Jazz Dance

[rickyT]

I recently watched a performance of a Lyrical Jazz Dance put up by a dance studio and was quite fascinated.

Has any DF members has experience with Jazz Dancing. Is it very technically & physically demanding?. I believe Jazz Dancing is derived from ballet, swing, tap dance (and what else?). What would be the pre-requisites one should have before learning the dance.

rgds

[Sagitta]

I have had no experience with jazz except for taking a jazz moves class and learning moves as a sidenote in my various dance classes. All that I know about jazz is that those with a background/experience in it can pick up other dances quickly.

[dancersdreamland]

I've taken an adult jazz class for the past two summer and I absolutely LOVE it!!!! It's much more relaxed than ballet, but does hold a lot of the same characteristics.

I'm not really sure of any pre-requisites required. Perhaps contact a local studio in your area and ask what they require. Then see if you can enroll in a class.

Jazz is WAY FUN!!!!

All the best!

[rickyT]

Hi Dancersdreamland

Beside Jazz Dance, do you do other dances as well. Is Jazz Dance more difficult to learn than Ballroom, Latin, Salsa etc. I'm able to dance intermediate level of these dances but I'm not confident that I can cope with Jazz Dance since I have not learn Ballet or Tap dance before.

rgds

[SDsalsaguy]

You should be fine in an introductory jazz class Ricky, regardless of no prior expereince. That is, after all, what introductory classes are for, right?

The fact that you have any dance background at all will only be a boon.

Follow your passion...

[dancersdreamland]

Hey, rickyT!

I do take a large variety of dance forms, jazz being one of them. I did take about a half or full year of ballroom/latin/swing before taking jazz. Really, learning any sort of dance just takes dedication, practice, and patience as well as a well-informed and good teaching instructor.

I'm sure with your intermediate dance background in ballroom/latin/salsa you should be able to pickup jazz without any problems. In my opinion, it's really not any more difficult to learn than any other dance form.

Perhaps call a studio in your area and see if they'll let you sit in on a class. Just to see if you like the style of teaching they use and if you can follow.

Really, the best way, though is to just jump right in...feet first.

Please keep us posted on how it goes.

All the best!

[liz_jo]

Jazz is great!
It was one of the first things I learned when I was little. I really only took one year of ballet when I was 8, and then the studio I dance at sent me straight to Jazz. We call it Jazz, I guess it kind of depends on your definition of Jazz, but for us it was kind of a mix of ballet, tap, and everything else we knew. A background in any kind of dance will help you start. It's difficult to start with Jazz if you've had nothing, only because other styles of dance give you a sense of rhthym and counting, so I think you should be fine.
As far as technicality, you just have to learn the steps and feel the music. Physically, if you dance, you'll be fine.
I agree with dancersdreamland, jump right in. You'll never know until you try!
:D

[ricodancer]

I'd say if you can squeeze it in take beginning ballet along with jazz. You will develop strength and flexibility from ballet as well as learn the terminology that a lot of jazz and technical modern teachers take for granted. I don't know of any advanced jazz dancers who have not had significant ballet training, at least to strong intermediate level. It really depends on your goals. I'm a professional level modern (Limon) dancer, but I've had several years of ballet training as well as several jazz courses, all of which has been very helpful. Now I'm back into International Latin as well, and I'm flying through the material. Jazz really helps, ballet helps you in jazz, and vice versa.

[pygmalion]

What about using jazz dance or ballet training in ballroom or other social dances? Just curious. There are three ballet school within a ten minute drive of my house, and the group rates are quite low. Plus, I'm setting my dance goals for this year. If a jazz class will help, I'm all for it. :D

[tasche]

You should take a class. Ballet or jazz ballet as they used to call it. Your footwork will be quicker and cleaner. Better lines, stronger feet and muscles. Of course this is assuming you apply yourself.

The group classes available are very expensive $17 for a 1.5 hr class on a casual basis.

[pygmalion]

Thanks, tasche. I'm going to try it. This is my year to break through, whatever it takes. And if I need to spend some hours at the barre, learning dance fundamentals, so be it. You should've seen me in waltz class last night, trying to do develope' in releve'. :shock: Pitiful! Stretching and some basic barre work are definitely in order. :oops: :lol:

[tasche]

If you dont already have it pick up a copy of the joffery ballet's Ballet-Fit book. This book is awesome for adult ballet beginners. It goes through everything like how not to dress like a newbie and some exercises to work on at home

[pygmalion]

:lol: :lol: How did you know what I was thinking? I want to do it, but I don't want to look like and idiot. :shock: :lol:

Thanks.

[tasche]

Rather than just show up to class. Go to the studio one night just before class starts to talk to the teacher if possible then you can scope out what everybody is wearing. I turned up to my first adult begginer class in black leotard/pink tights. Ok not the worse thing in the world but did feel a little stupid

[d nice]

I recently watched a performance of a Lyrical Jazz Dance put up by a dance studio and was quite fascinated.

Has any DF members has experience with Jazz Dancing. Is it very technically & physically demanding?. I believe Jazz Dancing is derived from ballet, swing, tap dance (and what else?). What would be the pre-requisites one should have before learning the dance.

rgds

Classifying contemporary jazz is difficult. While it uses the same name as the music and dance from the teens it has very little in common with that orginial dance form. As such the amount of connection to tap and swing is minimal. These days a significant portion of "jazz" has far more in common with ballet than the jazz dances that were done when jazz was the popular form of music.

No prior dance experience is required, but if you have ballet fundamentals it will speed up your progress in contemporary jazz.

[pygmalion]

Rather than just show up to class. Go to the studio one night just before class starts to talk to the teacher if possible then you can scope out what everybody is wearing. I turned up to my first adult begginer class in black leotard/pink tights. Ok not the worse thing in the world but did feel a little stupid

Giggle. That's a good pointer, tasche! Thanks.

[tinydancer]

Ahhhhhhhhh! Jazz dancing...sooooo wonderful! Although I have been doing it all my life, its so easy. Just dance what you feel and out your all into it, its a totally different direction from ballet, but its always good to mix forms of dancing!

~*Tinydancer*~

keep dancing!


I'V GOT CANNED HEAT IN MY HEALS BABY!!!!!!!!! :lol:

[tasche]

So pygmalion did you take the plunge?

[dancin_feet]

Jazz can be anything you want it to be. This is what I started dancing as a child. Highly stylised, choreographed or freestyle, anything you want. We did choreographed routines on stage a few times a year, and after a couple of years I joined a jazz troupe which represented the studio at exhibitions. I have also done bits and pieces of tap, ballet, love ballroom and latin and getting into the south american type of dances like salsa and mambo.

If you take a beginner class in any type of dance, you would not need any prerequisites, though a general body rhythum comes in handy, that can be taught.

[ricodancer]

Amen to what d nice says- there is so much fusion and cross technique, that even adding some modern, even if it's release technique based, to your weekly schedule of jazz and ballet is very helpful. I take belly dancing myself, which maybe I've already mentioned, but as a guy it really puts me in touch with the hips and rib cage in a deep way that jazz doesn't approach. To paraphrase R-R Savage: "It's all good, baby!"

[pygmalion]

So pygmalion did you take the plunge?

Not yet, tasche. I'm rethinking my dance strategy at the moment. My approach before was come-one, come-all. Now I'm wondering if perhaps I should focus on one thing (i.e. smooth/standard) for the next several months, so I can see some real progress. I don't want to spread myself too thin.

So I'm thinking maybe smooth until June, then reassess.