Our Modern Theatre and Jazz courses focus on two main dance genres which are Modern and Jazz while incorporating Lyrical, Contemporary and Musical Theatre. Students train with the ISTD Modern Theatre syllabus as the main framework while incorporating our in-house jazz training system, created specifically to blend this unique style that is both challenging and fun! In this course we will be working on a range of movements including floor work, travelling steps, strong turns, high kicks, elevated jumps and leaps. You’ll also need to use your flexibility as well as strength & technique in order perform these exercises correctly!
Modern is free form and a break-free from the strict classical ballet technique, with movements that origin from the core of the body, contract and release, oppositions, weight transference, spirals, floor work, fall and recovery such as body drop, deep controlled movements, breathing rhythm to emphasise movement’s momentum, tilt lateral lines and improvisation. Some techniques are the Graham technique, Humphrey-Weidman technique and Horton technique.
Jazz is a highly energetic, creative and showy dance style which combines rhythm, expression and technique. Jazz uses waves, fancy footwork, big leaps and quick turns; often executed with a strong sense of rhythm and musicality to create various routines across many different music. Great versatility and strong performance skills on the face and body is crucial to interpret the various jazz styles such classical jazz, commercial jazz, theatre/ broadway jazz or jazz funk. Some examples are Bob Fosse’s work such as Chicago, Cabaret and Sweet Charity and today’s musical Fame, Wicked, Grease and Hairspray.
Beginner Jazz Dance Class
Beginner Levels (Primary, Grade 1-2 for age 6+) – Develop natural movement such as walking, running, jumping and skipping to encourage imaginative and rapid response, sense of line, coordinated movements and ability to express a feeling.
Modern Theatre | Jazz For Children
The Syllabi:
Graded and Higher Levels (Grade 3-6 for age 9+) – Develop technical accuracy with correct body placement, versatile range of movement, all-round strengths and abilities, sense of self-expression and creative improvisation.
Vocational Levels (Intermediate Foundation – Advanced 2 for age 12+) – Develop virtuosity in performance, awareness of audiences and self-expression, comprehensive technique in the styles of modern, jazz, lyrical, contemporary and musical theatre dance, as well as mature improvisation skills.
Suitable for boys and girls age 6 and above.
International Examination Board:
Established in 1904, the ISTD is a registered educational charity and membership association, and is one of the world’s leading dance examination boards with 12 faculties from ballet, modern, ballroom, dance sport and social dance. ISTD mission is to educate the public in the art of dancing in all its forms, to promote the knowledge of dance, to provide up-to-date techniques, and to maintain and improve teaching standards across the globe.
The ISTD is always moving with the times to keep pace with the latest developments in dance. ISTD has more than 6000 members in over 59 countries throughout the world and conduct over 120,000 examinations and 20,000 hours Continuing Professional Development each year.