The East Coast of the United States has a rich and diverse history of dance, with styles that have evolved over centuries and continue to shape the cultural landscape today. From the traditional dances of indigenous peoples to the contemporary styles of hip-hop and breakdancing, the East Coast has been a hotbed of dance innovation and creativity.
Indigenous Dance Traditions
Before the arrival of European settlers, the East Coast was home to numerous indigenous tribes, each with their unique dance traditions. These dances were an integral part of Native American culture, serving as a means of storytelling, spiritual expression, and social bonding.
Powwow Dances
One of the most well-known indigenous dance traditions of the East Coast is the powwow, a gathering of Native American tribes that features a variety of dances, music, and cultural celebrations. Powwow dances include the Men's Traditional Dance, which features elaborate regalia and mimics the movements of warriors and hunters, and the Women's Jingle Dress Dance, which is characterized by the sound of metal cones sewn onto the dancer's dress.
Iroquois Social Dances
The Iroquois, a confederacy of six Native American nations that inhabited the Northeast, had a rich tradition of social dances that were performed at festivals and other gatherings. These dances included the Smoke Dance, which was performed by men and women and involved intricate footwork and rhythmic pounding of the feet, and the Snake Dance, which was performed by men and involved weaving in and out of a line of dancers.
African American Dance Traditions
The history of dance on the East Coast is inextricably linked to the history of African Americans, who brought their rich dance traditions with them when they were forcibly brought to the Americas as slaves. These traditions, which were rooted in West African dance and music, would go on to have a profound influence on American dance and culture.
Ring Shout
One of the earliest African American dance traditions on the East Coast was the Ring Shout, a spiritual dance that was performed by slaves on plantations in the South. The Ring Shout involved a circle of dancers who moved counterclockwise while shuffling their feet and clapping their hands, often accompanied by call-and-response singing and percussion.
Cakewalk
Another early African American dance style was the Cakewalk, which originated on plantations in the mid-19th century. The Cakewalk was a parody of the formal European dances that were popular among white slaveholders, with slaves exaggerating the movements and adding their rhythmic flair. The dance became popular in minstrel shows and vaudeville performances and would go on to influence later styles like the Charleston and the Lindy Hop.
Lindy Hop
The Lindy Hop, also known as the Jitterbug, was a swing dance that originated in the African American community of Harlem in the 1920s and 30s. The dance was characterized by its fast, energetic movements and improvisational style, with dancers often performing acrobatic stunts and aerial moves. The Lindy Hop would go on to become one of the most popular dances of the swing era and continues to be celebrated and performed today.
Ballroom Dance Traditions
The East Coast has also been home to a thriving ballroom dance scene, with styles that have evolved over centuries and continue to be popular today. These dances, which originated in Europe and were brought to America by immigrants, have been adapted and refined by generations of dancers on the East Coast.
Waltz
The Waltz is a ballroom dance that originated in Austria and Germany in the 18th century and quickly spread to other parts of Europe and America. The dance is characterized by its graceful, flowing movements and 3/4 time signature, with dancers moving in a counter-clockwise direction around the ballroom. The Waltz was initially considered scandalous due to the proximity of the dancers but would go on to become one of the most popular and enduring ballroom dances.
Foxtrot
The Foxtrot is a smooth ballroom dance that originated in the early 20th century and was popularized by dancers like Vernon and Irene Castle. The dance is characterized by its long, gliding steps and slow-quick-quick rhythm, with dancers moving around the ballroom in a counter-clockwise direction. The Foxtrot would go on to become one of the most popular ballroom dances of the 20th century and continues to be performed and competed today.
Tango
The Tango is a passionate and sensual ballroom dance that originated in Argentina and Uruguay in the late 19th century and quickly spread to Europe and America. The dance is characterized by its close embrace, staccato footwork, and dramatic pauses, with dancers often incorporating elements of improvisation and musicality. The Tango has been adapted into many different styles over the years, including the American Tango and the International Tango, and continues to be a popular and influential dance today.
Modern and Contemporary Dance
The East Coast has also been a center of innovation and experimentation in modern and contemporary dance, with styles that have pushed the boundaries of traditional dance forms and explored new ways of moving and expressing emotion through the body.
Martha Graham Technique
Martha Graham was a pioneering modern dancer and choreographer who developed her unique style and technique in the early 20th century. The Martha Graham Technique emphasizes the use of contraction and release, with dancers using their breath and core muscles to create powerful, expressive movements. Graham's work would go on to have a profound influence on modern dance, and her technique continues to be taught and performed today.
Merce Cunningham Technique
Merce Cunningham was another influential figure in modern dance, known for his avant-garde approach and collaborations with artists like John Cage and Robert Rauschenberg. The Merce Cunningham Technique emphasizes the use of chance procedures and indeterminacy, with dancers often performing complex, abstract movements that are not set to music. Cunningham's work challenged traditional notions of dance and pushed the boundaries of what was possible in the art form.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is a renowned modern dance company based in New York City, founded by choreographer Alvin Ailey in 1958. The company is known for its diverse repertoire and commitment to celebrating African American culture and experience through dance. Ailey's signature work, "Revelations," is a powerful and emotional exploration of the African American experience, set to spirituals and blues music. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater continues to be a leading force in modern dance, with performances and educational programs that inspire and engage audiences around the world.
Street Dance and Hip-Hop
The East Coast has also been a hotbed of street dance and hip-hop culture, with styles that have evolved out of the African American and Latino communities of New York City and other urban centers. These dances, which often incorporate elements of breakdancing, popping, and locking, have had a profound influence on popular culture and continue to be celebrated and performed today.
Breakdancing
Breakdancing, also known as b-boying or breaking, is a style of street dance that originated in the Bronx in the 1970s. The dance is characterized by its acrobatic and athletic moves, with dancers often performing spins, flips, and freezes on the ground. Breakdancing would go on to become a global phenomenon, with competitions and performances held around the world, and continues to be a vital part of hip-hop culture today.
Popping and Locking
Popping and locking are two related styles of street dance that originated in California in the 1960s and 70s, but quickly spread to the East Coast and beyond. Popping is characterized by its sharp, staccato movements and contractions of the muscles, while locking is characterized by its more fluid, funky movements, and poses. Both styles would go on to have a significant influence on hip-hop dance and continue to be popular today.
Krumping
Krumping is a more recent style of street dance that originated in Los Angeles in the early 2000s but has since spread to the East Coast and other parts of the world. The dance is characterized by its raw, aggressive energy and fast, frenetic movements, with dancers often incorporating elements of stomping, chest pops, and arm swings. Krumping has been featured in music videos and movies and continues to be a popular and influential style of street dance.
Dance in Popular Culture
Dance has also played a significant role in East Coast popular culture, with styles and trends that have been influenced by everything from Broadway musicals to music videos. These dances have often reflected the changing cultural landscape of the region, and have had a lasting impact on American dance and culture.
Broadway Dance
The East Coast, and particularly New York City, has long been the center of the American musical theater industry, with Broadway shows that have featured a wide range of dance styles and choreography over the years. From the tap dancing of "42nd Street" to the jazz hands of "A Chorus Line," Broadway dance has been a vital part of the American cultural landscape, and has influenced generations of dancers and choreographers.
Music Video Dance
The rise of music videos in the 1980s and 90s had a significant impact on dance culture, with artists and choreographers creating iconic moves and routines that would be emulated by fans around the world. The East Coast was at the forefront of this trend, with artists like Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Michael Jackson incorporating elements of street dance and hip-hop into their videos and performances. These videos would go on to have a lasting impact on popular dance and continue to be celebrated and studied today.
Viral Dance Trends
In recent years, social media and online video platforms have given rise to a new kind of dance culture, with viral dance trends and challenges that can spread quickly around the world. The East Coast has been a key player in this trend, with dancers and choreographers creating and sharing their unique moves and routines. From the "Harlem Shake" to the "Renegade," these viral dance trends have become a cultural phenomenon, and have helped to democratize dance and make it more accessible to people of all backgrounds and skill levels.
Conclusion
The evolution of East Coast dance styles is a fascinating and complex story, with roots that stretch back centuries and continue to shape the cultural landscape today. From the indigenous dance traditions of Native American tribes to the contemporary styles of hip-hop and breakdancing, the East Coast has been a hotbed of dance innovation and creativity, with styles that have influenced and inspired generations of dancers and choreographers.
Through this journey, we have seen how dance has served as a means of cultural expression and resistance, with African American and Latino communities using dance as a way to assert their identity and challenge the status quo. We have seen how dance has been shaped by the changing cultural and technological landscape, with everything from Broadway musicals to music videos leaving their mark on the art form.
Looking to the future, it is clear that dance will continue to evolve and adapt on the East Coast and beyond, with new styles and trends emerging to reflect the changing times and the diverse experiences and perspectives of the dancers and choreographers who create them. Whether on the stage, in the street, or on social media, dance will remain a vital and dynamic part of American culture, with the power to inspire, unite, and transform us all.