Level: Advanced Beginner

Format: Studio-based class with live and recorded musical accompaniment

Recommended for: Young dancers building foundational jazz skills

Course Description: Jazz I is an immersive course that introduces students to the foundational techniques of jazz dance while integrating contemporary movement influences. Emphasizing both technical precision and stylistic versatility, this class explores the rhythmic dynamics, isolations, and expressive qualities that define jazz dance. Through structured exercises and guided improvisation, students will develop a deeper connection to their bodies, learning how to use syncopation, weight shifts, and breath to create dynamic, intentional movement. This course fosters an environment where dancers can explore personal artistry while building a strong technical foundation.

Students will engage in a variety of movement practices, including isolations, turns, leaps, floor work, and expansive traveling sequences. Attention will be given to musicality, dynamic shifts in energy, and spatial awareness, allowing dancers to move with clarity, power, and confidence. Improvisational exercises will encourage self-expression and individuality, helping students refine their ability to interpret movement prompts and respond to music with authenticity. Throughout the course, students will also examine key concepts such as opposition, suspension, and rhythmic accents, reinforcing their understanding of how jazz dance blends technical discipline with artistic freedom.

By the end of Jazz I, students will demonstrate increased strength, control, and stylistic range in their movement. They will have a heightened awareness of musical phrasing, the ability to transition fluidly between movement qualities, and a growing sense of performance presence. This course serves as a stepping stone for further exploration in jazz dance, equipping dancers with the tools to deepen their technical and expressive capabilities in future training and performance opportunities.

Course Expectations: Active participation, focus on rhythm and coordination, and effort in connecting movement to music.

Assessment Methods: Observation of technical skill, rhythm, and execution of choreography.

Attendance Requirement: Consistent attendance is important for progression and skill retention.

Course Attire: (Ballet level) leotard, black leggings/shorts, and black jazz shoes

Notes: Prepares students for intermediate jazz study in Jazz II.