Dance is an incredible outlet for children full of energy looking for a way to express themselves. One of the most popular dance forms is dynamic and upbeat jazz. This high-energy style is constantly featured in movies, music videos, and commercials. With principles similar to ballet, this upbeat technique is famous for its fancy footwork, big leaps, and quick turns. Here is a guide to jazz and how your dancer would benefit from dance classes.

Benefits of Jazz 

Dance classes of any kind work wonders for a child's self confidence and creativity. Performing in front of peers or an audience helps a young dancer harness their grace and poise. Physically, jazz can help a child build strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility.

Additionally, a child learns the importance of teamwork, with the benefit of meeting other children with the same passion and interests. This engaging form of physical fitness requires strengthening mental skills for learning new techniques or choreography. This artform is a healthy outlet that allows for creative expression, imagination, and stress relief.

How to Dress for the Class

Jazz requires light-footed moves and lightning-fast steps, which makes the right clothing essential. Baggy clothing can make it difficult to move and for instructors to spot proper technique. Dancers should wear fitted shorts, leggings, or a leotard along with a fitted top, tank, or crop top. Jazz students wear jazz shoes that match their unique skin tone with hair pulled back from their face and neck. 

What to Expect in Jazz Class

The format, music and dance steps of this fun class may vary slightly from week to week, keeping your dancer engaged while learning. A jazz class typically consists of a warm-up using isolated movements, across the floor progressions to work on style and technique, and current choreography. And of course, all of this is set to age appropriate music. Dancers also perform in a year-end dance recital wearing a fun jazz costume that allows easy movement, matches the theme of their dance and helps them shine on stage.  

If your child is interested in any type of dance, turn to the professional dance instructors of Rhythm Dance Center Inc. in Marietta, GA. Since 1993, this studio has offered a wide range of dance classes for dancers from preschool age to adults. With nearly 1,200 enrolled students and 175 different weekly classes to attend across two locations, every dancer can find their own creative outlet through dance. Along with their classes, this dance studio hosts multiple summer camps and a family-friendly year-end show to let the students show off what they’ve learned. To learn more about their classes, call (770) 998-6507 or visit the website.