Folklore and society

Jacqui Malone

Drawing on cultural history, performance studies, and her experience as a former dancer, this work examines African American dance as a dynamic language shaped by music, song, community, and history. From the cakewalk and the emergence of jazz dance to the traditions of vocal groups, marching bands, and fraternity and sorority stepping, it traces the Africanisms and creative innovations that have influenced American culture. The book explores dance as both an expression of identity and a vital means of cultural memory and survival, illuminating the values, aesthetics, resilience, and joy embodied in Black movement. Vivid and insightful, it reveals how African American dance has transformed the nation’s artistic landscape.