Comparing Jazz Dance and Hip-Hop Dance The purpose of this paper is to compare Jazz dance styles and Hip-Hop dance styles. The author will discuss the forms of the two dances styles as well as the past and present interpretations of the dances. There are many forms of Jazz dance including Swing, Cakewalk, Black Bottom, Charleston, and Lindy Hop. Although many of these forms of dance are commonly danced to jazz music, many performers also use Hip-Hop music for this type of dance. Jazz dance technique focuses on stylistic leaps and executing sharp moves. Common jazz moves include the catwalk, the ball change, the straddle split leap and the moonwalk. Maintaining good posture is an important element in jazz dance in order to maintain balance and poise while dancing. In order to complete jazz dance steps, a jazz dancer must be flexible, have a strong core and defined muscle tone in the legs. Both Jazz dance and modern dance techniques are based on the basics of the old ballet tradition. To excel in jazz dance, the dancer must master ballet techniques (Personal Communication, T. Weber, July 11, 2012). The dance steps in Jazz dance are not perfectly set to the music and usually do not coordinate with the beat of the music. The steps are more flowing and sometimes elegant.
During a Jazz dance the dancer portrays an attitude. The attitude would depend on the dance. For example, the dance tells a story. If the dancers are dancing to tell a story of love, then they may use certain body movements and facial expressions to portray a love story which coordinates with the type of music used for the dance. In a more modern up beat type of Jazz dance, the dancers would portray happier, larger movements as if they may be at a rock party (Personal Communication, T. Weber, July 11, 2012).
Hip hop dance refers to the dance styles primarily danced to hip hop music. Many of these styles have evolved as part of the hip hop culture. Hip hop dance can be divided into old school and new school, but they are quite similar. Hip Hop dance is evolving over time. Currently hip hop dance forms have emerged through the independent interpretation of the dance by the dancers as well as the audience. There are no set of rules to hip hop dancing. The styles of movements used are usually in accordance with the music used for the dance. The movements are usually set to a beat within the music and coordinated with the beats of the chosen music. It appears as if the movements are set to the music and they fit almost perfectly together. A recent viewing of a dance competition showed that there were not specific rules or movements that were required in the Hip Hop competition. However the Jazz competition had specific movements and movement clarity that was required of the dancers. The judges based their scores on how well the dancers articulated the specific movements and how well the movements flow from one to another. In contrast, the Hip Hop dancers were judged more on originality and creativity.