Beginning Jazz Dance

by James Robey

Overview

Beginning Jazz Dance is the perfect resource for helping students gain a strong foundation of beginning jazz dance techniques. Written by jazz dance choreographer and professor James Robey, this text prepares students to have a successful experience in a beginning jazz dance technique course. It introduces students to the history, artists, significant works, styles, and aesthetics of the genre so they understand dance as a performing art.

Beginning Jazz Dance features 80 photos accompanied by descriptions that visually present the beginning jazz dance technique and dance concepts that will reinforce and extend classroom learning. It also has related online resources that include 55 photos and 125 video clips of basic jazz dance technique. Students can access these photos and videos at any time for their study or practice and will benefit from the wealth of other resources including assignments, worksheets, glossary terms with and without definitions, interactive chapter quizzes, and web links to help students develop their basic knowledge and skills.

Through the text, students learn these aspects of jazz dance:

• The core concepts of jazz dance, the value of studying jazz dance, and class expectations
• The structure of a jazz dance class, the roles of everyone in the studio, and how to be physically and mentally prepared for class
• Tips on injury prevention, nutrition guidelines, and basic anatomy and kinesiology as applied to movement in jazz dance
• Basic body alignment and positions in jazz dance
• Jazz walks, kicks, turns, leaps, and floor work 

Beginning Jazz Dance provides students with the context, background information, and basic instruction they need in order to understand the genre and appreciate jazz dance as a performing art. This text and companion online resource is ideal for dance majors, dance minors, and general education students enrolled in beginning jazz dance technique courses. It is also suitable for students in performing arts and magnet schools and high school dance programs. 

Beginning Jazz Dance is a part of Human Kinetics’ Interactive Dance Series. The series includes resources for ballet, modern, tap, jazz, musical theater, and hip-hop dance that support introductory dance technique courses taught through dance, physical education, and fine arts departments. Each student-friendly text has related online learning tools including video clips of dance instruction, assignments, and activities. The Interactive Dance Series offers students a collection of guides to learning, performing, and viewing dance.

Note: A code for accessing HKPropel is included with all new print books.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781450468947
Publisher:	Human Kinetics Publishers
Publication date:	12/28/2015
Series:	Interactive Dance Series
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

James Robey, MFA, is assistant professor of dance and department chair at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he received the Messing Faculty Award in 2015. He was director of the prestigious Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance for 10 years, during which he also created the Robey Jazz Dance Technique and Syllabus. He has taught as faculty or adjunct faculty at numerous universities, schools for the performing arts, and dance studios.

Robey was artistic director and company artist for James Robey Dance for 14 years. He has danced for many companies, beginning his dance career in 1990. He has also acted as choreographer for numerous ballets and dance ensembles over the years, and he has presented at conferences and written numerous articles on jazz dance and related topics.

Robey is on the board of directors of the American College Dance Association and is a member of the National Dance Education Organization, National Association of Schools of Dance, and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction to Jazz Dance
Defining Jazz Dance
Benefits of Studying Jazz Dance
Jazz Class Expectations and Etiquette
Summary

Chapter 2. Preparing for Class
Dressing for Class
Attire for Women
Carrying Dance Gear
Preparing Yourself Mentally and Physically
Jazz Dance Class Structure 
Roles of the Teacher, Musician, and Students
Summary

Chapter 3. Safety and Health
Studio Safety
Personal Safety
Basic Anatomy and Kinesiology
Preventing and Treating Common Dance Injuries
Nutrition, Hydration, and Rest
Summary

Chapter 4. Learning and Performing Jazz Technique
Learning Movement Technique
Analyzing Movement Skills
Honing Musicality and Rhythmic Skills
Enhancing Performance in Class
Developing a Performance Attitude
Summary

Chapter 5. Basic Jazz Positions
Body Alignment
Positions of the Feet
Positions of the Arms
Hand Positions
Positions of the Body
Studio and Stage Directions
Summary

Chapter 6. Basic Jazz Techniques
Getting Started 
Basic Warm-Up Techniques \7 videos\
Basic Isolation Techniques \7 videos\
Basic Coordination Techniques\7 videos\
Basic Conditioning Techniques \15-18 videos\
Summary

Chapter 7. In the Center and Across the Floor 
Exercises in the Center
Exercises Across the Floor
Types of Combinations 
Summary

Chapter 8 .History of Jazz Dance
Development of Jazz Dance as a Performing Art
Jazz Dance Forms and Styles 
Viewing Jazz Dance Performances
Summary

Interviews

Text for undergraduate or upper-level high school courses.