Jazz in the 20's

  If you go to any dance club today, you might be appalled at the moves you see on the dance floor. This is how many people felt about the Charleston! If you have never seen the Charleston live before let me give you a brief summary. This dance can be done by yourself, with a partner or in a line. It involves kicking of the legs and swinging of the arms done oppositely. There are four basic moves done loosely with the limbs. The dance was done mostly by flappers, rebellious young women who cut their hair short, wore bright lipstick and wore shorter hems. This dance was a representation of enthusiasm and life, and a way for people to express themselves. The Charleston was a precursor to the Lindy Hop, another popular dance from the 1930s. It is amusing to us how flappers and Jazz music were so scandalous because of our culture today, and makes me wonder what the dress and social change will be like in the next decades to come.

When Jazz Music was especially popular in the early 20th century, it also served as a symbol for social change. Black musicians were beginning to be able to record or be known as artists. It was a gateway that helped many people have less prejudice towards the African American race during the Civil Rights Movement. Jazz music was a culmination of black music, spirituals, gospel, and music from the westindies. A few famous black jazz musicians were Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey and Duke Ellington.