African-American Dance - Cultural Expression

Cultural Expression

Lee Ellen Friedland and other authors argue that to talk about cultural dancing without talking about music or art or drama is like talking about fish without talking about water. Music and dance are intimately related in African American cultural dance, not only as accompaniments, but as intertwined creative processes.

African American Cultural Dance was coined by National Dance Association author and researcher Frank R. Ross “Soul Dancing, The Essential African-American Cultural Dance” book( pub N.D.A. 2011). Mr. Ross correctly replaced the old stereotyped vernacular (native or natural) definition of African-American Dance with the correct definition of African-American Dance, which is “cultural.” (Sanctioned by The National Dance Association and International Dance Council - UNESCO).

Some of the popular adult African-American Dances of today are the Detroit Ballroom and Social - Chicago Steppin & Walking, D.C. Baltimore, Cleveland Hand Dance, Calypso & The N.A.A.C.P. Sanctioned Grand March – National Black Wedding & Reunion Dance. Popular black dance organizations are perfectly paired Gentlemen of Ballroom of Cleveland Master Dancers of Akron, OH. Dance Fusion, World Class-Detroit, Majestic Gents - Chicago Smooth & Easy D.C. Tri - State - Love to dance - Sugarfoot of Baltimore, MD. The new American dance art form of African-American cultural dance and music was accepted into The New York City Schools dance education curriculum.

Jacqui Malone describes the relationships between tap dancers who travelled with bands in the early 20th century, describing the way tap dancers worked with the musicians to create new rhythms. Much has been written about the relationship between improvisation in jazz and improvisation in jazz dance - the two are linked by their emphasis on improvisation and creative additions to compositions while they are in process - choreography and composition on the spot, in a social context - rather than a strict division between 'creation' and 'performance', as in the European middle class ballet and operatic tradition. African Dance is supposed to be about a person getting connected to the ground.and telling their story and struggles using dance. It also allow people to feel the vibrations of their dance beneath their feet. allowing them to dance how they please. utilizing the space that they have so they can express themselves freely

It is equally important to talk about the relationship between DJs MCs, b-boys and b-girls and graffiti artists in hip hop culture, and John F. Szwed and Morton Marks have discussed the development of jazz and jazz dance in America from European set dances and dance suites in relation to the development of musical artisanship.