Lauren Keffler

Jazz II
DA262(J)-01/Spring 2020
Video Viewing Assignment

Question 1
Autumn Eckman’s JOLT utilized live music and an overall style that clearly acknowledged jazz
dance’s African roots. Social jazz dance qualities included a feeling of joyousness (JOLT, 9:07),
competition between dancers (JOLT, 7:06-8:30), and moments of community (JOLT, 8:44-9:18).
Kinetic jazz dance qualities included the use of flat feet (JOLT, 6:44), bent joints (JOLT, 6:46),
angularity/asymmetry (JOLT, 7:45), inclined torsos (JOLT, 6:28), and groundedness (JOLT,
6:30). Billy Siegenfeld’s JUMP RHYTHM Jazz Project: “Getting There,” relied heavily on
community (JUMP RHYTHM JAZZ DANCE, 0:16), vocal encouragement (JUMP RHYTHM
JAZZ DANCE, 0:11), joyousness (JUMP RHYTHM JAZZ DANCE, 1:13), and call and
response (JUMP RHYTHM JAZZ DANCE, 0:48-1:00), as well as some individual creativity
within the group (JUMP RHYTHM JAZZ DANCE, 1:58) towards the end. Kinetic jazz dance
qualities included bent joints (JUMP RHYTHM JAZZ DANCE, 0:21), inclined torsos (JUMP
RHYTHM JAZZ DANCE, 0:47), groundedness (JUMP RHYTHM JAZZ DANCE, 0:21), flat
feet (JUMP RHYTHM JAZZ DANCE, 0:52), and asymmetry/angularity (JUMP RHYTHM
JAZZ DANCE, 1:39). Rennie Harris’s I WANT YOU contained an overall sense of joyousness(I
WANT YOU, 6:55) and community (I WANT YOU, 5:30), with plenty of room for personal
expression and creativity (I WANT YOU, 8:14); there were also moments of friendly challenges
among dancers (I WANT YOU, 7:12). Kinetic jazz dance qualities included bent joints (I
WANT YOU, 5:06), flat feet (I WANT YOU, 5:15), inclined torsos (I WANT YOU, 5:23), and
groundedness (I WANT YOU, 5:37).

Question 2
First, there are a few social jazz dance elements that I would like to try incorporating into the
choreography and exercises that I do in class. Overall, I want to work on performing with more
energy and exuberance (when appropriate) to give more of a feeling of joyousness. I would also
like to try acknowledging my neighbors during combinations and across the floor exercises to
help create a stronger sense of community in the class. There are also a few kinetic jazz dance
qualities that I would like to focus on more during class. Though we do not usually create our
own choreography, I want to try thinking about and accentuating when our given combinations
or exercises include bent joints (knees, elbows, etc.) and inclined torsos. I also want to work on
feeling generally more grounded (when appropriate) during class. I would also like to work on
my balance and core strength so that I can work on stronger angularity and asymmetry during
class.
Question 3A
There are several different types of dance in which I can see jazz dance elements. The metaphor
of the tree in ​Jazz Dance: A History of the Roots and Branches​ was extremely helpful in
understanding the way jazz dance is connected to other dance forms. For one, tap dance
(Broadway & rhythm) includes the rhythmic inclinations of jazz dance; the difference is that in
tap dance, these rhythms are primarily expressed through the use of the feet to create sounds.
Hip-hop dance is similar in its roots to jazz dance; though hip-hop dance does not usually share
the same rhythmic qualities of jazz dance, it also contains elements of African roots, including
improvisation, competition, and body isolations. Hip-hop dance is also similar to traditional jazz
dance in that it uses music as its driving force. There is also theatrical/musical theatre jazz dance,
which “blends elements of ballet, jazz, and other genres to create a mixture that is commonly
seen in musical theater, commercial dance and on the concert stage” (Oliver, xvi).

Question 3B
The video I’ve linked below is an example of freestyle hip-hop; it shows the similarities that I
previously mentioned hip-hop dance has to jazz dance. Since it is a freestyle dance, it is
completely made of improvisation. It also contains competition (FEFE, 0:54-2:05) and body
isolations (FEFE, 1:45).
 Works Cited

“FEFE - Julian de Guzman , Mia Mugavero and Jayden Hernandez -Matt Steffanina & Sienna
Lalau.” ​YouTube,​ uploaded by Best Dancers Fanpage, 3 August 2018,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7H5v5vfhJQ​.

“JOLT Choreography by Autumn Eckman.” ​YouTube​, uploaded by Autumn Eckman, 18 May

2014, ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VunaLjAKe_8​.

“JUMP RHYTHM Jazz Project - Getting There.” ​YouTube​, uploaded by BayChamber, 17

September 2010, ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-WtDOZaEJ4​.

“I Want You.” ​YouTube​, uploaded by giordanojazzdance, 31 January 2011,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9J7pGQrCNo​.

Oliver, Wendy, and Lindsay Guarino. ​Jazz Dance : A History of the Roots and Branches.
University Press of Florida, 2014.