WHAT IS JAZZ?
When you hear the word Jazz what do you think of?
Better yet, when you hear about jazz as a style of dance what comes to mind?
Do you think of the Charleston? Or does your mind go straight to broadway?
The evolution of jazz dance spans over history, and takes on many forms.
Jazz began as a social style of dance at the turn of the century when African American dancers began blending traditional style African steps with European movement.
With that combination it allowed dancers to create a conversation with the musicians and their instruments. Like jazz music, jazz dance was centered around improving and a call and response between the dancers and musicians.
No matter where and when jazz always has had a performative feel.
Here are some steps every beginner should know:
Ball Change: A quick transfer of weight from one foot to the other.
(Click to see gif⬇️)
Jazz Square: A four step movement in which the dancer steps across, back, and to the front. Creating a square pattern with feet on the floor.
(Click to see gif⬇️)
Chassé: Step out in any direction in píle, then jump and chase the first leg. Like a gallop.
A list of some famous jazz dancers throughout history:
Bob Fosse: June 23, 1927- September 23, 1987
An actor, choreographer, dancer, director, and screenwriter.
He was known for his distinct style with his use of the pelvis, arm, and hard isolations, and rounding of the shoulders. He gave jazz a new dimension. Winning 8 Tony Awards for choreography. Some of his major works include ‘Chicago’, ‘Kiss Me Kate’, ‘Pippin’, and ‘Cabaret’.
Jack Cole: April 27, 1911- February 17, 1974
A dancer, choreographer, and theater director.
He is considered as the “father of jazz” technique. He combined jazz with modern steps.
Jack choreographed Marilyn Monroe’s ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friends’. ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’, and ‘Les Girl’.
This opened the floodgates to new talent and modifications to the dance form.
Jerome Robbins: October 11, 1918- July 29, 1998
Theater producer, director, and dance choreographer.
He was a world renowned choreographer, know for his contribution to ballet, theater, movies, and television musicals.
His works include: ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, ‘Funny Girl’, ‘West Side Story’, and many more.
What Is Pom Dancing?
POM DANCE
POM is a form of dance combining cheer motion and dance technique. Pom classes are great for both dancers and gymnasts. All while using pom poms.
What is POM?
In pom your dancer will work on the fundamental basics of cheer. Students work on cheer motions and jumps, as well as dance technique including: turns, jumps, leaps and level-appropriate Pom choreography. Pom uses sharp and precise movements, which in turn will help to improve the student’s overall arm and body placement.
Routines contain hip-hop, jazz and gymnastics elements.
What is the difference from cheer?
Pom is more focused on the dance elements while cheer has group stunting as well as a vocal element.
Cheerleading squads include dance, stunts, and tumbling into their routines, performing throughout a sporting event, and often on the sidelines. A POM squad or Drill squad uses pom poms in dance routines and often performs during halftime shows, along with some cheer elements.
What skills are developed in POM?
Students are trained in dance technique, POM movement terminology, balance skills, precision, synchronization, strength, and flexibility. Above all they will grow in the form of team work, and the bond of working towards a common goal.
Key Movements
Some of the key movements you’ll see in pom that are derived cheerleading include clasp, T-motion, high-V, touchdowns, L’s, Half T’s, and more.
Different movements can occur in POM dance, depending on the dance type.
The Benefit of Sending Your Dancer To Our Holiday Dance Camps
The benefits of dance camp is essentially the same as sending your child to dance camp! Your dancer will continue to work on their flexibility, stamina, and coordination.
Here are some of the MANY benefits of our camps!
IMPROVES KIDS LEARNING PROCESS
While at camp your child will have the opportunity to learn multiple dances from a variety of our teachers. Dance boosts children’s memory through the learning of choreography. This helps develop learning skills to improve their academic and social life.
GOOD EXERCISE
Dance can improve your child’s flexibility, muscle development, and cognitive development. Stretching and balancing both contribute to a stronger mind and body. Studies have suggested that the more active a child is, the stronger their core. Plus it’s a fun way for kids to move around in a safe and fun setting!
IT WILL HELP ENHANCE WITH THEIR SOCIAL SKILLS
Teamwork and participation in dance class is encouraged. This can help kids socially branch out in a small or large class setting. Children learn to take turns playing dance games while respect others personal space. Our kids dance camps work on a performance for the end of camp. This allows children to work together towards a common goal, while helping them to build confidence and performance experience. Priceless life lessons!
KIDS DANCE CAMP IS FUN!
The most important part of all of this is fun! Your child will have a day full of fun. While making new friends, and growing relationships with old ones. Since our holiday camp runs from 9am-3pm there is plenty of opportunities for growth and enjoyment. Camp will give your child a space to explore in a productive way to spend their day while having time off from school.
While dance is the key factor of our camps along side fun, the day is full of activities. We incorporate interactive games, art projects, and we even involve a chance for our dancers to “act” out scenes for their end of week program.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOUR DANCER FOR OUR THANKSGIVING CAMP!
FUNDAMENTALS
As hip-hop developed as a musical form through natural variations made by new artists and DJs, a language arose with it. The fundamentals of hip-hop became the pillars of it’s migration as a distinct music form in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. These four recognized fundamentals–emceeing (rapping), deejaying (spinning), graffiti, and breakdancing–became the essential pillars of the genre.
FROM THE STREETS
One of the most recognizable components of hip hop it’s origin in black and Latin neighborhoods, particularly the Bronx, in New York City in the 1970s. The music and art found there was something spontaneous and generated by human interaction rather than codified rules and academic processes. “Street dances’” were just that, parties and groups of people developing moves together to the emerging beat-based music of the era.
IN THE CLASSROOM
Because it developed massive popularity outside of academic settings, hip-hop music and the style of dance soon saw a reaction from the music industry. More stylized forms of commercial dance, like jazz-funk, started appearing in music videos and television. These commercial styles helped propel hip-hop dance into the mainstream.
WHAT REALLY IS HIP HOP?
Hip Hop isn’t just just one unique style, like krumping, breaking, or popping and locking. It’s a mix of all of those styles and many more. It’s an approach to choreography that is in tune with the beats and grooves of the music without being limited by specific characteristics. Hip-hop is a world of moves and styles which have been built into the choreographer’s tool belt. It’s a celebration from the birth of street dancing all the way to full domination of hip-hop in commercial and artistic spaces everywhere. It’s a visual language of hip-hop culture. To put it simply, hip-hop dance is a world of movement and visual styles that are now forever associated with hip-hop music and can be used by any choreographer and dancer as a celebration.
FAMOUS HIP HOP DANCERS
Michael Jackson
He is highly regarded as the King of Pop, however, a lot of his dance moves find their origin in hip-hop dance. He married hip-hop dance styles with funk, soul and electric boogaloo to create a unique blend of pop, and hip-hop worthy dance. His style is revered worldwide for its uniqueness and fashion.
Les Twins
The Les Twins are identical brothers of French descent. They are recognized internationally for their new style hip-hop talents. They have won several hip-hop awards including the World of Dance in 2010. They’ve been highlighted on BET, Good Morning America, the Ellen DeGeneres Show and have worked with people like Beyoncé, Kanye West and Timberland.
Parris Goebel
Emmy Award winning Choreographer, Dancer, Singer, Director, and Actress. She is the founder and main choreographer of the Dance Studio “The Palace Dance Studio”, which has produced group ‘The Royal Family’. Which has won World Hip Hop Dance Championship three times in a row, becoming the first group in history to achieve it. She has worked with the likes of Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, Ciara, and many more.
Mini History of Jazz Dancing
WHAT IS JAZZ?
When you hear the word Jazz what do you think of?
Better yet, when you hear about jazz as a style of dance what comes to mind?
Do you think of the Charleston? Or does your mind go straight to broadway?
The evolution of jazz dance spans over history, and takes on many forms.
Jazz began as a social style of dance at the turn of the century when African American dancers began blending traditional style African steps with European movement.
With that combination it allowed dancers to create a conversation with the musicians and their instruments. Like jazz music, jazz dance was centered around improving and a call and response between the dancers and musicians.
No matter where and when jazz always has had a performative feel.
Here are some steps every beginner should know:
Ball Change: A quick transfer of weight from one foot to the other.
(Click to see gif⬇️)
Jazz Square: A four step movement in which the dancer steps across, back, and to the front. Creating a square pattern with feet on the floor.
(Click to see gif⬇️)
Chassé: Step out in any direction in píle, then jump and chase the first leg. Like a gallop.
A list of some famous jazz dancers throughout history:
Bob Fosse: June 23, 1927- September 23, 1987
An actor, choreographer, dancer, director, and screenwriter.
He was known for his distinct style with his use of the pelvis, arm, and hard isolations, and rounding of the shoulders. He gave jazz a new dimension. Winning 8 Tony Awards for choreography. Some of his major works include ‘Chicago’, ‘Kiss Me Kate’, ‘Pippin’, and ‘Cabaret’.
Jack Cole: April 27, 1911- February 17, 1974
A dancer, choreographer, and theater director.
He is considered as the “father of jazz” technique. He combined jazz with modern steps.
Jack choreographed Marilyn Monroe’s ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friends’. ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’, and ‘Les Girl’.
This opened the floodgates to new talent and modifications to the dance form.
Jerome Robbins: October 11, 1918- July 29, 1998
Theater producer, director, and dance choreographer.
He was a world renowned choreographer, know for his contribution to ballet, theater, movies, and television musicals.
His works include: ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, ‘Funny Girl’, ‘West Side Story’, and many more.