Fitness review: Let your inner performer shine with beginner jazz

It’s time to step back into the dance studio team, and beginner jazz is where it’s at! Don’t forget to bring your sass.

We’re fortunate in Queensland we have minimal COVID-19 restrictions, and classes are back on in gyms and studios. For those that have been following the blog for awhile and my socials, you’ll know I love to dance.

The strength, grace and coordination required, coupled with the mental concentration to remember choreography, is why dance is one of my favourite ways to exercise.

Dance Magazine says the term ‘jazz’ now incorporates a broad range of dance styles and develops in parallel to popular music, which means its ever evolving and fresh. Mia Michaels is a well known choreographer that’s infused contemporary dance with jazz. Click here to see a stunning piece she created back in 2012 for So You Think You Can Dance.

And did I mention it’s ridiculously fun? If you love broadway, and would take part in a flashmob, beginner jazz is right up your alley.

The details

Duration: 60 minutes
Location: Mad Dance House, Adelaide Street, Brisbane CBD
Style: Beginner class. It does help if you have a little coordination. If not, all good, the priority first and foremost is fun!
Cost: $20 casual drop in
Who’s there: Predominantly women, a few men, ages 20 to 40s
What to wear: tights, shorts, tees, crops – anything that’s easy to move in. Gym shoes/trainers are ok or jazz shoes if you have them. Bring a towel and water.

What to expect

I say this about every dance class. Don’t be fooled – there is a lot of athleticism that’s involved and jazz is no different when it comes to getting your heart rate going. As jazz also fuses with other dance genres, there is a level of intricacy in executing steps that makes concentration important. Luckily, as a beginner class, when in doubt you can just dance it out and anything goes!

Class starts with an energetic warm-up and deep stretches, priming you for the dance sequence you’re about to learn next. Cardio is the focus here – warming up shoulders, arms, hips, hamstrings, quads, inner thighs, calves and feet. Once warm, the teacher then demonstrates the sequence you will learn, stepping through in counts of eight, and building up the sequence slowly. Each set of 8 is repeated several times, then put together by the end of class for a full routine that’s performed as a whole, or in small groups.

Three moves you’re likely to do

Hip swivel – down right awkward, but looks extremely sexy when mastered. This move is about isolation. It involves lifting the hip bone up, and rotating it out and around, before dropping it back down.

Fan kick – make sure you’re warmed up for this one. Start by performing a ball change (shifting your weight by stepping from the ball of one foot to the other) in a parallel position, then kick (elegantly extend) the leg out and across in front of you like a fan.

Classic jazz pirouette – similar to ballet in the preparation, the knee however goes to the front of the body, not out to side when completing the turn. Make sure your gaze is centred on one stationery point as you turn to nail your pirouette.

What I liked?

The camaraderie, music, energy and feeling of accomplishment at the end of class.

What I didn’t like?

How long it takes me to pick up choreography. I am very much a visual learner, but when it comes to dance, I like to see the whole routine first, before it’s taught and broken down into frames.

What track was playing in this workout?

Our awesome choreo was to Canned Heat (Just Dance) by Jamiorquai.