Do Formations in Jazz Dancing
Jazz dancing is a strong style of dancing. Where ballet appears to be soft and flowing, jazz dancing is sharper and edgier. One of the reasons jazz is so compelling to watch is the various formations that the dance itself takes on. Use the following suggestions to apply to your jazz group to do formations in jazz dancing.
Instructions
1. Work with your dance students to figure out the various strengths and weaknesses of the dancers. You will want to keep each dancer's ability in mind when choreographing your jazz dance formations.
2. Select the music that you plan to choreograph a jazz dance routine to. There are many ranges in jazz music. The music can be very modern or from another era. The choreography and formations will depict the mood or theme of the music of the era.
3. Listen to the music while sketching out various formations on paper. Visualize where you want each jazz dancer to be at what beat in the music. Count the music to know how many steps you will need to choreograph from section to section of the music to complete a routine. If you visualize an ending pose formation with part of the dancers doing one thing and the others doing something else, plan it out, so you can then explain and direct the jazz dancers to learn dance the formation.
4. Practice your jazz routines many times to solidify in their memories. There can be many formations within one routine. Include just a few or all the dancers in each formation. There could be one large formation or three or four small formations. It doesn't matter, as long as they all flow with the music and combine to make a well choreographed jazz routine.
