Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
2-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Program
Biography and Memoir
Advisor
Sarah Covington
Subject Categories
African American Studies | American Film Studies | American Popular Culture | Dance | Other American Studies | Other Music | Performance Studies
Keywords
Tap dance, American history, jazz music, New York City, Minstrelsy, vernacular art
Abstract
A uniquely American art form, tap dance has often been misrepresented and under-appreciated when positioned alongside other dance forms. This is largely due to the form’s racialized history, which builds upon contributions from African-American culture. Unlike other dance forms, which stem from white European traditions, tap dance evolved out of a necessity for cultural preservation as enslaved Africans adapted to life in America. As tap dance evolved, its association with slave culture led to it not being taken seriously; if anything, tap dancers were viewed simply as “entertainers” – certainly not as artists. Using a biographical lens, this work looks at the evolution of the genre by positioning it alongside the cultural landscape of the time. By looking at the relationship between dancer and environment, the story of how tap dance came to be is told through the dancers that pushed the form forward.
Recommended Citation
Cranford, Jaimie, "Dancing Through Time: A Biographical Look on the Evolution of Tap Dance" (2021). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/4163
Included in
African American Studies Commons, American Film Studies Commons, American Popular Culture Commons, Dance Commons, Other American Studies Commons, Other Music Commons, Performance Studies Commons