3.  “Jazz” is a word that came into the English language to describe the music of the early 1900s, a time when the European and African music traditions met and mingled in rich cross-cultural fertilization.  Traced to the rhythms and movements brought to America by people native to Africa.

4.  Warm-up : To lengthen the muscles, wake-up the body, release tension, and prevents muscle injury.  Alignment : The accepted standards for proper postural balance. It refers to the equalization for structural and muscular forces to maintain body balance.  Jazz : Dance or combination with smooth and strong movement, usually to popular music.

5.  Isolation : Moving one body part independently of the others.  Parallel : No rotation, toes straight ahead.  Turnout : Outward rotation of the legs from the hip socket to the feet.  Spotting : Technique used in executing a turn in order to prevent dizziness.  Dance Hands : Soft hand, thumb in line with the middle finger.  Jazz Hands : Fingers spread apart…..”Spider Hand”.

6.  Contraction : All the muscles pull center or inward….to act as if someone punched you in the stomach.  Three Step Turn : Take three equal steps while rotating 360 degrees.  Pivot Turn : Half turn on the balls of the feet to change direction.  Plié : A bending of the knees over the feet.  Chassé : To chase, a sliding action or step together step where the feet “kiss” in the air.

7.  Pas de Bourree : A movement sideward (back side front).  Jazz Square : Four walking steps performed to the front, side, back, and side.  Pirouette : A turn performed in relevé with one leg in passé.  Chaine Turn : Chain or link, rapid turns in first position on demi-point.  Jete : Leap, take off from one foot and land on the other

8.  Dig : To place the ball of the foot on the floor next to the other foot.  Point : To place the tips of the toes on the floor without applying weight.

9.  Jazz dance is a combination of African and European influences cultivated in the American urban environment.  Jazz dance began in the 1920’s with the end of the World War I and with the emergence of Dixieland jazz music.  Jazz dance is a mirror of the social history of the American people, reflecting historical events, cultural changes, ethnic influences, and especially the music and social dances of its era.

10.  Pioneers in the Jazz field include: 1. Katherine Graham 2. Donald MacKayle 3. Syvilla Forte 4. Fred Astaire 5. Gene Kelly 6. Twyla Tharp 7. Bob fosse 8. The Joffrey Ballet 9. Alvin Ailey

11. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAKQauAfcZU

12. 1. Wade Robson 2. Brian Friedman 3. Sonya Tayeh 4. Dan Karaty 5. Tyce Diorio 6. Laurie Ann Gibson 7. Mandy Moore 8. Travis Payne

14. Brian Friedman choreography: Master Class @ Millennium in L.A.