AMERICAN MUSIC AMERICAN DANCE The curtain rises Five dancers are standing still Then a lively song begins The dancers step to the side snapping their fingers Suddenly they leap into the air A jazz dancer opens a performance 5 CHAPTER 1
Jazz music brought together new instruments and rhythms They land like cats Their jazz dance is just getting started Jazz dance is based on jazz music This music began around 1900 in New Orleans Louisiana 6
Many people from Europe and West Africa lived there Each group had its own culture in the United States Europeans came with instruments such as pianos and trumpets Africans added upbeat rhythms When combined a new kind of music was born DANCE TIP Make sure to warm up before a dance class Jogging in place or jumping jacks are good warm-ups 7
