What we are Working On: Updates in A3/Jazz Dance

For the remainder of the semester, dance students will focus on previously learned skills and jazz dance technique, demonstrate and apply knowledge of dance vocabulary and terminology, as well as work on recall and memorization of the structure of a jazz dance class and jazz dance exercises. Dance students will finish up their Jazz Choreography projects as well as work on Dance Journal topics daily. These Jazz Choreography projects and Dance journal assignments will culminate in a two-part student presentation that will count as their final exam grade. Dance students will present their short dance pieces and participate in a modern improvisation piece during an in-class showcase at the end of the semester.
Please see the overview of the class lesson plans  for April-May below.
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JAZZ DANCE A3
WARM-UP, CENTER AND ACROSS THE FLOOR EXERCISES
OBJECTIVE: To work on previously learned skills and jazz dance technique, demonstrate and apply knowledge of dance vocabulary and terminology, work on recall and memorization of the structure of a jazz dance class and dance exercises
The process of these student-directed exercises will challenge how well the students know their ballet terminology and recall ballet exercises. Dance captains will sharpen their leadership and demonstration skills.
 
PROCEDURE: The teacher will first read out the ballet steps in sequence to the Dance Captain and the class. Next, the class must execute the exercises with music, as the Dance Captain leads, calls out and demonstrates the exercises. All exercises have been previously done in class. This will
Dance Captains: Ter’Schard Harris, Cleo Atwater
Music: Dance Captain will find any appropriate (no cursing or inappropriate words, bad language or sexual lyrics) music selection on YouTube
 
I. WARM-UP
1. ISOLATIONS
-head rolls/roll downs
-shoulder rolls forward and back
-chest/torso isolations front, side, back, side
-hip isolations front side, back, side
2. PLIES
-2 demi plies and one grand plie
-parallel in 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th positions
-turned out in 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th positions
3. TENDUS
-from 5th position, 2 slow tendus, then 4 quick tendus, front, side, back, then side
-parallel front, side, back, side
-repeat from 5th position, 2 slow tendus, then 4 quick tendus, front, side, back, then side
-turned out front, side, back, side
4. LEG SWINGS/DEGAGES EN CLOCHE
-Right then left for eight counts each
-front, side, back, side on right leg then left leg
 
II. CENTER EXERCISES
STUDENTS SHOULD GET INTO THREE OR FOUR ROWS FACING THE MIRRORS, SPREAD OUT, CENTER FLOOR. DANCE CAPTAINS WILL STAND FRONT AND CENTER TO LEAD AND DEMONSTRATE.
 
1. Kicks/Grand Battements
-from 5th position right foot in front, 4 grand battements (kicks) front, side, back, side
-back to 5th position left foot in front, repeat on the left side
2. Turns/Pirouettes
Parallel
-from 5th position right foot in front
-on the right leg, second, fourth, passe, close 5th position
-on the left leg, second, fourth, passe, close 5th position
-repeat on the right leg, second, fourth, single pirouette (turn), close 5th position
-repeat on the left leg, second, fourth, single pirouette (turn), close 5th position
-repeat with double right and left
-repeat with single inside turn right and left
-soutenou
-repeat whole exercise beginning left
REPEAT ENTIRE EXERCISE TURNED OUT
 
5. FLEXIBILITY STRETCHES
-students will do floor stretches on their own or with a partner for 5-10 minutes
 
III. ACROSS THE FLOOR JAZZ EXERCISES
STUDENTS SHOULD GET INTO THREE VERTICAL LINES BY THE WINDOWED SIDE OF THE ROOM (near the cubbies) AND PREPARE TO MOVE ACROSS THE FLOOR, THREE STUDENTS AT A TIME. (Lines are to be straight and each line should be arms width apart.) STUDENTS SHOULD REPEAT EACH EXERCISE ON THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT SIDES. DANCE CAPTAINS WILL LEAD AND DEMONSTRATE ACROSS THE FLOOR FIRST.
1. Jazz walks, runs, pas de bourrees
-dance captain should call out and lead
2. Pique Turns
-2 piques, 2 pique turns, saute leap, to 4th position, double pirouette
-back to 5th position left foot in front, repeat on the left side
3. Chaines Turns
-2 chaines turns, step L, develop R, tombe, pas de bourre, glissade, pas de chat
-repeat whole exercise beginning left
4. Attitude jumps
-dance captain should call out and lead
5. Leaps
-continuous saut de chat leaps across the floor
-2nd leaps
-Calypsos
 
AT THE COMPLETION OF ALL BALLET EXERCISES AND STRETCHES, STUDENTS WILL COMPLETE DANCE JOURNAL ACTIVITIES AND/OR ONLINE ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CLASS PERIOD.

JAZZ DANCE
DANCE JOURNAL TOPICS
Objective: The purpose of these journal assignments is to help further stimulate critical thinking skills, practice reflection, and to deepen student perspective. These components will help students to develop or strengthen their voice, which will contribute to their growth as articulate young artists. These topics will serve as the catalyst for student expression through dance, of their views on these topics as well as various other social issues, and for generating stories through movement. These exercises will culminate in an in-class jazz improvisation showcase that the students will participate in at the end of the semester.
Procedure: You will take the last 30 minutes of class to write in your dance journal. The front portion of your journal is where you will write short essays explaining your perspective on given topics.
 
Journal 1 ALREADY COMPLETED
Why do you think building a sense of community is good? What are some benefits of building a community? How can you contribute to building a greater sense of community within the dance program? Think of some things you can do to help.
Journal 2 (4/24, 4/26)
How can you contribute to a good learning environment? What good does it do for you?
Journal 3 (5/1, 5/3)
What does it make you think and how do you feel when you see students being rude to each other and/or your teachers? How does it make you feel when students do things they shouldn't do at school like being disrespectful, not following directions, fighting, etc.?
Journal 4 (5/8, 5/10)
What can you contribute to your school? What are the benefits of giving back to your school? How excited are you to participate in other school events?