The History of Jazz Shoes
Jazz dancers wear flexible shoes that help them maneuver skillfully across the dance floor and perform moves such as step ball changes, leaps and toe rises. The history of jazz shoes involves several styles of footwear since the dance form has evolved from vaudeville acts in 1910 to dance crazes like the Charleston in the 1920s, culminating in 1970s-era Broadway musicals and today's contemporary numbers on television shows like "So You Think You Can Dance."
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Origins
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The first recognized jazz dancer was Joe Frisco. As a vaudeville performer in the early 1900s, he sometimes performed with jazz bands and wore leather shoes with a short heel as he began incorporating shuffles, camel walks and turns into his act. Vaudeville shows often featured comic dancing, such as toe dancing, which led to such innovations as steel shank implants.
Innovations
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These Vaudeville performers developed shoes with taps attached to the platforms, and some dancers even put ball bearings in the platforms of shoes to allow them to turn quickly while performing backbends. Dancers also began using stiff, steel-shanked shoes during this era. Bob Hope valued the shoes of vaudeville performer Eddie Foy so highly that he acquired them.
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Popularity
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Jazz dance became more widespread in the 1920s. With the popularity of jazz dances like the fox-trot, the boogie woogie and the Charleston, the style was no longer just for professionals. Since many of these dances were performed in casual settings, dancers haven't always worn traditional jazz shoes while doing the famous jazz-style dances. The more elaborate shoes of the vaudeville era fell out of use, mostly due to injuries dancers sustained while performing in them.
Broadway
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Today's style of jazz dance stems from the breakthrough work of Broadway choreographers such as Bob Fosse, whose 1970s jazz numbers in "Chicago" and "Cabaret" are legendary. Dancers usually perform these musicals in either flat shoes or heeled character shoes, which have a one-inch or two-inch heel, a slightly rounded toe and a strap. The strap usually crosses the ankle but can also be a T-strap. Jazz shoes became more flexible during this time, allowing for greater movement.
Modern
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Contemporary jazz dance steps range from upbeat movements inspired by Broadway to a more flowing, ballet style. No matter the style, today's jazz dancers typically wear black or beige leather jazz shoes with a one-inch or shorter heel. The shoes have a rubber sole that gives dancers the traction and flexibility they need. Some jazz shoes lace up, while others grip the foot with elastic inserts. Some of the flat, lace-up variety are boxy in shape, and "New York" magazine even included a pair on a list of ugly shoe trends in 1997.
Style Fusion
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Jazz dance is a fusion of styles that has changed through the years, and this evolution sometimes causes uncertainty when it comes to definitions. Jazz dance can be confused with tap dance since similar music provides the background for both dances, so sometimes jazz dancers have worn tap shoes. Most serious jazz dancers also study ballet since those techniques help dancers perform the sharp movements of jazz dance -- because of this connection, some jazz dancers throughout history have also worn ballet shoes.
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