Wildwood Dance and Arts Jazz Curriculum is based on a variety of influences from its diverse professional staff. Katherine Dunham, Gus Giordano, Bob Fosse, Twyla Tharp, and Mia Michaels are just a few jazz dancers and choreographers that have made lasting impressions on our instructorsand they way that they approach jazz dance. There are many varieties of jazz dance today, including African, lyrical, modern, and rock. Related trends like break dancing and hip hop have also influenced jazz dance. Jazz dance remains strongly linked to the popular music of our time as it has throughout history.

Basic technique is the foundation for all dance movement and it enables the dancer to focus on the stylistic and performance aspects. Jazz dancers are aided greatly by a sound background in ballet technique; for core strength, balance, lines, and flexibility.

Our leveled jazz courses follow a class structure based on that by Gus Giordano, yet giving the instructor choreographic freedom in using the technique developed in different combinations throughout the year. It is not uncommon for students to be in a level for more than one year.

All levels begin with primary stretches to help promote proper breathing, isolations, conditioning, and elasticity of the muscles. Repetition is important to mastering technique, as it is in ballet, and tempo usually begins slowly in class and then progresses as the students understanding of a movement does as well.