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Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
21 September 2024 - 7 December 2024 ( 11 hours, 11 weeks )
View course timetable
Waterloo Centre
Authentic Jazz Dance is an umbrella term for the various African American styles of solo, partnered and group dances that emerged alongside the new popular music of jazz and swing in the 1920s – 1940s. We start the year with The Charleston! Perhaps the most famous dance of the Jazz Age, the Charleston embodies the decadent spirit of the 1920s. After half term, we will move on to The Big Apple, a group dance that swept America in the late 1930s. Both the Charleston and the Big Apple are danced both with and without a partner. Partners are not based on gender and you are welcome to dance either lead or follow or switch as you please. You do not need to enrol with a partner, however if lead/follow ratios are not balanced, you may be invited to dance a particular role for that session. We will change partners throughout the class. If you prefer not to rotate, simply speak to the tutor. The aim of the course is to give you enough steps, skills and confidence for you to attend social swing dances. Achievement on your course will be measured by whether you meet the following learning outcomes. At the start of the course you will have an opportunity to discuss these with your tutor and set your own personal targets, linked to the learning outcomes and future goals i.e. progression to an advanced-level course.
This entry-level class is open to all. However, a reasonable degree of fitness is required. Excellent attendance and punctuality will be required from all students. It is expected that students will practice in between weekly lessons.
This entry-level class is open to all. However, a reasonable degree of fitness is required. Excellent attendance and punctuality will be required from all students. This course will include some completion of activities outside of class time, e.g. preparation of favourite exercises to share with fellow students. Photography and film recording of class activities may be used in order to aid learning. These images may also be used for publicity or marketing materials produced by Morley College, both online and in print. You will have the opportunity to either confirm or decline consent to being filmed or photographed. Please consult your doctor if you are pregnant, have any serious health conditions or a history of injury. Please inform your tutor if there is any physical activity you have be advised to avoid.
Please be aware that Authentic Jazz/Swing Dance involves partnered and non-partnered dancing. The partnered dance element may require dancing in close proximity with your partner. In addition, we rotate partners in class to approximate a social dance.
Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. A bottle of water. Shoes: Ideally a flat or low heel. Jazz-dance or character shoes. Plimsoles or tennis shoes but no trainers or stilettoes. You are encouraged to take notes to facilitate your own practice. Your tutor can assist with suggestions of how best to do this.
