Class Description

This course provides a comprehensive exploration of Jazz dance technique, focusing on the development of skills, style, and expression inherent in this dynamic and rhythmic dance form. Students will delve into the history of Jazz dance, tracing its roots from African and Caribbean influences to its evolution in American culture. Through a series of structured exercises, students will enhance their physical strength, flexibility, and coordination essential for executing Jazz dance movements with precision and flair. The course will cover a range of Jazz dance styles, from traditional Broadway Jazz to contemporary Jazz-funk, ensuring students are exposed to a diverse repertoire of movements and choreographic elements. Emphasis will be placed on mastering fundamental Jazz dance techniques such as isolations, syncopation, pirouettes, kicks, jumps, and turns. Students will also learn how to embody the stylistic nuances of Jazz dance, including its expressive quality, musicality, and improvisational aspects. In addition to technical training, students will engage in choreography workshops where they will learn to apply Jazz dance techniques in the creation of original dance sequences. Through these creative exercises, students will develop their artistic sensibilities, spatial awareness, and performance skills, culminating in a final showcase where they will have the opportunity to perform for an audience.