Level
Type
Instructor
Code
jm-wup
Preview
AgrJnvQD
Playlist
Leti73MR
Joelle Martinec's Jazz Warm Up - Jazz Online Dance Class

This intermediate jazz warm up starts with a modified Sun Salutation to get your blood flowing and continues with both strength and stretch exercises to get you ready for any jazz or contemporary class. Your warm up is the best place to make corrections on your technique, so pay attention to the muscles being used and any unwanted tension in your face or hands.

Notes
  • Make sure you breathe. This is said a lot, but breath will not only allow your stretch to increase, it will also allow your movement to be heavier or lighter. Inhaling makes movements lighter, exhaling makes them heavier.
  • Resistance in opposition - the pushing and pulling equally in two different directions. Using resistance will help you stabilize your movements. In the flat back arabesque in section two, think about reaching equally horizontally with both the arms and the legs. In section three this will be extremely helpful in the passe balances.
  • Try to remember what each exercise is designed for, this will help you connect the mechanics of the warm up exercises to the positions while you are dancing. The mountain climbers in section one will help you find the connection to the lower stomach to help hold your passe up for your pirouettes.
  • Watch yourself in the mirror to make sure you aren't holding any tension in your face and hands.
  • Tension is helpful in you back to anchor your arms, in your core to control your body and your hamstrings to create stability in your legs.
Assistant
Stephanie Morgan