Recently, with the Hip Hop explosion, there has been a renewed interest in | dance. Many dancers come in to train, but don't have a true understanding of what "training" is. The definition has become blurred or misunderstood. It is the instructor's job to educate you and so I would like to define what it is to be a "trained" dancer. I started with ballet and modern and then discovered my passion which is Jazz dance. Jazz dance encompasses many styles from Afro to Ballet, to Latin, to Musical Theater. Hip Hop is not excluded from Jazz. Jazz is constantly changing, yet remains the same. There is one constant and that is to entertain. Students need to have a foundation. They need placement and training in muscle memory in order to avoid injury. They need to know terminology, how to pick up combinations fast, and be flexible so that the body can stretch out when needed. In addition, turns, jumps, kicks etc. are standard practices for all working dancers. Today many dancers aspire to be in videos or become back up dancers. Please know that these dancers are extensively trained. I would like to encourage you to train further in other areas not just for your dancing but for your physical health as well. You only get one body and it should be trained correctly. |