9 Jazz Dance Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

Lindsay Guarino, an active dancer and choreographer, and Wendy Oliver, a distinguished professor of dance and National Dance Association Scholar/Artist award winner, bring deep expertise to this thorough exploration of jazz dance history. You’ll gain nuanced understanding of jazz dance’s African roots and its evolution through vernacular forms like the Charleston and Lindy Hop, extending into styles such as hip-hop, funk, and Latin influences. The book’s unique approach focuses on historical and cultural contexts rather than technique, examining key figures like Bob Fosse and Katherine Dunham and revealing jazz dance’s complex relationship with other dance genres. This is a thoughtful resource for anyone looking to grasp jazz dance’s rich past and diverse branches, though it’s less about learning moves and more about understanding the art form’s heritage.

The debate over what truly defines jazz dance is central to this book, which challenges the common conflation of jazz dance with modern jazz styles taught in studios. Marshall Stearns, a scholar of jazz and English literature, along with his wife Jean, delves into American vernacular dance's unique quality: swing, a concept that defies simple explanation but is essential to understanding jazz dance's soul. You’ll explore how jazz dance evolved alongside jazz music, with chapters that unpack its cultural roots and rhythmic nuances. This book suits anyone eager to grasp the historical and cultural layers behind jazz dance beyond just its surface movements.

This tailored guide provides a personalized framework blending jazz dance technique with cultural history, designed specifically to match your background and goals. It focuses on foundational movements, stylistic nuances, and the evolution of jazz dance, ensuring relevance to your skill level and learning objectives. The book addresses essential techniques like isolations, rhythm interpretation, and improvisation while weaving in the socio-cultural context that shapes jazz dance. By cutting through generic advice, it offers a tailored approach to mastering jazz dance basics, helping you grasp both the practical and historical dimensions that inform performance and teaching today.

Mark Cotgrove, also known as Snowboy, brings his deep roots as a DJ and musician in the UK jazz dance scene to this detailed chronicle of the genre's evolution. You get an insider’s view of how jazz funk, fusion, and acid jazz styles emerged and intertwined within the UK’s dance culture, with vivid examples like the influence of UK Soul Weekenders and Tokyo jazz dance sessions. The book suits anyone fascinated by dance history or jazz music’s cultural impact, offering context-rich stories rather than technical dance instruction. If you want to understand how these unique movements shaped both music and dance communities, this book offers a grounded, narrative-driven exploration.

Unlike most jazz dance books that focus primarily on choreography or performance techniques, this volume dives into the deeply rooted Africanist aesthetics and the systemic marginalization of those origins within jazz dance history. The authors, all scholars and practitioners with extensive backgrounds in dance education and cultural studies, use this book to challenge the prevailing Eurocentric narratives and offer ways to decolonize jazz dance pedagogy and practice. You’ll gain insights into how African American cultural values shape jazz dance and learn concrete strategies for incorporating these principles into teaching and choreography. This is essential reading if you want to understand jazz dance beyond surface technique and engage with its cultural and social dimensions.

Unlike most dance books that skim the surface, this one dives into the layered history and artistry of jazz dance with clarity and depth. Drawing on Dollie Henry's extensive experience in performance and choreography, it offers detailed chapters on jazz aesthetics, warm-ups, technical exercises, and creative expression frameworks. You'll find practical guidance on improvisation, musical interpretation, and choreographing jazz works, all illustrated with over 230 color photos. This book is ideal for dancers, teachers, and choreographers seeking a grounded yet expansive understanding of jazz dance's evolution and practice.

This personalized book offers a tailored approach to mastering jazz dance within a focused 30-day period. It provides a structured daily plan emphasizing practical skill-building exercises, rhythm development, and stylistic nuances specific to jazz dance. The book addresses diverse skill levels by offering targeted practice routines and performance techniques that fit an individual's background and goals, cutting through generic advice often found in broader dance manuals. Readers receive a personalized framework that concentrates on efficient progression, blending foundational concepts with advanced improvisation and choreography elements to enhance jazz proficiency swiftly and effectively in their unique context.

What started as Luigi's dedication to refining dance technique evolved into a detailed exploration of his signature jazz warm-up routine. This book breaks down his philosophy and method, guiding you through each nuanced movement that prepares dancers physically and mentally. You gain specific insights into body alignment, balance, and flow that are foundational for jazz dancers aiming to deepen their practice. While it suits dancers and instructors looking to master Luigi's approach, those new to jazz dance might find the complexity challenging without prior experience.

When Elisabeth Frich first explored the foundations of jazz dance, she aimed to capture the essence of movement through clear instruction. This book breaks down fundamental jazz dance techniques, offering a sequence of exercises that guide you through mastering basic movements. You gain not just theory but practical drills designed to build your technique progressively. If you're starting out or looking to solidify your jazz dance basics, this book offers a focused approach without overwhelming jargon or unnecessary complexity.

Jazz Danceology: Teaching and Choreographing Jazz Dance offers a focused exploration into the art and craft of jazz dance instruction and choreography. Marcus R. Alford delves into the specific techniques and pedagogical strategies that shape effective teaching practices, alongside creative choreography methods that resonate with both dancers and audiences. This book is particularly beneficial for dance educators seeking to refine their curriculum and choreographers aiming to deepen their stylistic expression within jazz dance. Throughout, readers encounter practical insights that connect foundational jazz movements with innovative teaching approaches, making it a useful guide for those committed to advancing jazz dance education.

Unlike most dance history books that focus mainly on mainstream Hollywood productions, Susie Trenka's work dives deep into the marginalized yet vibrant vernacular jazz dance scenes in American films from 1929 to 1945. Drawing from film analysis and cultural studies, the book explores how African American performers challenged racial and gender stereotypes through dance, spotlighting figures like Nina Mae McKinney and Jeni LeGon. You’ll gain insight into lesser-known short films and B movies that offered alternative narratives within a segregated industry. This book is ideal if you want to understand jazz dance not just as an art form but as a lens on American race relations and identity performance during a critical historical period.