Just make sure you have about 6ft by 6ft of space so you can kick, jump, and turn with ease. If you’re dancing in a carpeted space at home, bare feet will work too! Search for in-person or online classes with queries like “online jazz dance class” or “jazz dance class near me” –– then, look for classes that mention traditional moves like the ones outlined in this article.Ĭarefully read the class descriptions or chat with the instructor ahead of time if possible! Once you find a class that teaches the authentic moves, you should narrow down your search by looking for instructors who teach the history of those moves too.įor example, in STEEZY’s online “Intro to Jazz” program, Jason Myhre (Loyola Marymount Jazz Dance Director, EDGE Performing Arts Center) and Laura Ann Smyth (Regina Klenjoski Dance Company, JazzAntiqua Dance) start every class with a quote from a Jazz dance icon, to help you set your intentions and improve your performance skills.įor your Jazz dance class, you shouldn’t need any special equipment or pre-requisite training.Ĭomfortable, breathable clothing is best, and Jazz shoes/sneakers or non-restrictive running shoes are perfect for dancing on hard floors. In-person or online classes are a great place to start, as you can learn the basic techniques, step-by-step.
To get a well-rounded and authentic learning experience, it's important to honor each stage in the story of Jazz dance. “Being able to be sharp, rhythmic, and filled with personality all at the same time… that skill is needed for so many different dance styles! If you’re able to train in each era of Jazz dance –– traditional Jazz, the technical skills from Broadway, the showmanship and passion from Jazz-influenced music videos… you’ll really have a great foundation as a dancer.” –– Laura Ann Smyth, STEEZY Jazz InstructorĪnd with new iterations of Jazz music like Electro-Swing, and dance venues across the country revisiting the original Jazz music of the 1920s, Jazz dance is finding a new place in social spaces. Now, dance scholars around the world are bringing attention to the importance of Jazz in dance education. Though Jazz dance is recognized as the #1 American dance style, in recent years, many studios stopped treating it as a foundational requirement for new dancers. Their background dancers can be seen doing Jazz Squares and Pas de Bourrees, but there’s a heavier emphasis on flashy turns, jumps, and trendy moves.
Lyrical dance videos professional#
Unlike most dance styles you’d watch on stage, professional Jazz dancers were expected to effortlessly balance uniformity and personality.Īfter all, personality and individual style were a vital part of Jazz’s initial culture, but you couldn’t have an entire theater company executing different moves!Ĭhoreographed productions would usually involve a set of background dancers who executed very similar, precise Jazz moves, while a few couples or solo performers would lead the company, executing acrobatics, stylized steps, and showy, playful acting sequences. They added more Ballet-inspired steps and brought the newly codified moves to Hollywood and Broadway, just as the Golden Age of film began.Ĭhoreographers started using highly trained dancers who were tasked to perform more precise versions of Jazz dances, which ushered in a new era for the style. Eventually, Jazz musicians who wanted to avoid appropriation from white audiences began shifting to Bebop, which was centered around improvised singing and instrumentation that many club-goers found less danceable.Īs a result, choreographers like Jack Cole and Jerome Robbins began appropriating traditionally Black Jazz dances for purposes outside of the club.
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