“The largest growing dance program in the school! This program offers dancers the chance to learn the most up-to-date hip hop styles while maintaining their jazz dance syllabus.”

HIP HOP DANCE refers to dance styles, mainly street dance styles, primarily danced to hip hop music, or that have evolved as a part of the hip hop culture.

The first and original dance associated with hip hop is breakdance, which appeared in New York City during the early 1970s and truly became a cornerstone (or "element") of hip hop as a culture. In the 1990s, as hip hop music took new forms, new dance styles began appearing, most of them danced in an upright manner in contrast to breakdance with its many ground moves.
 

Elements of Hip Hop

Widely referred to amongst the Hip Hop community as 'The Four Elements of Hip Hop', Hip Hop culture is usually considered to centre on the following 4 activities:

- Breakdancing
- Graffiti
- DJing
- MCing

These later styles are sometimes referred to as new school or new style while the older styles, including breakdance and various funk styles that were incorporated into hip hop, are considered old school.

Hip hop dancing is evolving in many different directions today, heavily influenced by the evolution of hip hop music and its popularity in media, surrounded by heated debates on history and authenticity.

However, despite the controversy, studio-choreographed hip hop is still widely accepted today by many.

JAZZ DANCE is an umbrella term that can refer to several related dance styles. All of them are connected via common roots, namely tap,ballet,irish folk dance(clog), jazz music, and African-American rhythms and dance.
 

Why is that Jazz Dance?

Jazz Dance began as the popular dance moves of the early 1900's. At the time, jazz music was the popular music heard on the radio. The dance steps took on the name jazz because of jazz music. There, that wasn't so hard, was it? Pretty simple actually. Yet, that leads us to another question, does the dancing we call jazz today fit its name?

Ballet is easy to recognize. As soon as you see the turned out feet, hair in a bun, and fancy arms, you know that you are watching ballet. Jazz is tougher to figure out. It is a label we put on dances seen in Broadway shows, MTV videos, concert dance companies like Hubbard Street, street dancers, drill teams, and tap dancers. While these styles seem very different, they all have a common root.

The key elements of jazz music are syncopation, individual style, and improvisation. The original jazz dancing carried these same elements. Syncopation is what gives jazz music and dancing its edge and excitement. It is not monotonous and dry. Changes happen often and are unexpected. Sudden.

The various styles of jazz dance have grown from the emphasis on individual style and improvisation. As seen in the hip-hop dancers of today, jazz dance emphasizes individual expression. Each teacher, dancer, and choreographer brings a unique style into the mix. Conformity is frowned upon.

In addition to syncopation and individuality, connection with the music is another element of jazz dance. The music and the dance go hand in hand. Jazz dance directly expresses the music; whether it is jazz, blues, or rap.

CLASS DESCRIPTION

As a teacher of Jazz and Hip Hop Dance Technique, we strive to develop dancers equipped for today’s demands. While preparing their bodies for the rigorous complexity of the physical work, we also encourage - and indeed require - a student’s active and creative participation. We constantly challenge the dancers to investigate limits while questioning their understanding of weight, space, time and quality. Teaching contemporary and modern dance from a world’s point of view, our technique classes will often focus on exploring the world upside down: discovering strength and mobility, phrasing and continuity in an inverted vernacular.

To prepare for this new orientation, class includes varied cross-training techniques to further anatomical knowledge, reach cardio-fitness and improve muscular strength and control. We design classes that reflect my knowledge of modern (jazz and hip hop) dance styles, current dance trends and dance sciences that will train the novice dancer and challenge the experienced mover. We train dancers both as athletes and artists, Inspiring themselves and thrilling each other with physical prowess and daring, each dancer is provided a safe and supporting environment to identify and appreciate their own unique voice.
 

CLASS FORMAT

Warm-up / 15 minutes - includes stretching and body toning
Center Floor Barre -
• plies
• tendus
• degages
• battements
• develops
• improvisation

Across the Floor - traveling movement through space using various speeds
Combination - movement with music using different styles of jazz and hip hop.