Axial/non-locomotive and Locomotive Movement: Plus warm-up, alignment, basic body skills and qualities of movement

Axial/Non-Locomotive Movement (Movement that doesn’t travel) Tilt Swing Elevate Turn Shake Rotate Curl Sequential Reach/stretch Bend Fall Pull Hinge Bounce/bob Push Spiral Twist

Locomotive Movement (movement that travels) Slide Run Roll Walk Skip Jump Hop Gallop Crawl Leap

What is Kinesthetic Awareness? Knowing what your body is performing (movement, alignment, energy…) without having to look in the mirror to see yourself.

What is Alignment: Correct placement of the joints for efficient muscular function

Aspects of proper alignment: Chin level Shoulders level and down Sternum lifted Lengthened spine Pelvis level Knees straight but not locked Weight distributed evenly between front and back of foot Joints in line (ankles, knees, and hips).

Increase blood flow through the body Prevent injury Purpose of a warm-up: Because It Helps!!!: Increase blood flow through the body Prevent injury Increase heart rate

Agility: Nimble; Ability to change movement quickly Basic Body Skills: Agility: Nimble; Ability to change movement quickly Balance: Forces upon the body and its parts are equal Coordination: Ability to make muscles perform together Endurance: Ability to maintain performance over an extended period of time Flexibility: Pliable; able to move joints easily Strength: Ability to apply and resist force

Origins of Jazz Dance Said to have sparked from “Jazz” music which consisted of ragtime, blues, and dixieland. Many artists were African American musicians These musical forms incorporated syncopation, European harmonies, complex rhythms of West Africa, and American gospel singing

Jazz Vocabulary Isolations- moving one body part at a time. Pas de Bourre- Bourre step; back, side, front. Chasse- To chase. Chaines- In a chain, links, series of rapid turns. Pirouette- Spin, whirl. En Dehors- Outside (related to the direction of a turn). En Dedans- Inside (related to the direction of a turn). 6 Step Pirouette- 6 step pattern followed by an en dehors pirouette.

Jazz Vocab Cont. Forced Arch- High on the balls of your feet (releve) and in demi plie (bent legs). Grand Battement- Large beat; kick. Jazz Square- 4 step pattern that makes a square; box step. Grapevine- Sideways traveling step, alternating crossing in front and back. Jazz Walk- Walk/ steps done in forced arch. Ball Change- Change of weight using the ball of the foot. Pivot Turn- Turning/ changing direction with both feet connected to the floor. 3 Point Turn- A turn completed in 3 steps, right or left.

1900-1930 The Early Years Started in the south and moved its way up to New York and Chicago. The Charleston, the Shimmy, and the Lindy Hop, the jitterbug, as well as several Latin influenced dances such as the Rhumba and the Conga. Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, an important black tap dancer, elevated rhythmic structure, precise footwork and complexity of steps to professional standards during the 1920’s. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, combined balletic elegance and jazzy percussive accents to sustain a partnership on stage and screen. Their performances created an acceptance for what would evolve into jazz dance.

1940’s The Swing Era The Broadway musical, Oklahoma, choreographed by Agnes de Mille, was the first open attempt in musical theater history to advance the storyline using jazz- like choreography. Gene Kelly known for his performances in Singin’ in the Rain and An American in Paris, was also a dominant force in Hollywood musical films from the mid- 1940’s. Jack Cole, often considered the “father” of jazz dance trained in modern and Asian dance forms. This combination proved successful for the nightclub, musical, and film choreography.

1950’s Jazz In the mid 1950’s ballet and modern dance sprouted their wings in the US and their appeal helped push jazz dance into a new growth spurt. In 1957, choreographer Jerome Robbins used Jazz- like choreography to depict street gang life in New York City in the widely acclaimed, West Side Story. Many theorists view this as the true beginning of jazz dance as we know it today. A new talent, Matt Lennox (a Cole trained dancer), became identified with a linear, percussive style which he incorporated into his Broadway, concert dance, and television choreography. He is a primary figure in the evolution of jazz dance going from the dance halls to concert halls.

1960’s The Great Emerge In the 1960’s, Gus Giordano and Luigi, the “giants of jazz” began to carve out their own niches, and the face of jazz dance changed from “fun” to the realm of the highly skilled dancer. Giordano was a dancer, teacher, choreographer, author, and founder of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Center in Chicago. His book, Anthology of American Jazz Dance, was the first of its kind and was instrumental in helping turn the study of jazz dance into a respectable and important American dance form. Dance historians have defined Luigi’s style as classic jazz, sophisticated, elegant, and liquid fire. The exercise routine he created for his own rehabilitation after a devastating accident became the world’s first complete technique for learning jazz dance.

1970’s Broadway Jazz Bob Fosse was an American musical theater choreographer and director, screenwriter and film director. Slick, sensual, fast-paced/angular and fluid at the same time. (Jazz hands) His work includes Chicago, Dancin, Cabaret, and All That Jazz. He won eight Tony awards for choreography, as well as one for direction. He was nominated for an Academy Award four times, winning for his direction of Cabaret.