Dancing and Jazz
Dancing refers to body locomotion in accordance to a certain rhythm and more specifically a music rhythm in a specified location with the intention of depicting an opinion or feelings, or as just a simple act of pleasure. Jazz is one of the types of dances, and it is a form of the American tune whose origin can be traced back to the start of the start of the 20th century. There are two types of Jazz styles about the time of history in which they determine their formation (Guarino & Oliver, 2014).
Traditional vs Modern Jazz Styles
A traditional jazz dance involves a sequential movement and clapping that aids in expressing an idea while a modern jazz refers to any dancing style that existed before the 1940s that are attributed by more melodic and rhythmic composition as compared to the initial ones. This paper discusses the major differences in the traditional versus modern Jazz styles. In establishing the differences, some major key metric will be used. Both dance styles will be evaluated by their characteristics and more specifically length, rhythmic component, and easiness of singing, easiness of connecting a dance style, complexity, and weirdness. The above criteria for comparing the two dancing styles are critical as it will touch on every aspect of the jazz thus providing a wholesome comparison. A comparison is necessary to ascertain the best type of jazz to adapt. Traditional jazz dance style is appropriate.
Complexity of the dance
The first metric is complexity. Traditional jazz is deemed to be more diatonic with a general quality of harmonic frequencies. This makes it easier to apply any song to them, and the attribute makes an instant familiarity with the melodies and all the principles that dictate the traditional jazz. Also, it has a predetermined accord that provides a larger platform for choosing the ending diction of a song. Some of the dictions that can be applied are drumming, cowbell completion, kidding, loop-the-loop and the turnaround. In contrary, modern jazz is more complicated (Guarino, 2014). The truth of the matter lies in the fact that several autonomous artists are emerging in the present digital globe. Every independent artist comes up with his diction, and it has led to a lot of complexities in modern jazz. Despite the fact, modern jazz undergoes thorough quality assessments; there are still several instances of it being just crap. The traditional jazz still had the crap making it complicated in its way, but the complexities could not be passed on to the modern generation were it not for the inventions of recording and preserving. Modern jazz is still regarded as the best irrespective of its complexity.
Length of dance
Second is the jazz length. Traditional jazz dances are very short with little complexities. The jazz is associated with individual soloing, polyphonic, duets, cording and giving an interpretation of the tune. The soloists find it easier to adapt to the tune of the melody. The act of soloing in the traditional jazz is just extending the enlarged melody. On the other hand, modern jazz is too long. One of the attributes of modern jazz is a compilation of different music. This diverse music extends the time used in singing before they come into completion. Since the development of modern jazz, the menace of length has been dominant. The jazz lacks an appropriate and predetermined end making it be linked more to crap. Despite any music genre possessing a crap, timing in the modern jazz is an issue that makes them become less desirable as compared to the traditional jazz.
Rhythm in melody
Rhythm forms the fourth metric in making the comparison between traditional jazz dance styles and the modern jazz styles. Majority of the modern jazz melodies are composed in a 4/4 swing which can be referred to the dance music. Most of the dances are carried out in 2 or 4 swings. Other features that depend on the tempo include, the melody, Peabody, sugar foot strut, quickstep. Equally on the same note, the traditional jazz styles entail breaks and amazing endings. Swing is such a critical component of any jazz dance. There should be a defined way in which the drumming will follow and the bass as well. This is the experience with the eight notes. Modern jazz can include several other dictions from world collections, electronic and even rock styles. The modern jazz dance styles do not have swings. Thus they are less liked.
Singing easiness
Fifth is the easiness to sing. The traditional jazz styles employed simple and short melodies within the years 1910 to 1948. The only medium that would hold music had capabilities of holding it only for three minutes. This capability in some way gave a limit on the nature of the song. These short songs are easily memorable and easier to sing. Modern jazz at times is developed in the absence of lyrics and with little or no intention of it being sung (Corbett 2014). They are associated with wide jumps and complex accord. The jazz can incorporate distorted tones, upper chord tones and all this result into disharmony. The above compositions make this modern jazz very difficult to be sung or even to be remembered.
Dancing ability
The final metric is the ability to dance to the jazz. The traditional jazz has less or no complexities in its formation. The tempo is uniform, and the melodies have a rhythmic feeling. In contrary, the modern jazz is not designed to pleasure the communal dancers like the traditional jazz. It, therefore, employs complex interval signs, several tempos and temple transformations within a single piece of melody. The jazz is developed with less or no repetition of phrases (Tackley, 2017). All the attributes make dancing to modern jazz become difficult giving the traditional jazz dance styles a better chance to be supported.
Conclusion
Traditional jazz dance style is appropriate. From the six deliberated criteria for comparing the traditional jazz dance styles with the modern jazz dance styles, it is evident that the traditional jazz dance styles are more preferable. The diction is easy to understand and adapt, it is short, and it has a determined rhythm which makes them more interesting. Consequently, the modern jazz dance styles are good even though they have some component of complexity and thus difficult to memorize and adapt. Nevertheless, it embraces the best musicality and tempo transformations making them the best in audience preference. From the metric above, traditional jazz dance style gains a competitive advantage as compared to the modern jazz dance style, but it may not be the real case. Considering the generational needs, the contemporary jazz dance style meets such desires of generations. Traditional jazz dance styles can contribute to modern jazz styles by being incorporated to increase their coverage in conveying the desired expressions to the audience.
References
(n.d.). Retrieved from https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-jazz-dance-history-terms.html
Corbett, S. (2014). Katherine Dunham’s Mark on Jazz Dance. Jazz Dance: A History of the Roots and Branches, 89-96.
Guarino, L. (2014). Jazz dance training via private studios, competitions, and conventions. Jazz dance: A history of the roots and branches, 197-206.
Guarino, L., & Oliver, W. (2014). Jazz dance: A history of the roots and branches. University Press of Florida.
That of Lowly Pwuth. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://pwuth.blogspot.com/2016/01/modern-jazz-vs-trad-jazz.html
