Difference between revisions of "Breakdown Dance"
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
Also known as [[The Break-Down]] or [[The Breakdown]], or named after its place of origin (e.g. [[Birmingham Breakdown]], [[Cincinnati Breakdown]], or [[Virginia Breakdown]]), depending on the version performed. | Also known as [[The Break-Down]] or [[The Breakdown]], or named after its place of origin (e.g. [[Birmingham Breakdown]], [[Cincinnati Breakdown]], or [[Virginia Breakdown]]), depending on the version performed. | ||
| − | It was | + | It is described as ""an African-American Slave dance that was popular around the Reconstruction-era of the 1880-90's" on Sonny Watson's website '''''Streetswing.com'''''[https://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3brkdwn.htm], which goes on to say that "The Breakdown was later mixed with other dances such as tap, Jazz and Swing dances. The dance has its roots in the Hornpipes, jigs, Strathspeys, and reels, Hoe-downs, Clogs etc." |
| − | + | In her history of American tap dance, Constance Valis Hill adds that Breakdown dance forms were inter alia also popular with white river boat crews, the [[Virginia Breakdown]] for example being a favourite of Ohio flatboat crews.[https://books.google.co.za/books?id=rU9dUaCsd94C&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=the+Virginia+Breakdown+dance&source=bl&ots=dngwAQVQ3F&sig=ACfU3U29xBMyN2TU5_4Gc9Mj9v6adTH66g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjxz4HCne7xAhWLsRQKHRnKCz8Q6AEwE3oECAwQAw#v=onepage&q=the%20Virginia%20Breakdown%20dance&f=false] | |
| − | Breakdown dance forms were inter alia also popular with white river boat crews, the [[Virginia Breakdown]] for example being a favourite of Ohio flatboat crews.[https://books.google.co.za/books?id=rU9dUaCsd94C&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=the+Virginia+Breakdown+dance&source=bl&ots=dngwAQVQ3F&sig=ACfU3U29xBMyN2TU5_4Gc9Mj9v6adTH66g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjxz4HCne7xAhWLsRQKHRnKCz8Q6AEwE3oECAwQAw#v=onepage&q=the%20Virginia%20Breakdown%20dance&f=false] | ||
Revision as of 06:27, 19 July 2021
A Breakdown Dance refers to a particular 19th century competitive dance form from the USA.
Also known as The Break-Down or The Breakdown, or named after its place of origin (e.g. Birmingham Breakdown, Cincinnati Breakdown, or Virginia Breakdown), depending on the version performed.
It is described as ""an African-American Slave dance that was popular around the Reconstruction-era of the 1880-90's" on Sonny Watson's website Streetswing.com[1], which goes on to say that "The Breakdown was later mixed with other dances such as tap, Jazz and Swing dances. The dance has its roots in the Hornpipes, jigs, Strathspeys, and reels, Hoe-downs, Clogs etc."
In her history of American tap dance, Constance Valis Hill adds that Breakdown dance forms were inter alia also popular with white river boat crews, the Virginia Breakdown for example being a favourite of Ohio flatboat crews.[2]
Performances of breakdown dances in South Africa
A version referred to as "The original Virginia Breakdown"
Sources
https://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3brkdwn.htm
Constance Valis Hill. 2010. Tap Dancing America: A Cultural History. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Page 6[3]
Return to
Return to The South African Context/General Terminology and Thematic Entries
Return to South African Theatre/Terminology and Thematic Entries
Return to South African Film /Terminology and Thematic Entries
Return to South African Media/Terminology and Thematic Entries
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
