3/18/14African American Vernacular Dance(On Midterm)- Vernacular Dance: The dance of the people where you find them (midterm)o Ex: From Romania and came to Athens and created a new movement based on what everyone brings to the table- The Great Triangular Tradeo Trade between Great Britain, America, and West Africao Exchange of goods and resources in exchange for human labor(slaves)o The Middle Passage is between West Africa and the United States How to rebuild a culture:- Culture- Beliefs, morals, values and traditions- Food, agriculture - Music, art, dance- History- Language, literature, education- Economics- Government - Blood Memorieso An understanding and knowledge of one’s cultural heritage without being taught; and innate knowing3/20/14Jazz- Jazz is about culture as well as art- Was created in America- The word jazz means sex- Jazz music is a hybridization of European Classical Music and African Polyrhythmso Slaves were exposed to European Classical Music on the plantations because theyhad European slave owners o African Polyrhythms Syncopation: the beat between the beat Multiple types of beats going on at once Talking drum: the drum has a rhythm or has a voice- African people know that a particular beat mean a particular thingo Ex: Beats for funerals and celebrations- Danceso Ring Shout:  Dance slaves would do in a circle while singing and mimicking certain daily tasks or jobs Mirror of their lives- Ex: agricultural movementso Cake Walk:  Performed in 2/4 time (march) Slaves would dress up and mimic the master- Person who did it best would win a cake- Juke Joint (in South)o Shack in rural south, located in the woods It was hidden because of illegal activity Number increased with prohibitiono Illegal alcohol, sometimes prostitution, gambling, dance, and musico Basic night club of this timeo Many of the musicians that played at the churches were the same people that played in the Juke Joints - The Great Migrationo Former slaves were migrating north for work Industrial jobs for skilled and unskilled laborers o Result: Culture and art also came with this migration A lot of African American culture was being transferred into the Northern U.S.- Harlem Renaissance o Rebirth of art, culture, and awareness within the American cities (centered in Harlem, NYC)- Speak Easy (in North)o Northern version of a Juke Jointo Usually secretly took place in the back of businesso Chorus Girl Dancing black girls that performed in the speak easy or night clubs in Harlem- Ex: Cotton Club, Jungle Alley They tapped, acrobatics, and early forms of jazz dance Had to be very fair skinned, under 25, and pretty- Paper bag test: if you were lighter than a brown paper bad you could be one Rich business men were often in attendance - Flapperso Rebellious and young, white women that rebelled in forms of fashion, music, and dancing o Changed the way women were behaving during this time- Katherine Dunhamo Primarily an anthropologisto Studied African dance in Haiti as it was transplanted into the Caribbean (through slave trade) Isolated certain technical things that were found in early African dance and related them to African American Vernacular Danceo Is responsible for codifying Jazz dance as a techniqueo Before her, Jazz dance was a social danceo Initiated into the voodoo religion A culmination of West African religion and Catholicism Dance until you became into a trance-like stateo She returned to America with knowledge of Haitian culture: Drum and dance Isolation: moving one part of the body without moving the other parts of the body Pageantry: big, flashy costumes, bright colors, sets and backgrounds (because it is part of the religious ceremony)- Added these things to her rich ballet backgroundo Created Dunham technique and dance company and incorporated all of the aspects listed aboveo Influenced many of the fathers and creators of jazz dance- Jack Coleo Considered the “Father of Jazz Dance”- Bob Fosseo Deconstructed staging; wanted it to be all about singing, dancing, and musico Example: Chicago (Cell Block Tango) Willing Suspense of Disbelief- Unwritten contract or agreement between audience and spectacle that what they are about to see is happening even if something is exaggerated or unbelievable (acceptance)- Willing to suspend your disbelief in order to further the expedition Is art essential to life in a cultural society?- Art:o The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional powero The quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.- Culture:o The arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectivelyo The quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.- Why it is:o A cultural society consists of people who share knowledge and ideas with each othero The culture of a society is represented by all of its aspects including arto In my opinion art means more than just the creation of something, it can also be the expression that comes with these new creations and ideaso Language and communication are forms of art o Since art represents the application of human creative skill and imagination then nearly every invention that helps us survive could be considered arto If society wasn’t creative and didn’t have art we couldn’t survive because everyone would be the same and many services in society would not be possibleo Many natural rhythms in life such as seasons, heat beat, life and