Jazz is one of the most difficult musical genres to play and understand for many. And learning to dance jazz is also a difficult and complicated task since it is one of the most dynamic genres that exist in the world. In this style others such as tap, ballet or African-American dance are combined, which makes a unique musical genre in the world so characteristic.
Born in the late nineteenth century in the United States, its expansion was global throughout the first half of the twentieth century and is distinguished by three basic elements different from the music that was known in Europe during these years: rhythmic quality known as swing; the role improvisation plays; and a sound and phrasing that largely reflects the personality of the musicians who perform the style.
Over the years, and as jazz has reached many more corners of the planet, it has been transformed from being a popular dance to an art form recognized throughout the world.
The great influence of people arriving from Europe at the beginning of the 19th century, together with the arrival of black inhabitants, made the city of New Orleans, once in American hands, become the nerve center of a musical style that was growing little by little.
The steps of jazz
The steps of jazz are many and varied. Keep in mind that it is a very free style that plays a lot with improvisation and that it is not determined by a complete score to follow. With all this, jazz is one of the most fun and complicated dances to control, just like the music itself.
– PLié: it is a flex
– Relevé: it is done when a lift occurs
– Pas de buorré: there are three movements that are made in two beats. Tendú plié de cotté in second position, passing through third and fifth position and finishing in second or fourth position.
– I passed: can be open or closed
– Pirouette: ride
– Grand Battement: it is the closest equivalent to the ballet
– Split: spread your legs
– Shek / shimmie: shoulders shake
– Touch: the floor must be touched with the tip of the foot near the other foot
– Slilve: sliding across the floor from a closed leg position to an open one. Then it returns to the closed position
– Kick: blow, mini kick that comes out of a coupe to a jet
– Tander flex: from a pass you go with a quick movement to a Grand battement with the other leg
