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Are you a fan of films like "Chorus Line" and "Hello, Dolly", and also just adore Broadway productions? So, you are a representative of a large army of fans of the Broadway musical - the whole world that conquered America and created a separate genre theatrical art and dance is an integral part of it. Broadway Jazz is a real theater where roles are performed as freely as possible, and creativity is not limited by rigid boundaries. It combines the natural immediacy of jazz dance with the showmanship and sophistication of Broadway productions. And spectacular clear poses, rotations, turns and jumps, free body movements, rhythm and emotionality, together with groovy music, will turn the lesson into a real performance!

African origins

There is an opinion that jazz dance came to us from Africa, and it is based on Negro rhythms. The heyday of this style took place in the sixties, along with the heyday of jazz music. And until now, he continues to develop, combining the technique of the past with extraordinary ideas. In the USA, jazz was filled with new content, bringing into it the folklore of many nationalities. And for musical productions on Broadway, the dance was “enriched” with elements of modern, swing, hip-hop, funk, step and other styles.

Broadway jazz classes

This dance perfectly combines technicality and entertainment. And it may seem that the movements of Broadway jazz - spectacular arm extension, kicks, slides, jumps - are easy to perform. In fact, it takes hard work and long hours of practice to master the technique of this dance. But when the peak is reached, contemplating your dance, an outside observer will have an amazing and wonderful feeling: as if the music flies through the dancer.

Broadway jazz classes can be started at any age. Everyone will find their own “zest” in this dance: Broadway jazz will instill in children a love for dance art, adults will be enchanted with clear and smooth movements and conquer with its beauty.
Dress for classes in comfortable and non-restricting clothing. Elastic pants, a top, a tank top, a tight T-shirt or a gymnastic leotard are ideal. And it is better to put on jazz shoes, ballet flats or non-slip socks.

Being engaged in Broadway jazz, you will not only noticeably improve coordination of movements and the ability to control your body, rest from the heart and be able to keep yourself in good shape (during this type of dance, a special load falls on the muscles of the back and buttocks), but also develop musicality and a sense of rhythm. After all, Broadway jazz is a simultaneous movement of the soul and body, the ability to express in dance what you feel.
Therefore, if you decide to take up dancing, not even seriously, but just for yourself, be sure to do it. And then, at least, having mastered the key moments of Broadway jazz, you can feel like a hero of a musical!

Expert comment

Tatyana Denisova, choreographer of the Release Dance Complex:

How everything is clearly and correctly noted, that one could say “I don’t know what else to add”, but I just can’t help expressing my emotions for this dance direction. It can't even be called just a dance - it's an art! For Broadway jazz, it is not enough to have a stretch and know the whole basis of the dance, here you have to be an actor! Incredible charisma, confident look ... oh, even the very thought of it is already crazy.
Now you can come to your senses a little and add about a few features of the Broadway jazz technique. It is here that you will learn to coordinate movements with the rhythm of the music, frequent movements of the hips and pelvis will give the dance a special expressiveness, you will learn to feel your body with the help of isolated movements (the mobility of one part of the body, while the other remains motionless or moves in the opposite direction) - one gets the impression that the music passes not only through the body of the dancer, but also through his soul, heart! It really takes a lot of effort to dance Broadway jazz, but if you love it, then you will succeed!

We all go to work, go on vacation, spend evenings reading a book in bed, or with friends - we live, but try to take classes in Broadway jazz! Bring some madness into your life!

Broadway jazz - variation known direction

In the twentieth century, not only Musical direction jazz, but also a dance of the same name. During the development and formation, he received a lot of substyles. Today in this article we will talk about the most spectacular and memorable variation of this dance - Broadway jazz.

Broadway Jazz

The concept of "Broadway jazz" was not formed immediately. Today we can say that this sub-style appeared in the twenties, but it acquired a clear outline after several popular musicals on Broadway. After all, it was Broadway jazz that formed the basis of such legendary productions as “ West Side Story”, “Cats” or “Chicago”. Musicals became popular one after another, and a new sub-style of jazz was getting clearer and clearer.

Similarities to Afro Jazz

Broadway jazz was considered the basis of most musicals of the 20s. Interesting technique the audience liked the dance, and they were glad to see her different interpretations in each new production. If we analyze only the technical side of the issue, then most of the movements are very similar to Afro-Jazz. Significant differences lay not in technology, but in the direction given. So, if in Afro-jazz great attention has always been paid to performing skills and its unity with the performer, then Broadway jazz was a riot of colors, outrageous, theatrical. This variation of the direction was designed to surprise the viewer with its beauty, brightness and style.

Differences in technology

Analyzing the differences in technique, one should note the predominance of polyrhythm and polycentry in Broadway jazz. Polycentric involves the occurrence of movements in different parts of the dancer's body, and polyrhythm emphasizes movements that are performed at a different frequency from each other.
Broadway Jazz- energetic, expressive and imaginative dance, which appeared as a result of mixing ballet with such styles of dance as modern, swing, hip-hop, afro, breakdance, funky. Broadway jazz is a dance-performance, where the expression of the personality of the role being played is as free as possible, where there is a huge number of means of expression dance, where your creativity is not limited by rigid limits. It combines the natural immediacy of jazz dance and the spectacle and polish of Broadway productions. Spectacular clear poses, rotations, turns and jumps, free body movements, rhythm and emotionality, together with groovy music, turn the lesson into a real performance!

If you are in love with Broadway musicals or dream, at least for a moment, of becoming their hero, the TRIUMPH Dance Studio is waiting for you!

Broadway jazz - what is it?

It is believed that jazz dance was created by Africans and African Americans, and the technique is based on Negro folklore mixed with dances of other emigrants living in the United States. The heyday of this style took place in the sixties, along with the heyday of jazz music. It continues to evolve to this day, combining the techniques of the past with extraordinary ideas.

The basic principles of jazz dance are similar to the principles of jazz in music - they are improvisation, polyrhythm and polycentry. Improvisations follow from the very nature of African dance, so well-known jazz dancers who organized their jazz dance schools became the founders of a new direction. They created certain approaches to teaching dance, developed sets of movements and their combinations, giving a peculiar flavor to the performances of each jazz school. And the terms appeared - "Mutt Matoks technique", "Luigi Jazz", "Simons Jazz" ...

Broadway jazz is very versatile. Characteristic features jazz are - coordination of movements with the rhythm of music; the use of syncopation - the rhythm between strong beats of music; in Broadway jazz, hip and pelvic movements are often used, which gives the dance a special expressiveness; isolated movements - the mobility of only one part of the body, while the whole body remains stationary or moves in the opposite direction. Spectacular withdrawal of hands, kicks, slips, jumps - this is far from full list the most popular elements of Broadway jazz.

Is the art of Broadway jazz accessible to everyone or the property of the elite?

You can play jazz regardless of age, height and weight. Everyone will find their own “zest” in this dance: Broadway jazz will instill in children a love for dance art, it will enchant adults with its clear and smooth movements, and will conquer with its beauty. It takes hard work and long hours of practice to master the technique of this dance. Because jazz movements require a lot of back and pelvic tension, Broadway jazz is not recommended for children under 12 years of age.

Being engaged in Broadway jazz, you will not only noticeably improve coordination of movements and the ability to control your body, develop musicality and a sense of rhythm, master the arts acting skills, but also rest from the heart, keeping yourself in good shape. Knowledge of the basic jazz technique and the art of presenting yourself in dance will certainly help you in any situation.