From the Paper
"This paper will be concerned with African influences on Afro-American jazz and dance. The roots of Afro-American jazz can be traced back to the early 17th century, when African slaves were first brought to America from their homeland. These slaves came from various parts of Africa, and they brought a great variety of indigenous music and dance with them. In Africa, music and dance had played a vital role in both religious worship and everyday life. The tribal peoples of Africa had developed many types of songs for special occasions as well as specific dances which were intended to accompany the songs. The closely woven interrelationship between music and dance was thus strongly fixed in the minds of the early African slaves. As noted by one music historian, "in Africa . . . dance and song are intimately associated aspects of a single art" "

Abstract
The paper discusses how the state of Philadelphia has more than thirty dynamic and successful dance companies and theaters. The paper describes these theaters that include modern ballet, jazz, tap dancing, modern dance forms, flamenco, African-American, Indian and other types of folk and ethnic dance forms. The paper also provides some background about the Dance Theatre of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Theater Company. The writer concludes that the Philadelphia Theater Company has throughout the years provided a veritable showcase for displaying the vicarious talents of many young dancers of the area and in some certain cases, siblings and their parents too.

From the Paper
"It is an interesting fact that the state of Philadelphia has more than thirty excellent and dynamic Dance Companies, and theaters as well, and some of the nations' oldest dance theaters are in existence in the state today. These theaters are based in Philadelphia, and they tour globally. For example, the Pennsylvania Ballet is today celebrating its fortieth year of existence, and the Group Motion Dance Company and the Philadelphia Dance Company are today preparing for their thirty fifth anniversaries. Although all these theaters and dance companies have been growing through a number of changes over the years, its artistic view point is as strong as it ever was. However, it must be noted that the newer and later hip hop dance companies are thriving in Philadelphia as well, and one reason for this is the nurturing type of nature of the Philadelphia Dance Community as such. (Group Motion Press Room, Kick up your Heels)
The Philadelphia Dance Theater includes modern ballet, jazz, tap dancing, modern dance forms, flamenco, African American, Indian, and other types of folk and ethnic dance forms. Philadanco, or the Philadelphia Dance Company, is already at the performing end of another ballet named the 'Horse's Mouth', and this is also reputed to be a first arte performance by Philadelphia's young artistes. This year's performance of the 'Nutcracker' by the Philadelphia Dance Theater, just like its previous ones, would allow families during the Holiday Season a few hours together to enjoy, uninterruptedly, the magical world created for them by the choreographers and the directors and the performers of the play. (Group Motion Press Room, Kick up your Heels) The Dance Theater of Pennsylvania today is more than twenty seven years old, and it still continues its traditional practice of staging beautiful and timeless ballet productions. The 2005 to 2006 season is under way today, and this is the season in which the Nutcracker is generally staged."

Tags:ballet, jazz, modern, tap, entertainment

Abstract
In this article, the writer looks at the Philadelphia Dance Company, which was founded in 1970 by Joan Myers Brown and has become a leading American dance company since. The writer discusses the history of the Philadelphia Dance Company and examines the philosophy of the dance group. Further, the writer examines the techniques and teachings of this dance company. The inspiration of this dance troupe upon other companies is also mentioned. The writer concludes by explaining that the troupe has always promoted harmony and racial acceptance, but it has done so first by promoting the value of the dance and by bringing in the many different musical and ritualistic elements that make up the dance.

From the Paper
"The company was the pilot dance company to be part of the State of Pennsylvania, Comprehensive Education Training Act, arts training program and was one of the first companies to hire dancers on a 52 week salary as well as the first to own housing for the dancers and the first to own a debt-free facility. The company also founded the International Conference of Black Dance Companies and International Association of Blacks in Dance to address the special needs of the African American dance community.
In addition to the operation of the non-profit as a school, the organization sees its mission to present the highest quality professional dance performances and has been recognized as a mainstream modern dance company and not merely an African-American dance company."

Tags:modern, jazz, native, American

Abstract
In this paper, the writer discusses that the "fusion" of the music was jazz, Peruvian ethnic music, and African American rhythms of the funk style. This was a concert for younger people that could enjoy a strange and eclectic mix of forms, but the primary elements of jazz shone through the repertoire. The writer describes that this concert was intellectually stimulating, but the music was inclusive because it also made people dance within the club.

Tags:fusion, jazz, music

Abstract
This paper explores swing jazz music's beginnings, its greatest popularity between 1935 and 1945 and its decline. The paper includes small sections on Western Swing and propaganda swing of the World War II period. Short histories of the careers of Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw and Tommy Dorsey appear, and attention is also given to its revival in the 1990s and the popularity of swing dances today.

Tags:swing, jazz, music

Abstract
The paper provides a comparison between the history of jazz and the Civil Rights Movement, and focuses on two jazz stars, Charlie Parker and Louis Armstrong. The paper shows how the early history of both jazz and the Civil Rights Movement entwined the two, making the full-fledged jazz and civil rights movements of the 1940s and 1950s undeniably connected.

Outline:
Introduction
A Comparison Of Jazz And Civil Rights History
Famous Jazz Musicians
Conclusion

From the Paper
"From Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin and Toni Morrison's Beloved to the African-American painter Charles H. Alston's portraits, art forms have traditionally made the emotions of the American civil rights movement more tangible. Throughout history, though, no art form has been more associated with the plight of the African-American than music. In fact, the Negro spiritual first marked the issue during the pre-Civil War era. Even after the Civil War, these spirituals became songs of the civil rights movement, beats that civil rights warriors would sing as they marched for their freedom."

Tags:Civil, War, blacks, Charlie, Parker, Louis, Armstrong, songs, dances

Abstract
This paper discusses various mediums of dance. It looks at jazz, ballet and studio dancing and discusses the discipline, rhythm and music used in each form of dance. The paper also discusses professional dancing and describes the training that is necessary, salaries that dancers can expect and the challenges of professional dancing life, such as expenses and injuries.

Table of Contents:
Jazz
Ballet
Studio Dancers And Dance Teams
Professional Dancers

From the Paper
"The average salary that a dancer earns is $21,000. That means 50% of all dancers earned less, down to $14,570 and 50% earned more, up to $34,660. Dancers on tour earn additional allowances for room and board and overtime. Dancing is considered a part time job and is irregular. Supplementing income may be made by working as guest artists with other dance companies, teaching dance or taking a part-time job in unrelated fields. The dancer signs a contract to work. Union contracts govern those who perform in public, such as major opera ballet, classical ballet or modern dance corps. These belong to the AFL-CIO and those who appear on live or videotaped TV programs belong to the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Those in films and on TV belong to the Screen Actors Guild and those in musicals are members of Actors' Equity Association. Through the unions minimum salaries, hours, benefits and other conditions are specified before the dancer signs the contract (Munger 5)."

Tags:techniques, performers, competition

Abstract
This paper examines how New Orleans is known as a melting pot of culture and music and how it has played a major role in the early development of jazz. It looks at how it was full of opportunity and rich with the fine arts of music and dance, while offering a breeding ground for innovation. The paper explores how, in the back alley city streets, clubs and saloons, basements of homes and African-American dance halls, jazz was born. It focuses on the importance of New Orleans, which was home to Joe "King" Oliver and his leading student, Louis Armstrong.

From the Paper
"Congo Square, a modest corner of the French Quarter, is considered by many scholars to be the birthplace of jazz. It was in the Nineteenth Century in Congo Square in New Orleans that observers heard the beat of the bamboulas, the wail of the banzas and saw the multitude of African dances that had survived through the years. During these antebellum times, slaves would meet here on Sundays and play traditional African songs while women slowly swayed to the rhythms. Congo Square was a weekly refuge from the drudgeries of slave life. It was a place where music created a special freedom that didn't exist elsewhere. This square was used as a gathering place for the residents of New Orleans almost since the city began and located across Rampart Street on the backside of the French Quarter."

Tags:congo, square, french, quarter, jelly, roll, morton, louis, armstrong

Abstract
"Blast!", the musical, grew from the award-winning drum-and-bugle corps Star of Indiana, founded in 1984 to benefit young people in music education. Star moved beyond its earlier triumphs to bring the power, passion and precision of outdoor pageantry to the stage in a musical performance that is now called "Blast!" This paper shows that by merging drum corps's pageantry, marching precision and instrumental virtuosity with the repertoire, props, costuming, staging, dance moves, and special effects of musical theater, "Blast!" made its world premiere in December of 1999 at the London Apollo Theatre. The paper explores the jazz and African-American roots of this musical.

From the Paper
"Musically, jazz, African music, and Blast! share a number of similarities. All three depend heavily on brass and percussion and incorporate a multitude of instruments, both conventional and unconventional. In traditional African music, persistent and repetitive percussion is the general base for whatever other vocal or instrumental effects may be created against it. Drums, rattles, sticks, stones, iron gongs and bells may all be used separately or simultaneously to produce a series of intricate syncopated rhythms, often very complex in beat and off-beat, and possessing a dynamic drive impelling to body movement."

Tags:Duke, Ellington, James, Mason, choreography

Abstract
This paper takes a look at the Jazz Age during the twenties in America and how the music both reflected and inspired great social change. The author discusses the history of Jazz music, how it originated and spread and how it came to express the nature of society.

From the Paper
"The Twenties was a crazy time in America. There was crime and violence, illegal alcohol and drugs, and dancing and jazz music. Despite the depression and prohibition, jazz music was able to lift the spirits of Americans and get their knees knocking and their arms flailing. Jazz spread like wildfire through the nation, and taught Americans how to make the best of a "depressing" situation. Some jazz represents the spontaneity and confusion of the decade while the more serious jazz shows the underlying rhythm of the twenties. If one listens to jazz music from the 1920s one can sense the mood of the times, and feel the excitement that jazz brought to the nation."

Tags:20s, age, duke, ellington, jazz, music, fun, dance, express, mood, social