PES421 — Jazz Dance
PES 421 - Jazz Dance PES 421 - Jazz Dance Credits/Units: .5 cr. This course is designed to give students a basic understanding and knowledge of Jazz Dance including warm up, across the floor movement and combination and terminology. The course covers the basic steps, vocabulary, and variations of dance in jazz, which is a common form of dance used in musical theater, commercial and entertainment industries, with its roots in social dance and heavily influenced by African-American traditions. Students learn basic techniques based on ballet and modern dance. Through daily warm-ups and exercises, students gain strength, flexibility, endurance, and coordination. Musicality and performance skills are taught through a series of dance combinations. The basic skills of jazz dance are introduced. Emphasis is on technique and development, rhythm awareness, jazz styles, and rhythmic combinations of movement. Students will learn variations of basic leaps and turns, stretching, toning and choreography techniques. Note: (1/2 semester each)