Steppin' on the Blues: The Visible Rhythms of African American DanceIt's impossible to think of the heritage of music and dance in the United States without the invaluable contributions of African Americans. Those art forms have been touched by the genius of African American culture and have helped this nation take its important and unique place in the pantheon of world art. Steppin' on the Blues explores not only the meaning of dance in African American life but also the ways in which music, song, and dance are interrelated in African American culture. Dance as it has emanated from the black community is a pervasive, vital, and distinctive form of expression--its movements speak eloquently of African American values and aesthetics. Beyond that it has been, finally, one of the most important means of cultural survival. Former dancer Jacqui Malone throws a fresh spotlight on the cultural history of black dance, the Africanisms that have influenced it, and the significant role that vocal harmony groups, black college and university marching bands, and black sorority and fraternity stepping teams have played in the evolution of dance in African American life. From the cakewalk to the development of jazz dance and jazz music, all Americans can take pride in the vitality, dynamism, drama, joy, and uncommon singularity with which African American dance has gifted the world. |
Contents
Gimme de Kneebone Bent Music and Dance in Africa | 9 |
Keep to the Rhythm and Youll Keep to Life Meaning and Style in African American Vernacular Dance | 23 |
Mocking and Celebrating Freedom of Expression in Dance during Slavery | 37 |
Black Dance on the Road Minstrelsy and Traveling Shows | 51 |
Dancing Singers and Singing Dancers Black Vernacular Dance on Stage 18901940 | 70 |
Jazz Music in Motion Dancers and Big Bands | 91 |
Let the Punishment Fit the Crime The Vocal Choreography of Cholly Atkins | 111 |
Wen de Coloed Ban Comes Machin down de Street From African Processions to New Orleans Second Lines | 127 |
The FAMU Marching 100 From Ballpark Bleachers to the ChampsElysees | 147 |
African American Mutual Aid Societies Remembering the Past and Facing the Future | 167 |
Stepping Regeneration through Dance in African American Fraternities and Sororities | 187 |
Notes | 215 |
| 253 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acrobatic Adderley African American Albert Murray American culture American dance American music American vernacular dance artists audience beat black Americans Black Dance Black Manhattan Black Musical black musicians Blues brass bands Cab Calloway cabarets cakewalk called century Cholly Atkins choreographed chorus line Count Basie drummers Duke Ellington early FAMU FAMU's featured festival Florida A&M fraternities and sororities Greek-letter groups Harlem Hilltop homecoming Honi Coles Howard University Ibid improvisation instruments interview with author James Reese Europe Jazz Dance jazz musicians Johnson Julian White Kappa Alpha Kongo lindy Marching 100 marching bands master minstrel movement Music of Africa Musical Theater Negro night Nketia organizations Orleans parades performed play quotation quoted rehearsals reprint revues rhythm Riis routine Savoy Sigma singers singing slaves social dances song sororities and fraternities South Southern stage Stearns and Stearns step show step teams style swing tap dancers toured tradition vaudeville vernacular dance William York