Dance lecture - Jazz dance, a geography of alternative venues

Jook houses, dance halls, clubs, cellars, nightclubs, youth centers... jazz dances were developed in alternative venues before conquering stages and screens. From the jazz clubs of the 1920s to the disco scenes of the 1970s, dance quickly became a form of collective expression where each movement challenged conventions and transformed the way the body was viewed. In these spaces of resistance and protest, marginalized communities came together to create and entertain themselves while challenging prevailing social norms. These fringe venues shaped the way people danced and created opportunities for emancipation through movement. Embark on a vibrant journey through the iconic venues of jazz, where dance and music invented spaces for entertainment, protest, and artistic expression. Together, we will trace the geography of a jazz that is constantly questioning itself.