Petipas, Jim. "Dance traced throughout the 20th century." S. Hamilton, MA: Center for Youth Studies.  

Modern dance is expressionistic dance that appeared in the early 20th century. Today, it represents a span of contemporary culture that began with the Waltz and continues with the Twist. This basic form of communal dance was born in Germany and the United States. During the increase of urbanization and industrialization, and as a result of two world wars, great changes in social customs and values have influenced dance. The growing sense of freedom and individuality are reflected in new dance styles. The Latin American root dances of Lambada, such as the Tango, Samba, Cha-Cha, and Meringue found a widespread, short-lived popularity. As jazz came on the scene, with its strong syncopated rhythms, the Fox Trot kicked off an unending line of new styles. Wild named dances started appearing in the 1900s with the Turkey Trot, Grizzly Bear, Bunny Hug. The 1920s ushered in the Shimmy, Toddle, Black Bottom and ever popular Charleston of the Dixieland era. In the 1930s and 1940s, Swing brought on the Jitterbug, Big Apple, Lindy Hop, Shag, Trucking, Pecking, and the Suzy-Q. These dances were carried across the world by American service personnel during World War II.

In the late 1950s, Jitterbug was replaced by rock-n-roll, a generic form for dances in which partners faced each other but rarely touched. The lack of contact and the strong beat appealed to adolescents. In the early 1960s, the Twist, originated by teenagers, broke into go-go and discotheque dancing. This transpired into what we now call night club dancing.

Over the years, disco dancing became quite popular. Some stars of the disco scene were John Travolta and Grace Jones. While the hype and music of disco have faded, its rhythms and styles live on under different names. Today, young people enjoy a wide range of dance styles and music. The current popular youth dance styles focus mostly around their preferred music. Such styles as hip hop (rap), speed metal, thrash, and top 40 (dance) fluctuate in tempo, style, sound, and attitude. The distinguishing characteristics of the music reflect the way kids respond to it. Today, almost any type of music will produce some type of expressionistic movement in those listening. Consider the metal head who bangs his head and fist in the air to the sound of speed metal, the sexual movement of the Lambada dancer to spicy Latin rhythms, or the fashionable poses of the Vogue dancer. The equation of music and dance has always existed, yet the combinations of the two are much more diverse today. It seems that the more rebellious the music (i.e., sexually explicit and violent), the more appealing it is to kids.

Since the introduction of Music Television Network (MTV), a new realm of influence affects dance. You will find that many young adults try to emulate their favorite music stars through style of dress (gear), hair, attitude, and even philosophy on life. Rather than just sitting in front of the television, many kids now dance in front of the TV trying to mimic the dance steps of their favorite songs and artists. At school dances, rather than spending time just dancing, students spend a lot of time teaching their peers the latest moves.

When comparing a school dance to a dance club, the atmosphere is different. Most school dances now use disc jockeys to supply the tunes and fun games. This is a great way to control both the quality and atmosphere of the dance. Focusing on typical school dances—not formal events, such as proms—one finds that students generally do not dance in couples as they would in traditional dances; instead, they tend to dance in groups. There usually is not any touch (at the dance) and if a couple were to get to close or get into some dirty dancing, it would be look out of place.

At a dance club, the atmosphere changes by the use of more colored lights, louder and heavier music, video screens, and a lot of strangers. These outside pressures affect each student’s behaviors. Clubs are usually frequented by more college-age students than those of high school. Therefore, the added elements of alcohol and condom dispensers produce an intimidating atmosphere, not only to have a fun time dancing, but also to perform, to impress, flaunt bodies, and pick up or be picked up. This setting reeks with the pressure and temptation to be promiscuous. In urban settings, more teenagers are exposed to this atmosphere.

QUOTATIONS

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

Dance is so broad that it could encompass every human activity from being born to dying.
—Jack Anderson, Dance critic

If we consider by whom this practice of promiscuous Dancing was first invented, by whom patronized, and by whom witnessed against, we may conclude, that admitting of it, in such a place as New England will be a thing pleasing to the Devil, but highly provoking to the Holy God.
—Increase Mather, Boston, 1684

The rhythmic phenomenon of the human being reacting to its environment.
—Ann Halprin, Dancer’s Workshop

Dance is a major instrument by which Africans transmit values, ideals, emotions, and even history.
—Marvin Mayers, Anthropologist

Dance is not always an allusion to sex. Often it’s a symbol of life or celebration—the party. Sometimes it represents feeling or sensation. Sometimes it even means dancing.
—Dave Hart, Menconi Ministries

IMPLICATIONS

• What needs are fulfilled for teenagers through dance?
• Is there anything dangerous about youth dancing?
• Most agree that dance is not inherently evil, but how can those working with youth find the balance between the good and bad attributes of dance?

• If culture learned behavior and socially acquired, many teenagers are programmed with the language, values, beliefs, technology, mores, norms, and styles of modern dance.
• As youth workers, it is important to be aware of what issues face teenagers, and to look for areas to help students process their culture (e.g., the dance scene).
• In the middle ages, dance was considered to be the same as life. Dancing symbolized the vitality of an energetic life. But, in recent times, dance has been associated with a sinful lifestyle. Dancing itself is not bad, but the temptations and expectations associated with dance have stigmatized it.
• Dance is an important rite of passage for youth in which they can gain self confidence, be accepted, release energies, show individuality, be creative, and be themselves.

Jim Petipas cCYS