Giordano: Jazz Dance

Gus Giordano is known for his amazing choreography in Jazz dance. He was born on July 10, 1923 in St. Louis, Missouri. Giordano was introduced to Jazz dance when he was 5 while on a trip to New Orleans to visit family. His cousin had taught him the Charleston dance step and he was hooked. When he returned home he soon began to study dance with a local dance teacher. Minette Buchman is whom Giordano credits his early training to. Giordano took ballet and theater dance classes as well as vocal lessons and other classes taught by guest artists visiting his area. Giordano did not take any Jazz classes because that style of dance was not a concert dance style and did not exist at the time.
Giordano participated in World War II. He enlisted into …show more content…
He learned this from his teacher Katherine Dunham. He added in strong floor work in his classes that were taught to him by Hanya Holm. Giordano had his own style of teaching movement that came from the pelvis and rolled through the chest and arms. Giordano in the mid-1970s wrote a book on his teachings and techniques, “Jazz Dance Class”, this book is now considered one of the most influential books on jazz dance.
While teaching Giordano was asked to perform with his classes so the dancers of Bolshoi Ballet could see what jazz dance looked liked. Of course he agreed, and after a breath taking performance, he and his classes were invited to tour Russia the next year. The Giordano Dance Chicago Company was officially born in 1963. Giordano later founded the Jazz Dance World Conference in 1990. This event lasts five days and shows off the very unique and American form of jazz dance.
Gus Giordano is considered one of the forefathers of Jazz Dance and many of his techniques are still used and taught today. His magnificent technique of using the hips is still used in many forms of jazz. He is a respected choreographer and his style of dance is still used by many choreographers. Gus Giordano died of pneumonia at age 84 on March 9,