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Cleansing the timeline with another much needed #BlackJoy thread 
Histories of Black Dance & Black Dancers Who Changed Dance History...From the Juba to the Jive
Histories of Black Dance & Black Dancers Who Changed Dance History...From the Juba to the Jive
THE LINDY HOP
The Lindy Hop (or Lindy) originated in the 1920/30's among Black communities in Harlem, New York. It was born from the blending of African rhythms & movements with European structured dance.
The Lindy Hop (or Lindy) originated in the 1920/30's among Black communities in Harlem, New York. It was born from the blending of African rhythms & movements with European structured dance.
The Lindy Hop is a blend of Tap & the Charleston, & is danced to Jazzy swing style music. The dance can be fast & spontaneous, with frenzied kicks & body movements, or relaxed & sophisticated. The great Frankie Manning is credited as the ambassador of this beautiful dance
SNAKE HIPS
Earl "Snakehips" Tucker was a big name in Harlem nightclubs in the 1920s, his loose kicks & unwinding spins found an echo in the signature moves of *Michael Jackson* & *Elvis Presley.*
Earl "Snakehips" Tucker was a big name in Harlem nightclubs in the 1920s, his loose kicks & unwinding spins found an echo in the signature moves of *Michael Jackson* & *Elvis Presley.*
When Tucker appeared on Broadway in the all-black revue Blackbirds of 1928, the program described his act as his “conception of the low down dance.”
THE JIVE
The Jive is style of dance that originated from African-Americans in the 1930s. The name of the dance comes from the name of a form of African-American Vernacular slang, popularized in the 30s.
The Jive is style of dance that originated from African-Americans in the 1930s. The name of the dance comes from the name of a form of African-American Vernacular slang, popularized in the 30s.
JUBA / "TAP DANCE"
The Juba is a style of dance brought by Kongo slaves to Charleston. The dance that involves stompings, slapping & patting the arms, legs, chest, and cheeks.
The Juba is a style of dance brought by Kongo slaves to Charleston. The dance that involves stompings, slapping & patting the arms, legs, chest, and cheeks.
The Juba was performed by slaves who gathered when no rhythm instruments were allowed due to fear of secret codes hidden in the drumming. The sounds are likened to Yoruba & Haitian talking drums.
Links to tap dance?....
Links to tap dance?....
Master Juba, original name William Henry Lane, is said to be the father of Tap Dance. He created a new style which combined the African Juba, Irish jigs & clogging, what we now generally call "Tap"
The six definite characteristics of African/African-American/Black dance are rhythm, improvisation, control, angularity, asymmetry and dynamism
I'm also thinking about how influential Black dance/Dancers still are today from Ballet to 90s hip-hop styles & trending tik-tok dances. Not forgetting the candy and other popular Black family party dances 
