When Was Musical Theatre Dance Created?

Musical Theatre|Theater

Musical theatre dance is a form of performance art that combines acting and dancing to tell a story. It is usually performed in a theatrical setting such as a stage, but can also be seen in film, television, and other media.

Musical theatre dance has its roots in the late 19th century and early 20th century when vaudeville acts began to incorporate elements of dance into their performances. The first musicals were performed on the West End in London in the early 1900s, and soon spread to Broadway in New York City.

As musical theatre began to evolve, so did its associated dance styles. From the early days of vaudeville acts to the more modern Broadway musicals, each era brought its own unique style of movement and choreography. In the 1920s, jazz dance became popularized with musicals like Showboat and The Jazz Singer.

In the 1940s, tap dance was often featured in musicals such as Oklahoma! and On The Town. In the 1950s, choreographers like Bob Fosse began experimenting with new techniques such as jazz ballet, which combined elements of classical ballet with jazz music.

The 1960s saw a resurgence of interest in musical theatre dance with shows like Hello Dolly! and Fiddler on the Roof becoming popular hits on Broadway.

Choreographers such as Jerome Robbins pushed boundaries by mixing different styles such as classical ballet and modern dance into their work. In recent years, MTV-style choreography has become popularized through shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Glee.

Conclusion:

When it comes to when musical theatre dance was created, it is hard to pinpoint an exact date since it evolved over time from different eras. However, it is clear that its roots go back to the late 19th century when vaudeville acts began incorporating elements of dance into their performances. Since then it has continued to evolve with different eras bringing their own unique style of movement and choreography.