What is jazz dancing?

Question

and how much flexibility does it require? I'm only a tap dancer.

Answer 1

If you love to dance, and it seems that you do, then you will love jazz dancing. It is a cross between modern dance and uses some Fosse jazz dance movements; a combination of both. Most instructors will guide you through warm-up exercises before you dance, so you will be flexible by then. It is good to try new things. Good for you.

Answer 2

Jazz dancing is basically the word for modern stage dancing. If you've seen any of these musicals - Chicago, A Chorus Line, Sweet Charity, Cabaret (in fact, most famous musicals!) - then you've seen jazz dancing.

It was the name for all stage dancing that wasn't ballet or tap, until more specialist dances like hip hop and funk came along.

It doesn't require as much flexibility as ballet if you just want to do it for fun. However if you want to do it professionally, then it requires about the same amount.

As a tap dancer, you should already have the right "feel" for jazz, but you'll need to learn to use your upper body more.

Answer 3

Yep, everyone is right!

I'm not totally sure of the history -- jazz and swing were once interchangable terms for the music.

Cole Porter wrote jazz music and he had b'way shows (like Anything Goes which had a ton of tap).

The 'show dance' of b'way is certainly called jazz dancing.

Jerome Robbins did West Side Story in 1958 at that was pure jazz dancing.

Bob Fosse almost re-invented jazz dance! Whoever mentioned Cabaret, that was a Fosse show (oscar for best director and movie?)

And I must chide you some ... you are not 'only' a tap dancer. You are ESPECIALLY a tap dancer!

Give it a go, it's a lot of fun -- very showy and a lot of "step ball changes". hehe

Answer 4

Jazz is a moden dance.You don't really use steps,you just sort of move.
It takes some flexibility,but all types of dances do!

I am a dancer,trust me.
I take ballet,tap,clogging,jazz,and square dance.They are all quite fun.




People make fun of clogging and square dance,but once they start to do it they can't stop!

I hope you start jazz soon.You will have so much fun!

Good luck!! ; )

Answer 5

jazz takes a little more flexibility than tap but less than ballet. I LOVE tap by the way.

Answer 6

umm jazz has this little lingo of being "broadway" dancing (along with tap)...it stared that way because the majority of broadway musicals involves jazz and tap


but jazz is just a mixture of ballet's techniques, with contemporary's and hip-hop's rythm and style


umm...it requires some flexibility (if you want to be good). I mean, there's a lot of kicks and leaps....A LOT OF THEM