Any Tips For Jumping?

[UnLucky7s]

Well, I'm pretty desperate now...

I'm in the cast of Crazy For You for my school's Spring Musical, and everything (for the most part) is looking real good.

However, in the song I Got Rhythm (A tap dance number), I jump out with a broom, take center stage, and do a simple tap step. (Hop, shuffle, ball change) After that, I jump OVER the broom I'm holding, do the tap step again, and then jump over it BACKWARDS. It looks really cool, but I'm having problems. I can do this perfectly without tap shoes on, but since I have a tap step, I need them on. This makes it really difficult, and I fail about half the time on the front jump, and almost always on the backwards jump. Any advice? I know this may sound silly. But any help AT ALL is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[latingal]

Welcome to DF Unlucky7s. Hopefully somebody who does tap will be along to recommend something.

There is also a "sister forum" on non-partnered dancing, it's www.danceforums.net . Maybe you should post the same question over there in the Tap forum?

 

[latingal]

By the way, just in case no one else comes along....I'll bite. Tell me exactly how you are failing to get over the broom with the tap shoes on (both backwards and forwards). Are you catching your feet (the taps) on the broom?

If so, does that mean you are not jumping as high as you do without the shoes because you're slipping on take off (m.e.t.a.l plates on the bottom of your shoes make things more precarious - yes)?

Or do you need more clearance over the broom with the taps on? Also are you pressing down on the broom enough with your arms as you are jumping through with your legs? Can you increase that amount of space between your shoulders and broom by using your fingers instead of your palms to grip the broom?

 

[UnLucky7s]

Thanks for replying. I have been trying to use my fingers instead of my palms, and it does work almost all the time without tap shoes on. It may be that I'm slipping, but yes, the m e t a l on my taps always hit the broom. My dance instructor is well aware that this is very difficult with taps on, but she says she believes in me. I don't know how practice will help me too much if I can't even get over the broom. :sad:

 

[Medira]

I love Crazy for You...it's just such a fun show. Also, the show's version of Slap That Bass has always been one of my favourites.

Now, about your jump. I have a couple of things that might help.

1) Think of pulling your knees up to your chest when you do the jump. This is called a tuck position.

(yay for random Google image searches)

In order to hit this position, you want to think of contracting your abs (like you would if you're doing sit-up) and pulling your knees up under your chin. If you keep that visualization or that feeling in your mind, it may help.

Practice just a tuck jump (no broom) until you're comfortable hitting this position in the air. Watch yourself in the mirror to make sure that you're hitting a good looking tuck shape, consistently.

2) Your jump needs to be absolutely vertical. If you're travelling forward, backward or to the side on your jump, you're taking away from vertical air time and making it harder to pass the broom. Once you're comfortable with your body position for the tuck jump, place some tape on the floor. Stand on that tape and do one tuck jump. Once you land, look down and see if you landed in the same spot you started. If you did, great! Do a couple more just to make sure you're hitting your mark. If not, when you do the jump, think of pulling straight up through your body. It should be like somebody has tied a string to the top of your head and is pulling you straight upward. You can even take a deep breath as you jump up and exhale as you start coming down, if it helps.

Again, do this until you're comfortable.

3) Grab the broom and try only the first part of the jump. It's more comfortable and more "natural" to pass the broom from front to back, so work on that one first. Do your tuck jump. As you pull your knees up to your chest (exactly like you've been practicing in steps 1 and 2), extend your arms down, then up in behind you. The arm motion doesn't need to be big. It should go down in front, underneath your body and then right up in behind you. Again, get comfortable with it first before anything else. If you're having trouble with it, stand on your spot and try to be aware of jumping straight up again. Try to jump up, on the spot, with the broom.

One thing to be aware of when you're landng is that you don't want to get your shoulders behind you. If you do that, your balance is going to be behind you and it will make the second half of your jump next-to-impossible.

4) Once you're comfortable with #3, start working on the reverse. Start with the broom in behind you, do your tuck jump straight up and bring the broom beneath, then in front of you. The key to getting this one is to bring your weight forward when you bring the broom in front of you to land properly.

5) When you're feeling good with the rest of this, put the two halves of the jump together. Front to back to front.

I hope this helps!

 

[Meagan]

Can't really think of why you would be clearing the broom without the shoes (you're not wearing heels are you? that could be quite difficult) The only thing I would think is that you are psyching yourself out a bit...maybe the thought that it may be easy to fall due to the taps is causing you not to jump as high. Try practicing on carpet maybe so you aren't thinking about slipping and then if you can do it there...

Otherwise if it is a slipping problem make sure the rubber pad behind the taps isn't too worn down (I never rely on those much but it can't hurt)

 

[latingal]

it does work almost all the time without tap shoes on. It may be that I'm slipping, but yes, the m e t a l on my taps always hit the broom.

Hmmm...Medira has some good tips and also like the poster's suggestion that you may be "pysching" yourself out.

One thing you might try, have the broom nearby as you get on your back and get into a tucked position, now take the broom and get into the same position you would have to be in to clear the broom at the zenith of your jump. How much clearance do you actually have? This will also make you aware just how tight your tuck must be.

Also, I might experiment with diverting some of my energy downwards when I try to jump the broom. It would seem to me that your shoulders/arms will have to work in a downward motion while the legs and abs are working on the upward motion (might help with the compression of the tuck).

Okay, again....I'm no expert, but I hope something in here will help.

 

[Medira]

One thing you might try, have the broom nearby as you get on your back and get into a tucked position, now take the broom and get into the same position you would have to be in to clear the broom at the zenith of your jump. How much clearance do you actually have? This will also make you aware just how tight your tuck must be.

Latingal makes a VERY good point here. I'd definitely add that in when you're trying to figure out your body position.

 

[UnLucky7s]

WOW. Medira, thank you. That is exactly what I needed. I needed something to think of while jumping to ensure my clearing of the broom, and it turns out, "remember to be in a tuck" is the thing I need to remember! So far, I've only tried it frontwards (still afraid to try it backwards just yet; I broke a broom earlier before this), but frontwards, I've cleared it EVERY TIME. Thanks to the rest of you too; I did try the laying on my back thing; it helped.

I know I'm asking for a lot, but does anybody have any additional tips for backward jumping? That's the jump that freaks me out the most, and I have to OWN it by next rehearsal; I'd like to impress my dance instructor.

 

[latingal]

So far, I've only tried it frontwards (still afraid to try it backwards just yet; I broke a broom earlier before this), but frontwards, I've cleared it EVERY TIME.

Congrats UnLucky7s! I'm glad to hear you've figured the forward jumps out...

As far as the back one goes, try it with the tight tuck and let us know what happens. If you can't make it with the same tip, we'll have to see what is different about the back jump.

Again, great job on the front jump!

(whoever thought we'd be helping with a tap broom jump? goodness, the things we get ourselves into here)

 

[Medira]

WOW. Medira, thank you. That is exactly what I needed. I needed something to think of while jumping to ensure my clearing of the broom, and it turns out, "remember to be in a tuck" is the thing I need to remember! So far, I've only tried it frontwards (still afraid to try it backwards just yet; I broke a broom earlier before this), but frontwards, I've cleared it EVERY TIME. Thanks to the rest of you too; I did try the laying on my back thing; it helped.

I know I'm asking for a lot, but does anybody have any additional tips for backward jumping? That's the jump that freaks me out the most, and I have to OWN it by next rehearsal; I'd like to impress my dance instructor.

Yay! I'm glad I could help.

As far as the back to front portion of your jump is concerned, I think the problem is more of your mindset than the jump itself. It isn't a backward jump that you're doing. It's a straight, vertical jump. The exact same jump that you did when you were passing the broom from front to back. You're just passing the broom from your back to your front. Think of jumping up straight into your tuck and do just the arm motion that you would use if you were holding the broom. Leave the broom out at first. Figure out where your weight needs to be so that you don't land off-balance. Then try it with the broom.

Good luck!

 

[UnLucky7s]

Oh, man. I have good news and bad news. The bad news is my partner (we both do the broom thing together), sprained her foot attempting to do the backwards jump. (Good thing I waited!) She'll be able to recover, but since this step is so difficult, my instructor is changing the steps. Now, we jump over the broom once, toss the brooms across our bodies to our partner, and we catch it in front of us, tapping the whole time. (sounds weird, looks awesome). So now we only do front jumps, which I mastered, thanks to you guys! Love you guys much! Thanks for helping me =)

 

[latingal]

I'm glad we could help! And you should be proud that you were tenacious (and put in the work!) and found a succesful solution on the jumping the broom thing....good job!

Good luck in your show UnLucky7s! I hope we still get to hear from you on the DF boards!

 

[Medira]

Good for you for sticking with it UnLucky7s. I'm sorry to hear about your partner's injury though.

Best of luck with the production!