Task 1 - Key Features of Jazz Dance

 

Key features/characteristics of Jazz Dance seen in Musical Theatre Dance

Jazz dance is a genre of dance which combines dance styles from both Africa and Europe. This consists of including the high-energy liveliness of African dance, which is different from the more traditional European style of Ballet.  

Some performance skills which are needed for jazz dance include, expression (face and body), focus, timing and musicality. 

- bent knees and low center of gravity - dancers have to be able to keep a low center of gravity and often bend their knees to help create the shapes easier and move around the stage more efficiently. 

- body isolations (wrist, hand, arm, hip) - body parts of a dancer which isolates one specific part of the body. Such as isolating the rib cage or the hips. 

- syncopation

- kicks - This picture represents Jazz as this is a Jazz kick. You can tell that this is a Jazz kick as the standing leg is bent and grounded whilst the other leg is high and the toes are pointed. Kicks are a very important element to recognise jazz as it stands out with it's technique. 

                                                                

- sexuality - there is a sexiness in jazz dance which lacks in more traditional styles. This element can help people recognise the difference between jazz and other genres of dance more. 

 

Jazz dance seen within SIX

Whilst rehearsing 'Get Down', I noticed that within the first section of the number, we were doing wrist rotations/isolations with a click. 

Whilst rehearsing the opening number 'Ex Wives', I noticed that the choreography in the chorus shows the extension of the arms. 

27 September 2022 - YouTube (21st September 2022)

This video is a short snippet from the second dance break in the opening number 'Ex Wives'. This video has an element of jazz technique, such as the jazz turn. A jazz turn is shown by the preparation and how the foot comes up to the knee with a pointed toe and the hands come in in front of the body.