what is jazz dance

Jazz dance is a performance dance and style that arose in the United States in the mid-20th century. It is a social dance style that emerged at the turn of the 20th century when African American dancers began blending traditional African steps with European styles of movement. Jazz dance may allude to vernacular jazz, Broadway, or dramatic jazz, and the two types expand on African American vernacular styles of dance that arose with jazz music. Vernacular jazz dance incorporates ragtime moves, Charleston, Lindy hop, and mambo. Dramatic jazz dance performed on the show stage was promoted by Jack Cole, Bob Fosse, Eugene Louis Faccuito, and Gus Giordano. Jazz dance features improvisation and pairs animated expressions with sharp yet fluid motions. Some basic jazz dance moves include jazz block, ball change, pivot, jazz square, chasse, and jazz walk. Jazz dance has always had a performative feel, and it has been used in Hollywood movies and Broadway shows to describe the choreographies of Bob Fosse and Jerome Robbins.