Keeping Kids Active after School: Jazz Dance

Becoming a professional dancer requires dedication, practice, and hard work. But it is also important to start when you are young.

So if you have a child who shows eagerness to become a good dancer, try to enroll him or her in a dance school. This is also a great way to keep your children active after school. There are many benefits of getting your children dance lessons; even it is not there dream to perform on stage. There are also a wide variety of dances to choose from such as ballet, ballroom, and tap dancing. But one type of dance which is becoming more and more popular these days is jazz dance.

Introduction to Jazz Dance
Your child may show an interest for jazz dance when she gets to know how fun the moves are. When it comes do jazz dance, individuality and improvisation are two components which are always emphasized. The truth is there are no limits to the creativity when it comes to jazz dance, and this makes it very appealing to many people.

But how exactly did jazz dance start? According to experts, jazz dance originated from the African slaves brought to America. But the steps are also influenced by European jigs. Some of the unique movements include the “shuffles” and the “Jump Jim Crow” which was originally performed by Thomas Rice in 1928. There was even a time when jazz dancing was closely linked to tap dancing.

Benefits to Jazz Dance
These days, classical ballet is often taught first to jazz dance students in order for them to develop strength and agility. Coordination and balance are other skills that your children will learn as they develop jazz dance skills.

If your child will learn jazz dance, he or she will have to do some leaps, turns and high kicks. But aside from learning the steps, getting your child into jazz dance as an after-school activity is a great way to instill appreciation of music and dance. Jazz dancing is also the perfect substitute activity for kids who don’t really like sports. These kids who do not participate in other sports often find it hard to find a group of friends who share a similar interest. If your child is not aggressive enough to join a sports team, then enrolling him or her to a jazz dance class will allow for a better socialization with other kids who share the same interest in dance.

Jazz classes usually involve pleasurable and cheerful melodies for which students try to execute free style movements. This can also help your child develop creativity and imagination. As oppose to traditional music, jazz dance usually involves stressing the second and fourth beats of the bar. The syncopation of the rhythm is another feature. Your child will certainly enjoy the freedom jazz dance brings.

As your children explore this interesting style of dancing, you will want to be very supportive since it can be quite challenging. It is important to keep always keep the fun in the activity and not pressure your child for results. Remember that there are many benefits to jazz dance (e.g. exercise, self-esteem development, coordination, confidence and socialization) which do not require a perfect technique.

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