Jazz vs Hip Hop
Jazz is a musical style that arose from the combination of African music with American music. It is thought to have evolved from the music African slaves brought with them, mixing with European music. Having a history spanning over 100 years, jazz is difficult to define as it consists of numerous styles and subgenres. Hip Hop is another musical style with strong cultural influences from African Americans, making it quite similar to jazz. Both jazz and Hip Hop dancing seem similar to those unfamiliar with them, as their movements are often referred to as street dances. However, there are distinctions between jazz and Hip Hop that will be discussed in this article.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical genre attributed to generations of African Americans who arrived as slaves in the United States and developed when their music encountered European music in the country. Jazz is challenging to describe in words due to its journey that began in the early 20th century in New Orleans. Over these 100 years, jazz has been enriched and has influenced many other musical styles, such as reggae, Latin, rock, Hip Hop, and more.
Jazz dancing emerged from the musical style played at nightclubs by bands, although this music was initially limited to funeral marches. Jazz music and dance steps were seen as an expression of rebellion by young people.
Hip Hop
Hip Hop encompasses both the dancing style and the musical style, seemingly forming part of a culture with the same name. Some dancing styles in Hip Hop include popping, locking, and breaking, which have become very popular across all cultures in the country. Hip Hop music and dance reached its peak during the 1970s and 1980s, with Hollywood movies and TV shows showcasing this form of music and dancing.
Hip Hop dance resembles a freestyle dance, with the performer having the freedom to introduce improvisations to suit their dancing style. It is a highly competitive form of dancing, and people actively engage in it for entertainment, as a hobby, or even as a profession.
Key Takeaways
- Jazz dancing features stylish leaps and jumps, with catwalk and moonwalk being two popular steps, while Hip Hop dancing continues to evolve as Hip Hop music does, with the most popular styles being popping, locking, and breaking.
- Jazz music and dancing have been elevated to cult status by performers and Hollywood celebrities, whereas Hip Hop is a less renowned dancing style.
- Jazz music and dancing originated at the beginning of the 20th century, making them older than Hip Hop music and dance. New Orleans is considered the birthplace of Jazz music, while the ghettos of New York and Los Angeles are believed to be where Hip Hop originated and gained popularity.
