Dance is a form of performing art that entails a particular sequence of human motion. The movement has a symbolic and aesthetic value that is acknowledged by observers and performers in respect to a specific culture or event. The type of dance used in modern and jazz music varies as characterized by a repertoire of human movements, origin, choreography and historical period (Banes & Lepecki, 2012) .
There are explicit differences in practicing modern and jazz dance; the differences lie in the origin and traditions of the dance forms. The two arts were developed during different eras, and the two generations had distinct forms of genres and dance. Jazz is a genre that originated in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century with its roots founded on ragtime and blues. Jazz art is characterized by blue notes and swing, improvisation, calls and responses and polyrhythm. On the other hand, modern dance can be traced from the mid-twentieth century. Formerly, it was informed by classical and jazz styles but it has evolved with time to integrate other styles of dance. This essay will analyze the various characteristics, similarities, and differences of performing art of modern and jazz dance.
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Modern dance is very open to improvisation and experimentation. On the other hand, Jazz dance forms are a little static since they are rooted in specific structure and tradition. Improvisation has been a crucial component of Jazz performance since the inception of the music genre (Banes & Lepecki, 2012) . In contemporary dances, improvisation is a component, but it has been combined with a number of other techniques. Modern dancers vary greatly in the manner in which they project and articulate movement. Some movements are aggressive, tense and energetic while others simply appear fluid and soft. Some dancers design their performance in a manner that every move is clear and sharp while others ensure that every step connects to the next. Some make movements that flow with the phrase of the music while others move slightly independently. Generally, modern dance can be accompanied by movements that are spectacularly expressive and charged while dancers can detach, cool and give more attention to technical perfection.
Modern dances are quite tactile in the way they use contact improvisation and gravity. Unlike this genre, jazz is auditory and visual because it has emphasized on the relationship with theatre and flow with the music. All dances make use of the five senses, but when for instance one studies Ghanaian dance, ballet, and contact improvisation, it is interesting to note that some dances rely more on specific senses (Bull, 1997)
Isolations and flow in performance differ slightly. Modern dance movements are often lyrical and fluid probably because of the way it plays with gravity. However, as explained earlier, there are exceptions, and in various techniques and styles, some aggressiveness can be preferred depending on the music and context. However, jazz dance is often more syncopated, jerky and dancers seem to use more levels of energy (Bull, 1997). Body isolations are used though in a more organized manner in this style probably because of the African dance influence in jazz performance.
Overall, modern dance is diverse and vast, but a common phenomenon is that the choice of performance style is rarely dependant on the music. A typical performance does not need to have to have a relationship with the music; dancers can move in silence, with loud music or using spoken words but the form of expression and art is often independent of music. Jazz dances instead have a direct relationship with the music played; the music directly determines the design of movement. The performance styles of the two genres outlined are not exhaustive because more styles and arts of the two genres keep coming up. Indeed, some of the latest performance arts are a fusion of jazz and contemporary dances.
References
Banes, S., & Lepecki, A. (Eds.). (2012). The senses in performance . Routledge.
Bull, C. J. C. (1997). Sense, meaning, and perception in three dance cultures. Meaning in motion: New cultural studies of dance , 269-288.
