Jazz Dance Routines

Who’s Learning Jazz Dance Routines?

If you are active in the dance world, your response to that question should quite simply be “everyone.” From children just discovering their potential for creative expression, to the veteran Broadway performer, everyone has learned, or is continuing to learn jazz dance routines. What makes this form of dance so popular is its ability to captivate an audience while still teaching solid and basic technique concepts to the performer. Much like ballet, it demands a fair bit of discipline, however it also allows room for plenty of personality and individual style. For these reasons (and many more!) learning jazz dance routines is a great dance exercise for those of any age and level of experience.

Teachers who teach varied forms of dance may consider incorporating simple jazz combinations into their class time, regardless of their traditional teaching style. Kids especially will love to take the steps they learn and create short pieces of choreography to perform for their peers. Instilling basic knowledge of jazz dance into the hearts and minds of young dancers, no matter what genre of movement they are currently studying, can open their eyes up to a whole new realm of possibility when it comes to their future in dance and entertainment.

Jazz combos are also great for fitness classes geared toward older adults. If you teach a low impact aerobics class, or even a beginning dance class for seniors, jazz dance routines can spice up your session and add that extra dose of fun and activity level necessary for good heart health.

Working as a Choreographer

Perhaps you’ve just landed your first job as a dance choreographer for a high school team, or you have reached ultra-professional status. Either way, you will want to come up with jazz pieces that are fresh and interesting, for both your dancers and their audience. Try to think outside of the box, coming up with unconventional moves that will challenge your performers. Jazz dance routines are fun because there really aren’t very many rules. You can mix up varying styles and fuse “borrowed” steps together with classic jazz moves for a winning routine everyone will love.

While originality is very important, try to remember it isn’t everything. A wise dancer once made the observation there is “no such thing as new choreography,” and in a sense this is very true. Pioneers of dance continue to come out of the woodwork, but overall choreography is the result of techniques and styles learned over years of experience. Everything is “borrowed” from somewhere else, and there is nothing negative in that. As long as you are not stealing whole chunks of routines, feel free to look to websites such as YouTube for ideas, or consult a dance colleague for inspiration. Dancers share their work to motivate and bring art to the world, and at times, imitation truly is the greatest form of flattery.

Hiring an Outside Helper

If you are at a loss when it comes to jazz dance routines, you can always hire an outside choreographer to come in and create for you. Craigslist is a great site to recruit a college dance major or recent grad that is looking to earn some extra cash and possesses a great sense of dance style.

You can also hire a professional through various dance studios or choreography services. A simple Google search of your region will yield results for you, and provide you the opportunity to screen a variety of candidates and choose who will work best for you and your studio.

No matter what your walk in life, jazz dance routines are sure to enhance your dance career and breathe new life into your artistic world!