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1500
African Dance
which refers mainly to the dances of the Sub-Saharan Africa. In these countries dance was/is used to teach social patterns and values (the dances help people work, mature, praise or criticize members of the community). Black Africans brought their dances to North, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean Islands as slave labor starting in the 1500s. -
Minstrelsy
The Minstrelsy is defined as an American entertainment form consisting of comic skits, variety acts, dancing and music. It is the 1st distinctly American theatrical form. While certain aspects and “characters” of the minstrel show made appearances in stage entertainment as early as the 1600 and 1700s, the “minstrel” show really reached its characteristics and form in the mid-1800s. It reached its height around the Civil War and began to decline by the early -
African Diaspora
The African Diaspora refers to the movement of black Africans and their descendants throughout the world. The term most commonly refers to the descendants of the West and Central Africans who were enslaved and shipped to the Americas via the Atlantic slave trade between the 16th and 19th centuries -
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Thomas D Rice
Rice was a white comedian who is given the credit for popularizing blackface. Aside from popularizing blackface costume, he introduced the song “Jump Jim Crow” and accompanied the song with the dance -
Christy’s Minstrels
The Christy’s Minstrels were an all black performance troupe formed in 1843. Aside from being an all black group, they were instrumental in solidifying the three-act form. They also popularized “the line”- the structured grouping that constituted the 1st act of the 3-act show. -
Blackface Makeup
The origins of blackface date back to the minstrel shows of mid-19th century. White performers darkened their skin with polish and cork, put on tattered clothing and exaggerated their features to look stereotypically “black.” -
Period: to
Vaudeville
Vaudeville is defined as a genre of variety entertainment prevalent in the U.S. and Canada from early 1880s-the early 1930s.
It was inspired by many sources including concert saloons, the minstrelsy, freak shows, dime museums and burlesque shows.