MODERN JAZZ:
FOOT POSITIONS:
Natural 1st: Stand with heels together and legs slightly turned out, from the hip joint.
1st-Full Turn Out: Stand with heels together and both legs fully turned out from the hip joints, ensure the thighs, knees and feet all have the same degree of turn out, allowed by the physique of the dancer.
Parallel 1st: Stand with feet , knees and thighs facing to the front. Both feet in line with each other.
Natural 2nd: Stand with feet apart and legs slightly turned out from the hip joints. Width of the second depends on the physique and exercise value.
Parallel 2nd: Stand legs apart with feet , knees and thighs facing to the front. Both feet in line with each other. Width of 2nd depends on physique and exercise value.
Natural 4th: Stand with one leg in front of the other, both legs slightly turned out from the hip joints.
Parallel 4th: Stand with one leg in front of the other.Feet, knees and thighs facing to the front.
BODY POSITIONS AND MOVEMENTS:
High Release: A feeling of liberating the body. May be sitting or standing woth the abdomen firm, shoulders in place, chest high, the head should poise with eyeline and forehead raised.
Upward Stretch: Body in high release with one or both arms extended and taken up above the head, in line with the ear but not touching.
Expansion: A feeling of power. To spread the upper body sideways with an equal openness of the chest and shoulder blades.
Relaxation: To release all conscious effort from the muscles.
Contraction: A feeling of inner control. to tighten and firm the abdominal muscles creating a pelvic tilt and slight flexion in the knees.
Isolations: A disciplined seperate movement of one part of the body may provide the only movement.
Dynamics: The expressive content of movement, in particular, the way in which energy is used.
Shapes: The spatial contour the body makes.
Plie: Bending of both knees, with thighs, knees and feet remaining in the same direction. Full plie in 1st the heels stay on the floor as long as possible, lifting naturally at the deepest part of the bend. Full plie in 2nd the heels remain on the floor.
Lunge: Feet wide apart, the body's weight over one leg, with the other leg fully extended.
Centering: Using body alignment to maintain one's balance with core stability.
Hurdle Line: Sit extending one leg forward, the other leg bent behind the line of the hips with knee slightly raised off the floor.
Table Back: Body bends forward from the hip joints, the back is straight and parallel to the floor.
Intension: Purpose behind the movement.
Space: Awareness and sensitivity to the surrounding area. To move through the immediate space and beyond.
Bounce: An elevated movement, taken with forceful push away from the floor by first bending the knees, then with strong extension of the legs and feet to become air-borne. Land with resistance.
Buoyant: Continuous motion, a gentle flexing and straightening of the knees, whilst feet remain on the floor.
Line and Curve: Line - A feeling of authority. The body and limbs are fully extended showing sharp definition.
Curve - The body and limbs are rounded showing gentle circular form.
Sitting Attitude: A position sitting with body centred both legs turned out, one leg in front of the body, the other behind the body, in an open square position.
Controlled Breathing: The use of breathing to assist movement and expression.
Hot Foot: Bend L knee, raising R foot off floor, small step onto R foot, bend R knee raising L foot off floor, small step onto L foot with or without weight. Use a rhythmic buoyant knee action throughout. can start by raising L foot.
Foot Patterns: The design or path traced on the floor by the footwork.
Falling Spiral: Commence feet apart with arms extended sideways, twist turn via R lowering body and reaching to the floor with the L hand. Continue to turn and lower to sitting on L hip and then roll via R knees in 'tucked shape' to end sitting on R hip or kneeling on both knees. May be taken to L.
Off Balance: To pitch the body and feel an opposing pull. Stand on one leg with other leg raised abd extended at the side with body in side stretch.
T-Position: Arm, body and raised leg are stretched in a line parallel to the floor.
Y-Position: Body and le make an angle similar to the top of a 'Y' shape.
Jazz Turns: Various turning steps taken on any part of the foot, inwards or outwards, at any level and in any rhythm.
Jazz Pirouettes: Step R slightly out to side on 1/2 toes. Step L slightly out to side on 1/2 toes. Step R slightly behind in parallel 4th knees relaxed. Transfer weight onto L and releve with parallel pirouette position making a single turn. Lower to parallel 1st, knees relaxed. May be taken commencing L.
Jazz Pirouettes Arms: (Two steps to side), arms extended sideways palms down. (Step R in parallel 4th), R arm bends in from the elbow towards the chest palm down. (Releve), bend L arm into chest to match R arm, both palms down. (Lower to 1st), both arms release to sides.
PROGRESSIVES:
Progressive: A movement that travels across the floor in any direction.
Jogging: Running action changing weight through the ball of the foot, legs are parallel with knee coming forward and up. Arms swing in opposition, maintaining a right angled shape and feel weight in the elbows to assist rhythmic action.
Galops: A progressive sideways movement, on the balls of the feet with rhythmic action.
Step & Change: A rhythmic preparation fro triplet forward.
Run: A springing action the back foot lifted with toes aiming for the ceiling and thigh parallel to the floor.
Triplets: Three progressive steps travelling. Basic forward: three steps forward. Basic backward: three steps back. Counts either three equal beats or 1a2. Basic sidways: three steps to the side. (Galop). Change of foot pattern includes crossing or turning etc.
Walks: Body in high release; step onto a relaxed foot, pace coming from the hip with pelvis under.
Drag Run: Long panther like runs, with fully extended back leg and foot. Toes stay on the floor before coming through into the next run.
Step Ho Step with Contraction: Step R, contract from abdominal muscles drawing up L knee (forward and low) with hop on R, and step L. No turn out of either leg. May be taken commencing L.
Bounce Hop Step: Bounce in natural 1st, landing on both feet. Hop on to one leg, lifting the other in an extended line and step.
Heel Extension to Contraction: Extend one leg forward, with heel on floor and foot upturned, weight on other leg. Lower the ball of front foot until flat, transferring the weight, whilst starting to contract. Slide the ball of the back foot through to end with tip of toe on floor, with contraction. Long step forward. (When taken side extension, slide the ball of the side fott through to end with tip of toe on floor with contraction. The step is taken across).
Step Hop Step with Expansion: Step in any direction, hop with body expansion using varied arm and leg lines, followed by a step.
Fall Away: Commence feet flat or on a rise, weight central, adjust weight forwards to change centre, stepping out into a lunge or forward movement. May also be taken backwards or sideways.
Leap: An elevated movement that travels froward, with a feeling of exhileration. Step on to one foot with knee flexed, bring the other leg forward brushing the floor and then lifting. Strong push from the floor, both legs fully extended, land on front leg with resistance through foot and knee.
JAZZ ARMS:
Arms on Circle: Arm extended, the fingertips trace part of a circle. Intro at barre. Commence arm down. Carry arm to side on 1/4 circle extended sideways, palm down.
Arm on Line: Arm bends in and unfolds fingertips trace a straight line. Intro at barre. Commence arm down. Bring the hand in towards chest with elbow lifted, arm unfolds smoothly sideways palm forward
Appeal: Arms curved and taken to a broad open 'V' shape with palms up.
Hand Shakes: A gentle throw with a relaxed hand, moving from the wrist.
Finger Snap: An expressive sound made by the thumb and finger.
Elbow Shape: Line created with focus of energy on the elbow.
Cross Prayer: Arms lifted sideways with the elbows bent and wrists crossed in front of the chest, hands flat with fingers pointing upwards.
Cut Out: Arms bend into the body, with precise action extend hand and arm using a sharp cut through the air.
Bell Pull: Both arms extended up above the head with hands clasped. Smoothly bring the hands down with resistance as if pulling a rope.
Hands - Expansion: Open, extend and spread the fingers.
Hands - Contraction: Bend fingers in towards palm of hand, until clendhed; action should show obvious resistance.
'Guns': Hands clenched, with index finger and thumb extended to make the shape of a gun.
Jazz 1st: Arms lifted sideways with elbows bent, fingers extended with palms facing chest.
Half Parallel Jazz Line: Arms down with elbows bent, fingers extended upwards with palms facing back.
Low Parallel Jazz Line: Arms extended in low parallel palms facing front.
Jazz Ports De Bras: Any artistic use of arm movements, incorporating angles, lines and curves.
Combination: A sequence of movements utilising all the elements of jazz dance. Style and theme inspired by the music.
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