Jazz Dance is a dynamic performance style that emerged in the United States in the early 20th century, deeply rooted in African American vernacular traditions and jazz music. It encompasses two main branches: authentic vernacular jazz, which includes popular moves like the Charleston and Lindy Hop, and staged dramatic jazz, famously seen on Broadway. Tracing its history to African dance characteristics such as bent knees and complex rhythms, it gained significant visibility through Vaudeville and the vibrant Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, propelled by iconic figures like Josephine Baker and the Nicholas Brothers. While pioneering dancers such as Frankie Manning embodied its vernacular spirit, choreographers like Jack Cole and Bob Fosse developed its theatrical presence, even as the term "Jazz Dance" broadened by the 1990s to include various pop music forms in educational settings.