Welcome to my Jazz master class! I asked DanceStarr if I could be a guest teacher to get this board rolling again. So here we are! My name is Emmy, I’m 17, and I’ve been doing jazz for 10 years now. I hope you’re all ready for a workout!
*NOTE: I abbreviate R for right and L for left.
Floor stretches: How to Save a Life~ The Fray
Sit up tall in butterfly position. Take 2 counts for each of the next movements: contract stomach/lower back, bend all the way over legs in contraction, straighten back and look forward (still bent over legs), sit straight up again. Repeat once more, and then do the same reversed, 2x.
Straighten legs in front of you and point feet. Lean all the way over legs, grabbing ankles or feet, and hold for 8 counts.
Sit up tall and stack R foot flexed on top of L. Grab R foot with both hands and pull it toward you with back straight. Hold for 8 counts. Now hold foot with L hand, pull it into the air and twist upper body to the R, reaching back with right arm. Hold for 8 counts. (Repeat all to the left)
Open legs to a straddle and stretch over to R with L arm curved over. (Hold this and all of the following positions for 4 counts.) Still leaning over to the R, reach back with L arm and twist upper body to L as well. Now, face R knee and stretch over leg with both forearms on the floor. Slide upper body over to stretch to the center. Slide over to the left, and repeat whole sequence on the other side.
Sit straight in straddle and point toes. Flex R foot and bend knee, then straighten knee and point foot using 2 counts total. Repeat 2x on each side, then do both legs at a time, 4x.
Lie down on back with legs straight in front of you, bring R leg up bent to chest, and pull it in for 8 counts. Straighten leg and pull it close to your body by the calf for 8 counts. Repeat, then pull leg to the side and return to original position with legs straight. Do the same with L leg.
Flip over onto stomach and push yourself up into a cobra to stretch out your back.
Standing Warm up: My Love~ Justin Timberlake
Stand with feet together, parallel. Plié and stretch 2x, plié, roll through arches, relevé, lower (8 counts total). Reverse: relevé 2x, relevé, plié w/ forced arch, lower in plié, stretch (8 counts). Turn feet out in 1st position and repeat.
From 1st position, tendu and close 3x (plié on third time closing), relevé and lower. Repeat en croix on right and left, then repeat all with dégagés.
With feet shoulder width apart, roll down for 4 counts and grab ankles, pulling body closer to legs for 4 counts. Hang out here for 8 counts. Let arms hang down loosely and swing upper body back and forth a few times, letting gravity pull you down (8 counts). Now, plié deeply and stretch, 2x (taking 2 counts to go down, 2 to come up). Come up to a flat back forward, reaching forward with arms. Hold for 4 counts, move to reach to the right, center, left, center (2 counts each), then let body drop and roll up (4 counts).
Bring L leg behind you to lunge in the runner’s stretch, hands on the floor. Hold for 8 counts, and then straighten legs in an A-frame to hold for 8 more counts. From the A-frame, lift L leg in the air behind you in an attitude. Completely open up your hips for a good stretch (8 counts). Straighten your leg in a pencil and lower it slowly (8 counts).
If you're ready, ease down into R split, hold, and then L split.
Is that enough stretching? Let's go on!
Across the Floor
If you have a big enough area, you’ll be able to do all of this part. If not, do what space allows or feel free to skip ahead to the dance.
Sequence 1: The Heart of the Matter~ India.Arie
Pique turn, double pique turn
1-4
Chaine turn in plié, fan kick with R leg; arms open from 5th position (don’t step down on R leg yet)
7-8
Tombé, pas de bourrée to place 4th in plié
1-4
Double pirouette, axel jump out of it (L leg tucks, R leg stays in passe); on count 8, extend R leg forward to go into pique turns again
5-8
Sequence 2: Irreplaceable~ Beyonce
Facing front, jazz walk to the right (step right, cross left over) for 4 steps
1-4
Touch R foot in dig next to L, step out to side on R foot, and pas de bourrée turning around to the L; end in 4th position with L front to prepare for turns
5-8
Double or triple pirouette with R leg up, parallel; extend leg forward and fouette turn 2x
1-6
Step out of fouettes into chasse R, step L, and grande jeté (or leap of choice) R
7-8, 1
Combination: All Nite~ Janet Jackson
Start facing back and begin right when music starts
Circle neck to the R
1-4
Circle neck and shoulders start to go with it
5-8
Circle entire upper body
1-4
Touch R toe next to L, lunge out on R, turning pas de bourrée to L to face front (do whatever you want w/ arms )
5,6, 7-8
Chaine turn to R, fan kick R w/ LA coming to 5th position
1-2, 3-4
Step onto R leg and tuck L under to roll to the floor, ending facing front and sitting on knees
5-8
Slap knees with hands
1
Kneel up and throw arms in the air, looking up
2
Swing arms to the R and down
3
Lift L knee off the floor to an inverted attitude; arms swing through and reach toward the L
4
Tuck L leg and roll toward the back to face the R wall, crossing R leg over L
5-6
Stand on R leg and place L leg on the ground, feet wide apart; body is contracted over w/ hands on the floor in front of you
7-8
Bring arms overhead while standing up with a flat back
1-4
Run backward to L corner in three steps: L-R-L
5-&-6
Jump and do a 360 degree turn in the air with R leg crossing tightly over L; land in 2nd position in plié (arms can do whatever you like)
7-8
Step R, cross L over; R arm curves in front of body, LA stretched out to side
1-2
Chainé turn in plié to R into a jeté-attitude leap (R leg straight, LL in attitude behind you); LA in 5th, RA in 2nd.
3-6
Facing front, jump together with arms crossed in front of body
7
X-jump (R leg goes as high as you can get it, L leg goes out to side) and land on LL in plié, RF in coupe back
8
Walk anywhere you want to for 8 counts (improv); on count 8, step forward on R in 4th position to prepare for turns
1-8
Double pirouette, extend leg forward to prepare for fouetté turns;
1-&-2
5 fouetté turns; on 6th, bring leg behind you to attitude turn
3-8, 1-6
Step out on R in lunge, touch L toe to side
7-8
And that's it! Hope you enjoyed the class
