Jazz Dance Unit
Vocabulary
2 Types of Movement
Locomotor: Movements that take
the body from one point to another.
Travel through space
Examples:
Step
Run
Hop
Jump
Grapevine
Leap
2 Types of Movement
Nonlocomotor: Movements that the body
can do and still stay in one place.
Performed standing or sitting, no travel
Examples:
Push / Pull
Balance
Rise / Fall
Stretch
Twist
Turn
Nonlocomotor Jazz Moves
Ball change: The transfer of weight from one foot to the
other on the ball of the foot.
Fan kick: A movement in which the leg makes a
sweeping arch through space. It crosses in front of the
body and sweeps to make a half circle before touching
the ground.
Isolation: A movement of one part of the body.
Pirouette: To whirl or spin. This may be performed in a
parallel or turned out position.
Locomotor Jazz Moves
Grapevine: A traveling series of steps that cross in front and
in back and moves sideways in direction.
Jazz slide: A movement that is initiated in the hip. A step on
one foot while dragging the other leg along the floor.
Jazz square: A movement consisting of four walking steps
performed in a square (forward, cross, backward and side)
Jazz walk: An exchange of weight from one foot to another
with the hip leading usually done on plie (with bent knees)
Locomotor Jazz Moves
Low chaine: A turn performed in plie moving from second to
first position with the feet. This is usually a preparation step for
another turn jump or leap. (i.e. double or single stag)
Pas de bouree: A three step movement that can be done
various ways (over, under, turning) This movement includes a
ball change and is a typical preparation for our pirouette.
Pivot: A movement performed on the balls of both feet,
quickly changing the direction of the body.
Locomotor Jazz Moves
Straddle roll: A movement performed on the floor in
which both legs fan through the air to toll the body from
one side to the other.
Tuck jump: A hop in which one leg is lifted and bent in a
parallel position and the other leg pushes off the floor to
meet the other leg in the air.
Watch Examples
Ball change
Grapevine
Low chaine
Fan kick
Jazz slide
Pas de bouree:
Isolation
Jazz square
Pivot
Pirouette
Jazz walk:
Straddle roll
Tuck jump