This yearlong introductory course is designed to build a joyful and confident foundation in jazz dance for young movers. Students will explore the core elements of jazz technique—posture, rhythm, isolations, and expressive movement—through energetic warm-ups, across-the-floor progressions, creative improvisation, and age-appropriate choreography.

Throughout the class, dancers will grow in flexibility, coordination, musicality, and performance presence while developing a strong technical base. Weekly activities will emphasize whole-body awareness, timing, spatial understanding, and collaborative group work. Students will be introduced to classic jazz steps and styles in a way that encourages curiosity, discipline, and fun.

The course is structured in three progressive units:
Unit 1: Dance Technique and Foundational Skills
Unit 2: Artistry, Style, and Choreographic Interpretation
Unit 3: Stage Presence, Ensemble Awareness, and Expressive Confidence

Students will have two special opportunities to share their progress with family during our informal “Family Night: Inside the Studio” events, held at the end of each semester (December and May). These evenings are designed to let families step into the studio and see firsthand what their student has been learning and experiencing each week, and to provide a celebratory atmosphere for students to showcase their growth and skills.

Class Objectives:

1. Demonstrate understanding of basic jazz technique including isolations, jazz walks, turns, kicks, and jumps
2. Move confidently across the floor with awareness of direction, space, and level
3. Express musicality and emotion through dynamic movement and age-appropriate choreography
4. Learn and apply introductory dance vocabulary and movement terminology
5. Collaborate in group dancing with unison, spatial awareness, and peer support
6. Interpret music with varied qualities of movement (sharp vs. smooth, fast vs. slow)
7. Practice improvisation and self-expression with creativity and courage
8. Perform learned choreography with enthusiasm, character, and stage presence during informal family observation events

Instructional Tone: Playful, upbeat, and encouraging—focused on exploration, musicality, and confidence
Activities: Warm-ups, across-the-floor drills, center combinations, improvisation games, and expressive group work
Skills Focus: Jazz vocabulary, coordination, rhythm, teamwork, performance presence
Performance Readiness: Group performance of a short jazz combination with flexible structure, shared during informal "Inside The Studio" events

Aligned National Core Arts Standards (Dance):
Creating:
DA:Cr1.1 — Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work (improvisation, creativity)
DA:Cr2.1 — Organize and develop artistic ideas and work (learning choreography and technique)
Performing:
DA:Pr5.1 — Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation (basic jazz technique, movement quality)
DA:Pr6.1 — Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work (expressing musicality, emotion, and character)
Responding:
DA:Re7.1 — Perceive and analyze artistic work (movement quality, group collaboration)
DA:Re8.1 — Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work (musical interpretation and character)
Connecting:
DA:Cn10.1 — Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art (self-expression, courage)
DA:Cn11.1 — Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding (age-appropriate dance vocabulary)