*Disclaimer: This dance history section is based on our own research, interviews, discussions with pioneers and also knowledgeable dancers in the community. Everything written here is aimed primarily towards the non-dancers, or those who aren’t well informed about these dance styles and seek to learn more. Our goal is to try and provide them with a starting point for more insight and also help point them in the right direction for more information. If you’d like to contribute to any of these dance history sections, feel free to contact us. Enjoy!

This style is a lot like the Fusion Jazz Dance style from the UK, but is done primarily to funk music. Reminiscent of James Brown’s feel in the footwork and finesse. Super funky! I like this one a lot. This group comes out of France. Still researching more on the origins of Jazz Rock. The clip we have below is from a group called Pass Pass.

Jazz-Rock!!!

(*additional comments by Julian 10.23.09)

The concept of fusing Jazz dancing with Funk originated from the UK and was fully active at the legendary club “Crackers” in 1978. Originally, the dance style and moves developed at clubs like “Ronnie Scott’s” as early as 1973, as the dancers were cutting their moves to Funk, so the Funk connection was always there. The music is not in question here, but it is the dancing itself. They were called “Jazz Fusion (also referred to as “Jazz Rock”) dancers because they danced to Jazz Funk/Fusion, but this style came through dancing to Funk. The first “pure” Jazz rooms/clubs that featured this unique style in London were “The Green Man” 1980, “The Horseshoe” 1981, and “Electric Ballroom” 1982 with DJ Paul Murphy.

The UK Jazz Fusion style of dancing evolved through the soul and funk dancing in the early 1970s at places like Ronnie Scott’s, and the new, younger generation of Funk dancers (who would later create the jazz fusion dance) incorporated the moves and styles from their Funk predecessors who were still cutting it on the dance floor in the mid-late 1970s, and this is why UK Jazz Dance (which is not the proper term, it is known as “Fusion”) is FUNK based, musically too. It evolved into its own unique style in 1979. There is more info at this site: http://www.thebottomend.co.uk