Jazz I: Exploration In American Jazz Through the Lens of Katherine Dunham

Catalog description

Inspired by the groundbreaking work of scholar, activist, and dance pioneer Katherine Dunham, this high-energy, informative course will take students on an immersive journey through notable moments of her life, theories, and signature movements to ultimately draw connections to social, theatrical, commercial, and concert jazz dance styles found today. Through experiential units integrating technique with her research, life story, and the history of American dance and culture, students will explore Dunham’s lasting contributions to film, cabaret, and theatrical concert dance while also cultivating the students’ own performance quality and artistic expression. This joyful course will encourage freedom of expression through musicality, power, and passion regardless of ability, making this course an excellent choice for students who love to dance as well as for non- dancers who love to move and are interested in theatre, film, and culture. This course will include practice in vernacular jazz/swing, theatre, commercial, and studio jazz styles, alongside Dunham’s classic technique that fuses modern, ballet, and African Caribbean folkloric dance. Each session will include a classic Dunham warm- up, a brief lecture, and vibrant Dunham and Dunham- inspired jazz progressions, culminating in a choreographed combination. Come join us! For dancers looking both to explore Jazz dance experientially and to refine their technique, taking Jazz I (DNCE 5525) and Jazz II (