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BASIC JAZZ TECHNIQUE AND CLASS STRUCTURE
Warm Up Exercises
• are used to stimulate blood circulation to the muscles
• begin with simple, slow movements that align and prime the body for what follows
• are performed sitting or lying on the floor, standing in the centre or at the barre
• must include stretching and strengthening exercises
• must work the entire body
• include: foot positions (parallel, turn-out), rélévés, pliés, grands battements, passes, lunges, kicks, contractions, forward stretches, side stretches, arm positions one arm moving, both arms moving, oppositions
• allow the students an awareness of their bodies, their capabilities, their strengths and their weaknesses
Isolation Exercises
Moving only one part of your body at a time
• are an integral part of the warm-up
• develop flexibility, control and coordination, creativity
• include: head (centred, forward, sides, down, tilts, tip); shoulders (raise, lower, opposition, circles;) rib cage (push forward, side, back side, reverse, change speed, swing from side to side); pelvis (swing front, side, back, side, reverse, change speed, swing from side to side); toes, feet
Locomotor Exercises
• are movements that travel
• include: jazz walks, jazz runs, pivot turns, jazz square, drags, chassé, step ball change, pas de bourrée, jumps, leaps, turns,
• may include sequences that you wish to teach in a dance
Dance Combinations & Choreography
• develop technique, co-ordination, and memory
• include teacher or student choreographed enchainements, dances
• include opportunities for sharing and presentation
Cool Down Exercises
• help the body in the transition from intense movement to resting
• are designed to prevent dizziness
• help to prevent soreness of muscles
• include: controlled breathing, gentle stretches and slow demipliés
DEFINITIONS
Plié – to bend
Tendu - to stretch
Grand Battement - large beatings
Relevé - to rise
Jeté – to throw
Sauté - to jump
Croissè - crossed
Devant - front
Derrière - back
Rond de jambe - round the leg
Port de Bras - carriage of the arms
MOVEMENT DESCRIPTIONS
Chaine - consecutive half turns travelling and rotating in a single direction
Pivot - a turn toward the standing leg
Isolations - movement of one body part at a time
Body roll - a move in which the entire body goes through a wave-like motion
Step Dig - step with one foot and the other foot follows with the ball of the foot making contact with the floor
Grand jete - large jump with legs spliting in the air
Spotting - focusing on one spot when turning to prevent dizziness
CHOREOGRAPHIC TERMS
Accent
A strong movement or gesture used for emphasis.
Choreography
The creation and composition of dances, whether for a solo dancer, duets, trios, or small ensembles, by planning or inventing steps, movements, and patterns of movements and arranging them into a meaningful whole to communicate a feeling, idea, or theme.
Choreographer
A person who plans and creates dance pieces.
Ensemble
A group of performers.
Phrase
A small group of movements that stand together as a unit.
Transitions
The links between dance movements and phrases.
Warm Up Exercises
• are used to stimulate blood circulation to the muscles
• begin with simple, slow movements that align and prime the body for what follows
• are performed sitting or lying on the floor, standing in the centre or at the barre
• must include stretching and strengthening exercises
• must work the entire body
• include: foot positions (parallel, turn-out), rélévés, pliés, grands battements, passes, lunges, kicks, contractions, forward stretches, side stretches, arm positions one arm moving, both arms moving, oppositions
• allow the students an awareness of their bodies, their capabilities, their strengths and their weaknesses
Isolation Exercises
Moving only one part of your body at a time
• are an integral part of the warm-up
• develop flexibility, control and coordination, creativity
• include: head (centred, forward, sides, down, tilts, tip); shoulders (raise, lower, opposition, circles;) rib cage (push forward, side, back side, reverse, change speed, swing from side to side); pelvis (swing front, side, back, side, reverse, change speed, swing from side to side); toes, feet
Locomotor Exercises
• are movements that travel
• include: jazz walks, jazz runs, pivot turns, jazz square, drags, chassé, step ball change, pas de bourrée, jumps, leaps, turns,
• may include sequences that you wish to teach in a dance
Dance Combinations & Choreography
• develop technique, co-ordination, and memory
• include teacher or student choreographed enchainements, dances
• include opportunities for sharing and presentation
Cool Down Exercises
• help the body in the transition from intense movement to resting
• are designed to prevent dizziness
• help to prevent soreness of muscles
• include: controlled breathing, gentle stretches and slow demipliés
DEFINITIONS
Plié – to bend
Tendu - to stretch
Grand Battement - large beatings
Relevé - to rise
Jeté – to throw
Sauté - to jump
Croissè - crossed
Devant - front
Derrière - back
Rond de jambe - round the leg
Port de Bras - carriage of the arms
MOVEMENT DESCRIPTIONS
Chaine - consecutive half turns travelling and rotating in a single direction
Pivot - a turn toward the standing leg
Isolations - movement of one body part at a time
Body roll - a move in which the entire body goes through a wave-like motion
Step Dig - step with one foot and the other foot follows with the ball of the foot making contact with the floor
Grand jete - large jump with legs spliting in the air
Spotting - focusing on one spot when turning to prevent dizziness
CHOREOGRAPHIC TERMS
Accent
A strong movement or gesture used for emphasis.
Choreography
The creation and composition of dances, whether for a solo dancer, duets, trios, or small ensembles, by planning or inventing steps, movements, and patterns of movements and arranging them into a meaningful whole to communicate a feeling, idea, or theme.
Choreographer
A person who plans and creates dance pieces.
Ensemble
A group of performers.
Phrase
A small group of movements that stand together as a unit.
Transitions
The links between dance movements and phrases.