Creative Music Research Project
The first component of this research project contains the dance that I choreographed and taught to peers, as inspired by the dance styles of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. The second component contains information about famous singers, musicians, and dancers of these iconic eras, specifically focusing on women of the "Roaring Twenties."
This project gave me more insight into the race relations and the social climate during the 1920s, which will help me teach about this era to future students. Students love listening to music to connect with history, so exposing them to something upbeat and cheery will help them understand the extravagance and craziness that was the 1920s. The styles and trends of the 1920s also continued into the 1930s and 1940s, so I was able to connect culture and context between the decades. If you would like to teach about the dance styles of these eras or any of the influential icons listed on the following pages, I recommend browsing the sources I have provided at the end of the document for more information!
This project gave me more insight into the race relations and the social climate during the 1920s, which will help me teach about this era to future students. Students love listening to music to connect with history, so exposing them to something upbeat and cheery will help them understand the extravagance and craziness that was the 1920s. The styles and trends of the 1920s also continued into the 1930s and 1940s, so I was able to connect culture and context between the decades. If you would like to teach about the dance styles of these eras or any of the influential icons listed on the following pages, I recommend browsing the sources I have provided at the end of the document for more information!
Part ONE: DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY
Part two: History, Dance Styles, & Icons of the Era
The 1920s were a time of mass culture and consumption. With the widespread popularity and accessibility of the car, people had more freedom to go where they pleased and do what they wanted. Turns out, what many young people wanted to do was dance: the foxtrot, the waltz, the shimmy, the Charleston, the lindy hop, the black bottom . . . Swing dancing was the craze and jazz bands inspired new dance trends constantly. Newly invented radio stations and records made music available to listeners across the nation. While some older generations strongly objected to the "vulgarity" and "depravity" of jazz music and swing dancing, young people loved joining together on the dance floor. With the aftermath of WWI and the onset of the Great Depression, music and dance were factors that greatly boosted moral, impacting the social scene and fostering a sense of community during some darker days.
Sources
Culture and Context:
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/20smusic.html
http://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties
Resources for Teachers:
http://www.american-historama.org/1913-1928-ww1-prohibition-era/roaring-twenties.htm
Dances of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s:
https://socialdance.stanford.edu/Syllabi/jazz_age.htm
Biographies:
https://www.biography.com/people/josephine-baker-9195959
https://www.biography.com/people/duke-ellington-9286338
https://www.biography.com/people/bessie-smith-9486520
https://www.biography.com/people/clara-bow-9221851
https://www.biography.com/people/joan-crawford-9260899
https://www.biography.com/people/ginger-rogers-9462173
https://www.biography.com/people/louis-armstrong-9188912
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/20smusic.html
http://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties
Resources for Teachers:
http://www.american-historama.org/1913-1928-ww1-prohibition-era/roaring-twenties.htm
Dances of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s:
https://socialdance.stanford.edu/Syllabi/jazz_age.htm
Biographies:
https://www.biography.com/people/josephine-baker-9195959
https://www.biography.com/people/duke-ellington-9286338
https://www.biography.com/people/bessie-smith-9486520
https://www.biography.com/people/clara-bow-9221851
https://www.biography.com/people/joan-crawford-9260899
https://www.biography.com/people/ginger-rogers-9462173
https://www.biography.com/people/louis-armstrong-9188912