The Spirit of America

On November 13, 2010 Brigham Young University hosted the Amateur Dance Sport Championship.  Dancing has become an extremely popular form of entertainment in America with dance television series emerging as tremendous successes like Dancing with the Stars, and So You Think You Can Dance, and Films like Step Up.  But, even more importantly Americans aren’t standing by to let others having all the fun.  People are making dancing apart of their lives as evidenced from the vast array of competition on Saturday.

Dancers of all levels took the floor in the Ballroom at BYU. Many commented that they had never danced in their lives, let alone competed against others in a formal competition.  There were some that made fools of themselves, there were some that victoriously succeeded.  But, the fact of the matter is that young adults who never before had any interest in Dance are looking to it now for some form of expression and entertainment. 

History has demonstrated the prominent place that dance fills in western culture.  Due to the migratory nature of American culture dance forms have been borrowed rather than created here.  It wasn’t until the late 19^th century that dance started to become uniquely American, and then blossomed into it’s own with the rise of jazz and the big band.  This period marks a fusion of European musical and dance techniques with American flare and innovation.  Out this period were born the Quickstep, Cha Cha, Jive, and American Swing. 

Unfortunately, as the war came to a close dance as popular past time died out.  But, the vitality and huge numbers of contestants at the Dance Sport Competition demonstrated that American dance is still very much alive and well. What started as a bunch of fun in the dance halls across America has become institutionalized and perfected into the basic steps and forms that allow for organized competition.  However, the evolution and innovation of American dance has not gone anywhere. In the recently released film Step Up 3 forms featuring traditional high technique from ballet and ballroom melded with street and funk forms emerging from common people raised the roof.  Such a movement seems to identify with the post modern movement away from forms and conventions to letting whatever emerges from the human spirit take control.