set design "On Your Toes"- story within story; his wife at the time was a star of it, "Babes in Arms", "The Boys from Syracuse"- retelling of a Shakespeare play, "I Married An Angel"
Agnes de Mille
(1905-1993); A graduated from NE college, with a degree in dance, concert ballet/contemporary choreographer. Her uncle called her to Hollywood. Made dance so important to her story that the dance wouldn't be completed without it. She called them dream ballets (dream sequences) Pioneer of musical theater choreography; presented dance in a way it had never been presented before (dream sequences)- she strayed away from the typical dances in musicals that were inserted to move the storyline, or for sheer entertainment purposes. Her work gave musical theater choreographers the respect they deserved, it put them equal with the director, composer, and playwright. Choreographed on such companies as the Ballet Ruses de Monte Carlo and the American Ballet Theatre. Ballet and Broadway and Movie Musicals "Rodeo", "Oklahoma!"- how it gained its statehood, "Brigadoon"- dream ballet; town in Scotland that appears every 100 years; Gene Kelly is it; they come around this town; gene falls in love with a woman in the town; should he stay there with the girl and disappear or leave and never see her again?, "Carousel"- beach ballet dream sequences (dancers perform a surrealistic dance number whose duration is almost fifteen minutes; it adds to the storyline and is also a dramatic work unto itself, depicting frantic emotion in a nightmarish setting) in all of these
Josephine Baker
(1906-1975); she was a dancer and incredible performer, she found her way to NY, combined African dance and night club dance, "the banana dancer" bc of her costume one night, grew fed up with America- went to Europe and became a citizen of France, adopted 20 children, each from a different nation; leading performer at the Cotton club Protegee of Eubie Blake's. She popularized several dances of the 1920s, including the Charleston and the Black Bottom (she brought these dances to European audience) Performed in Paris in 1925 and became an instant success. In 1926, she performed at the Follies-Bergere and brought the jazz craze in Paris to an all-time high
Katherine Dunham
(1909-2006); In 1931, she had her first concert in Chicago entitled Negro Rhapsody. This concert was to be the beginnings of black concert dance. She is known for combining native Caribbean and modern dance and is also known as a researcher and a scholar. She appeared in several musical theater productions as well as movie musicals, and her work also had an influence on jazz dance. "Cabin in the Sky" - worked with Alvin ailey, "Stormy Weather" - movie she did w a famous singer Southern honky tonk an American dancer, choreographer, author, educator, and social activist
Gene Kelly
(1912-1996); incorporated tap & jazz; he defined a new style of dance in America; another dance who popularized tap dance; known for his athletic ability (physical and acrobatic), he presented tap dance in a very different manner from Astaire and Rogers, who were known for their gracefulness; most famous tap dance was in the movie "Singin' in the Rain", in which he does actually sing and dance in the rain. Also combined tap, ballroom, and ballet many musicals best known musical is singing in the rain Tap and jazz dancer; kelly and astaire were rivals- went up for same roles; masculine style- sailor, construction worker, etc... developed a style "American style" in jazz and tap. He had many partners. Wears casual clothes Boy next door; opened a dance school as a family to make ends meet; "American style" in jazz and tap
Jack Cole
(1913-1974); father of American jazz dance; he infused jazz dance into musical theater; a mentor to Gene Kelly and then later bob; known for kismet show "A Funny Thing"- the musical tells the bawdy story of a slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door. The plot displays many classic elements of farce, including puns, the slamming of doors, cases of mistaken identity (frequently involving characters disguising themselves as one another), and satirical comments on social class. The title derives from a line often used by vaudeville comedians to begin a story: "A funny thing happened on the way to the theater"; and 'Man of La Mancha'- in the volatile days of the Spanish Inquisition, the writer Miguel de Cervantes (Peter O'Toole) and his manservant (James Coco) make livings as tax collectors but soon find themselves imprisoned after being accused of crimes against the church. Now facing the wrath of their fellow inmates, Cervantes must persuade the unruly bunch not to burn his prized manuscript -- by performing it for them. With the help of a prostitute (Sophia Loren), they begin the tale of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, Denishawn dancer; liked Egyptian dance and other styles; inspired by Ruth S Denis and Ted Shawn & Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman; When he left the company, he got work in first in night clubs; Worked a lot with Marilyn Monroe; she was not a good dancer bc of her arms Focused on Eastern dance styles; the style that he developed in the 40s is still prevalent in today's jazz dance choreography; his choreography is a mixture of jazz and world dance; Father of Jazz Dance - Theatrical Jazz Dance Heritage" "Kismet" (best known for this- Eastern dance influence depicting the story of Arabian Nights), " A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", "Man of La Mancha", "Cover Girl"
Jerome Robbins
(1918-1998); took over for Balanchine as artistic directors of NYC ballet but didn't last long; he was called to the broadway stage; parents were jewish immigrants from New Jersey; ballet dancer; started late in life An American dancer and choreographer, he performed with the Ballet Theatre for eoght years. He has choreographed on several ballet companies, particularly NYC Ballet, of which he was associate artistic director from 1949 to 1963. He also co-directed NYC Ballet with Peter Martins in the 1980s, until the end of the 1990-1991 season. He is also known for his musical theater choreography, such as West Side Story (1961). "West Side Story"- retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, "Fiddler on the Roof", "Peter Pan", "The King and I", "Gypsy"- auditioned strippers bc it is about burlesque which was the end of vaudeville, "Fancy Free"- started his career; its about three sailors and a day in NY for them Connection to Isadora Duncan
The Harlem Renaissance
(1921-1933); Manhattan; 1920s - the jazz age; flappers (women who wore their hair in a short bob and wore short, fringed dresses); many exclusive clubs opened; employment for black dancers was plentiful Most performers were black and audience was white
Gower Champion
(1921-1980); did a revival of these musicals; ballroom dance competitors with his wife, Marge. First was Showboat. The 50s and 60s were his best times. He slowed down in the 70s bc medical issues. Before becoming a noted choreographer and director, He was a dancer and appeared in several musicals with his wife and dance partner, Marge. As a director, he was an expert at "musical staging," which linked the acting and the dancing "42nd Street"- best known for; died opening night, "Hello Dolly", "Bye, Bye Birdie"- he was the initial choreographer/director, "Carnival", "I Do! I Do!" Did lots of shows then became a director
Sammy Davis, Jr.
(1925-1990); Like Robinson, he was another black artist who popularized tap dance and was also first seen as a child on the vaudeville stage. He combined his dancing talents with his wonderful ability to sing and act and became one of America's most popular entertainers (tap dancer and all-around entertainer). He starred in a movie called "Tap" (1989), which brought about a new-found interest in tap dance by the general public. Performed in movies, Broadway, and nightclubs Student of all the old dance masters
Luigi
(1925-2015); New York City based master teacher - Developed a technique and style that form the foundation of American Jazz Dance; started with floor exercises; could never go back to strict ballet style; to get over his own issues, he developed a therapeutic style; master teacher not choreographer***
Bob Fosse
(1927-1987); original person who did dances below Invented the jazz hand Used a lot of black for dancers costume Discovered dance out of a serious art form after he got out of the army (late 20s), grew up in Chicago, he was the youngest son of a sporty family, he became a drummer and a jazz dancer, drafted into the army, decided to study theater in NY, went to take ballet classes, he was criticized bc he did not have the turn out and technique a lot of people had; his technique can be described as slinky, SEXYYYY, etc; he was going bald in his mid twenties and had to wear tupees; when he did choreography he put everyone in hats. He made his weaknesses his strengths by developing choreography over his weaknesses, which made it a style. Invented the jazz hand. He turned in bc people criticized his turn out One of jazz dance's foremost choreographers, Fosse's choreography is recognizable by its angular shapes, undulating hip and shoulder movements, hip isolations and turned-in legs. "Cabaret", "Chicago", "Pippin", "Damn Yankees", "The Pajama Game", "Redhead", "Bells Are Ringing:, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: ,"Sweet Charity", "Dancin'", "All That Jazz"
Gus Giordano
(1930-2008); known for his style and technique Chicago-based teacher and choreographer - school and company Created Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago to bring all the Jazz dancers together to the middle of the nation, Illinois
Gregory Hines
(1946-2003); an American dancer, actor, singer, and choreographer; important place in musical theater starred in sophisticated ladies; it was a duke Ellington show; went on to be a leading man in Jelly's Last Jam; known for Broadway film and tv work (will and grace show he was his boss); he was a "rhythm tapper" (call attention to intricate and percussive footwork); starred in movies where tap sequences were highlighted; White Nights (1985) (also starred Mikhail Baryshnikov- one of the most exciting tap dances to ever be caught on film); also starred in Tap Paired with his brother Maurice, he started tap dancing at a young age Sophisticated Ladies"; Jelly's Last Jam"; "White Nights"; Tap - Broadway, Film, Television
Gillian Lynne
(b. 1926); lone britisher; ballet dancer; court of ballet; rose up the ranks; ready to retire but she then got called to the west end of London to choreograph (this is a vibrant dance area) Royal Shakespeare Theater; She became this man's musse and choreographer (Andrew LLoyd Webber- wrote the music he is a composer) "Cats", "Phantom of the Opera"(most known for), "Aspects of Love"; "The Secret Garden", "Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang" The Royal Ballet Sadler Wells Ballet that later became Royal Ballet
Garth Fagan
(b. 1940); modern dancer; best known for the lion king Jamaican-born was a student of Martha Graham, Pearl Primus and Alvin Ailey, among others. His company, Garth Fagan Dance, uniquely blends modern, jazz and world dance. Based in Rochester, NY, his company is internationally known. He also created the choreography for the Broadway production The Lion King "The Lion King" Choreographed elements of modern dance, ballet, Afro-Caribbean dance and social dancer
Twyla Tharp
(b. 1942); working with a guy making up a piece to patriotic music; she would pick a singer and create a musical based on lyrics of their songs; loved to work with Michel Baryshnikov bc he knew how to easily pick up on things (the dances showed a relationship); combined contemporary ballet jazz broadway; corky Worked with both Cunningham and Taylor and later developed her own company and created a movement style that was a blend of several dance forms, including ballet, modern, tap and jazz. Although seemingly "loose", her choreography is technically difficult, with its use of a relaxed torso but dynamically charged arm and leg movements. She has also choreographed on several ballet companies and for a short while was a resident choreographer for American Ballet Theatre in New York. In 2002, she created the Broadway musical Movin' Out, with music by Billy Joel. Modern/Contemporary Dance, Movie Musicals, Broadway "Baryshnikov by Tharp", "Hair", "Amadeus", "White Nights"- B in it,"Singing in the Rain", "Movin' Out", "Come Fly Away". "The Times They are a-Changin" (protest poet), "Push Comes to Shove"- B was in it, "The Catherine Wheel"
Savion Glover
(b. 1973); he was the youngest guy to win 3 tony awards (broadway award) he was 19 years old when he won it for Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk; he always danced with older guys; uses tap dance in many endeavors, thus allowing audiences to view and appreciate this dance form. Starred in The Tap Dance Kid on Broadway as a child Broadway shows: Bring in da Noise (mixed tap with hip-hop, break dancing, and Glover's unique style/depicts the black American struggle), Bring in da Funk; The Tap Dance Kid; Jelly's Last Jam; Tap; Black and Blue Shows like Tap Dogs (1996) and Stomp (1994) are still performed world-wide and demonstrate a wide variety of tap styles
Mikhail Baryshnikov
(b. 1948); Russian dancer with the Kirov Ballet, he defected while on tour in Canada in 1974. After several guest appearances with different companies, he went to American Ballet Theatre where he danced for several years. He also served as artistic director of the company. He has been involved in several projects, including dancing with the White Oak Dance Project, which he cofounded in 1990 with choreographer Mark Morris. He has since opened the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York, an organization dedicated to artistic experimentation and collaboration. He is still an active performer in dance, television, and theatre.
Bill T. Jones
(b. 1952); involved in social causes and social issues Anti aids statement Moved into Broadway Artistic director of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company (Zane is now deceased, a victim of the AIDS virus), his choreography follows a strong narrative and dramatic line and are both poignant and controversial. One of his dances, Still/Here (1994), created a major controversy. Because of his use of people with terminal illnesses in the dance, critic Arlene Croce refused to review the dance, which she said was "victim art" Because of this disagreement, the dance world, as well as the popular media began a long and heated debate on "victim art" and Jones's Still/Here Founder of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company Concert works include: "Last supper at Uncle Tom's Cabin/The Promised Land", "Still Here", "D-Man in the Waters" - motifs of swimming/diving/breast stroking...etc... Broadway: "Spring Awakening", "Fela!"- story about a west African musician
Susan Stroman
(b. 1954); she was a Broadway gypsee danced in fosse shows Best known for "contact" she had; choreographer; "New Bob Fosse" bc she is so prolific; combined jazz, contemporary and ballet One of the few women who both choreographed and directed movies and live musicals. "Contact"- two acts before, telling stories, last act: he is mysteriously drawn to an after-hours club in Manhattan's meat-packing district, where he tries to engage a beautiful young woman in a yellow dress who keeps appearing and then disappearing into the crowd of sinuous couples swing-dancing; best known for, won the 2000 Toby Award for Best Musical, "The Producers" - most famous; the story concerns two theatrical producers who scheme to get rich by overselling interests in a Broadway flop. Complications arise when the show unexpectedly turns out to be successful. The humor of the show draws on ridiculous accents, caricatures of homosexuals and Nazis, and many show business in-jokes - collaborated with actor and writer Mel Brooks, and has worked with him on the musical version of this, "Young Frankenstein"- also collaborated with Brooks and was the choreographer and director, "Crazy for You" - broadway show, "Steel Pier", "Center Stage" Revivals: "Showboat", "Oklahoma", "The Music Man" Used recorded music; 3 different stories with ads (Contact); at every entrance at a subway there was a stirking woman in a yellow dress as an ad for Contact
"The Black Crook"
1866, directed by David Costa; first stage musical (used dance to move the storyline along); it was a musical by accident, known as act dance; after this, dance was seen as a posititve and useful "tool", thus was included in many theatrical productions
Off Off Broadway
50 seats or under for audience members
Off Broadway
51-500 seats for audience members
Tap Dance
Bill Robinson, Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly, The Nicholas Brothers, Sammy Davis Jr, Charles "Honi" Coles, Charles "Cholly" Atkins, Jimmy Slide, James "Buster" Brown, Gregory Hines, Savion Glover
Mixed Style Compilations
Bob Fosse, Susan Stroman, Michael Bennett, Kathleen Marshall
Savion Glover
Bring in da Noise (mixed tap with hip-hop, break dancing, and his unique style/depicts the black American struggle), Bring in da Funk; The Tap Dance Kid (the title character, Willie, is a 10-year-old boy who comes from an upper middle class African-American family. He dreams of becoming a dancer but faces opposition from his father, a lawyer. The second act is devoted to Willie's imaginations of stardom); Jelly's Last Jam (serves as a social commentary on the African-American experience during the era); Tap; Black and Blue
Styles of tap
Broadway and rhythm
The Golden Age of Movie Musicals
Busby Berkeley, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Bill RObinson, Shirley Temple, Gene Kelly, Jack Cole, Gower Champion
Michael Bennett
Choreographer influenced by Jack Cole and Bob Fosse (1943-1987); best known for A Chorus Line "A Chorus Line"- provides a glimpse into the personalities of the performers and the choreographer as they describe the events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become dancers, "Dreamgirls", "Seesaw", "Follies", "Company", "Coco", "Promises, Promises"
Bill T. Jones
Concert works include: "Last supper at Uncle Tom's Cabin/The Promised Land", "Still Here", "D-Man in the Waters" - motifs of swimming/diving/breast stroking...etc... Broadway: "Spring Awakening", "Fela!"- story about a west African musician
Class Acts
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers: execute steps in a refined manner, with elegant body movements.
Ballet to Broadway and Back
George Balanchine, Agnes de Mille, Jerome Robbins, Gillian Lynne
42nd Street
Gower Champion is best known for directing this; he died the opening night; the show focuses on the efforts of famed dictatorial Great White Way director Julian Marsh to mount a successful stage production of a musical extravaganza at the height of the Great Depression.
The Cotton Club
Harlem was the home of Jazz; Time in history when we had good renaissance of black dancers; Whites only could come but all of the dancers were black and staff was, so their own families could not come watch; Most famous club of the Harlem Renaissance; shows were here; most performers were black, most of the audience was white.
Broadway Style Tap
High (the rockettes)
Fiddler on the Roof
Jewish folk dance
Kismet
Jack Cole is best known for this; it shows Eastern dance influence depicting the story of Arabian Nights; story concerns a wily poet who talks his way out of trouble several times; meanwhile, his beautiful daughter meets and falls in love with the young Caliph.
Modern/Contemporary Dance and Broadway Crossovers
Katherine Dunham, Twyla Tharp, Garth Fagan, Bill T. Jones
The West End
London's version of Broadway
Rhythm Tap
Low; often but not always improvisational; done from the waist down
Jazz Dance
Luigi, Gus Giordano, Jack Cole, Bob Fosse
Broadway
More elegant and uplifting shows; very showy Fred, Gene, and Ginger danced in these shows
Flash Acts
Nicholas Brothers - Broadway, Movie Musicals, Nightclubs: combine tap dance with acrobatic movements
West Side Story
Robbins; It was inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. The story is set in the Upper West Side neighborhood in New York City in the mid-1950s, an ethnic, blue-collar neighborhood. (In the early 1960s much of the neighborhood would be cleared in an urban renewal project for the Lincoln Center, changing the neighborhood's character.) The musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. The members of the Sharks, from Puerto Rico, are taunted by the Jets, a white gang. The young protagonist, Tony, a former member of the Jets and best friend of the gang leader, Riff, falls in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks. The dark theme, sophisticated music, extended dance scenes, and focus on social problems marked a turning point in American musical theater.
The Nicholas Brothers Fayard Nicholas (1919-2006) Harold Nicholas (1924-2000)
They were a tap dancing act that performed many acrobatic movements in their dance routines. Performed in such movies as The Pirates and Stormy Weather.
Busby Berkeley
Trademark Style and Camera Work; his overhead shots became his trademark, helet the camera roam, Facial close ups, Ginger Rogers got best angles, Tap and ballroom were most popular dance A dance director known for his use of beautiful girls in his productions. Often the girls were customed to look exactly alike. He moved them around on stage in intricate patterns and provided audiences with aerial shots that produced a kaleidoscope effect. used a pully system with a platform to get his overhead shots
Social Dance
Waltz, Fox Trot - Smooth Dance Samba, Rumba, Salsa, Tango, Merengue, Mambo - Latin Styles
Charles "Honi" Coles
an American actor and tap dancer. He was best known for his role as Tito Suarez in the film Dirty Dancing; dance partners with Charles "Cholly" Atkins; moved like honey; very smooth
Charles "Cholly" Atkins
an American dancer and vaudeville performer, who later became noted as the house choreographer for the various artists on the Motown label; dance partners with charles honi coles
Movie Musicals
recorded, not live
The Royal Ballet
based in London, England
Book Musicals
based on a book like Oklahoma or West Side Story
Concept Musical
based on an idea; Cats
Jazz
came to America when slaves were brought from Africa to America. Slaves on plantations kept their rhythms alive by clapping, stomping, and singing their songs on plantations. They used to drum until slave owners prohibited it. Dances were also performed for competition and entertainment.
Musical Review
composer or an era of time and set a musical around that
Ginger Rodgers
dancer with Fred; Fred and her were the top names; most famous duo; drew people in; would resist Fred until he danced with her
Dream sequences
dancers perform a surrealistic dance number whose duration is almost fifteen minutes; it adds to the storyline and is also a dramatic work unto itself, depicting frantic emotion in a nightmarish setting (Agnes de Mille)
"The Ziegfeld Follies"
existed for about 20 years; brought about comics; tap dancers; brought talent; centered around a star; hired a lot of show girls A showcase of American "beauties," song and dance numbers and comedy routines
Vaudeville
form of entertainment; most important and significant to jazz dance history; marked the emergence of jazz music (~1919, combination of ragtime and the blues); blacks performed in these; Motion picture camera killed it
Jimmy Slide
got famous at the Apollo theater; liked to slide and do percussive sounds; known as the King of Slides, was a world-renowned tap dancer, especially famous for his innovative tap style mixed with jazz; danced in the Cotton Club, Tap, Round Midnight
Gypsy
jerome robbins; auditioned strippers bc it is about burlesque which was the end of vaudeville
James "Buster" Brown
known for hard hitting busting the floor; an African American Tap dancer and entertainer
The Vaudeville Era
lasted until motion picture camera killed it
Motif
movement repeated over and over in a dance by one dancer or more. It's a movement not the meaning.
Triple threat
one who can sing, dance, and act
Bojangles and Shirley
second most famous couple; danced, tapped, sang "The Little Colonel", "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm"
Fancy Free
started jerome robbin's career; its about three sailors and a day in NY for them
Minstrel Shows
subshow of Vaudeville; was for black performers to stick it to whites; The songs and dances of the African American slaves brought to the U.S. were showcased in these shows. Subheading of shows going on at the same time as vaudeville. They began in the 1830s and showcased black songs and dances. White performers in blackface performed in these shows because blacks weren't allowed to perform on public stage. It wasn't until the 1860s that blacks began to appear in their own Minstrel Shows (they performed for other blacks and Irish immigrants) Black shows became just as popular as white ones bc of the black shows close of the first act called the "cakewalk" which came directly from plantation entertainment- it was a contest among dancing couples who attempted to outdo each other in the mock imitation of the white man's manners and behavior. Dancers displayed their best struts, high kicks, footwork The shows were popular until the early 1900s and paved the way for the vaudeville, revue and burlesque shows that were to dominate the American stage for the next 20 years
Two forms of dance most used on broadway
tap and ballroom
Broadway
theater district in NY
Tap Dance
true American dance - vaudeville, Minstrel Shows, Broadway, Movie Musicals, Concert Dance- "America's dance" Combination of African rhythms and hard shoe dancing from the British Isles - born on the streets, Irish Jig and English Clog meets Negro shuffle, Mix of African, Step dancing, Only style of dance that is truly American, Different culture, strong use of syncopated rhythms Introduced in the minstrel shows, dominated vaudeville shows of the late 1800s, remained popular well into the nineteenth century. Rhythmic sounds are produced by moving the feet. Shoes are worn with metal taps on the bottom, which produce the distinctive tap sound against the floor. Very improvisational
