The spirit moves videorecording : a history of Black social dance on film, 1900-1986. Part 1, Jazz dance from the turn of the century to 1950 / produced, edited, and directed by Mura Dehn

Object Details

Narrated by Mura Dehn; artists of the Savoy Ballroom of Harlem Pepsi Bethel, Alfred Minns, Leon James, Esther Washington, Sandra Gibson, James Berry, William & Franky Manning, Teddy Brown, Thomas King, Scuby Strohman.; DVD.
Contents: Ragtime -- Charleston 1920s -- Charleston 1930s -- Blues -- Savoy routines -- Postwar trends
Summary: Mura Dehn was a Russian-born dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker. Her pioneering work in documenting the various styles of American black social dance is found in "The Spirit Moves," a rare and vital social document. This valuable video archive of the evolution of black dance styles features dancers renowned for their exploits at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem during the 1940s. The dancers also recreate song and dance routines of the 1920s and 30s. The dances of the 40s chronicle the prewar optimism of black Americans, while the pessimism and disaffiliation of postwar be-bop styles illustrate its elimination. Essential for dance and music research, this film documents the vital contribution of African American dance to the Jazz scene, and thus, to America's cultural heritage.

2008

C2008

20th century

Type: Videorecordings; Filmed dance; Dance films; Ethnographic films; Documentary films; Nonfiction films

Title: History of Black social dance on film, 1900-1986; Jazz dance from the turn of the century to 1950

Smithsonian Libraries

Topic: African American dance--History; Jazz dance--History; Dance--History; Ballroom dancing--History; Charleston (Dance); History