Does jazz dance require a lot of flexibility?

dancerally86 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

I want to try taking a jazz class for beginners, but I am very inflexible. I can't bend over and touch my toes, and I definitely can't do any splits! I have good balance, but bad flexibility.

Since I am inexperienced with dance, I am suffering from confidence issues relating to how I am not flexible at all. I don't want to be the only one in class who can't do some of the moves!

Any advice?

vincent_says · Joined: 29 May 2007 Posts: 67

I am not too experienced in Jazz, but what I do know from a personal trainer standpoint, is that all types of dance require flexibility and conditioning. If you are not as limber as you need to be, stretching will help you.

liltapdoll · Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Posts: 22 Location: Somewhere in PA

In my opinion flexibility is not a major thing in the beginning, but you should stretch everyday and try to become a little more flexible as time goes on. You will feel a little more comfortable with the moves you are learning and it will become a bigger issue in the future.

LJ · Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 53 Location: Canterbury, Kent UK

the dance classes will help with flexibility but maybe try something like pilates type stretches too :)

dance4ballet · Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 29

well, it really depends on what you do. if you do a graded syllabus jazz, then as you pass each grade (you usually do one a year) the flexibility requirements will begin to get tougher. For example, a student in grade one is not expected to do a split in their syllabus work , regardless if they can or can't do them, but a grade 5 student may have a whole split excerise in their syllabus. The syllabus increases your flexibility slowly, and safely. Of course, it also depends which syllabus you do! I think you should start- you'll get more flexible with time!

longo · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 12

i am an experienced jazz dancer, and have done it for 8 years now. it really doesnt require much flexibility! you need to be quick on your toes as it can be quite upbeat! DONT get yourslef down about your flexibilty and dont lewt it discourage you! go and have fun! its great fun to learn! your flexibility will increase as you go through the grades! Have fun and dont worry!

santafejoe · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:56 pm Post subject:

Welcome to Dance Forums Longo happy you found us. :)

dance4ballet · Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 29

Also, jazz isn't just about splits, high kicks, walkovers, cartwheels, leaps etc. its about dancing. you'll learn some really cool moves, and maybe even some of the harder stuff mentioned above along the way.

pr · Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 1011 Location: Göteborg, Sweden

Welcome longo! :D

teardropsonmydanceshoes · Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

It really depends on the dances, all my jazz dances so far have required some flexibility, You don't nessacarily have to have an over split (IE going past the 180 degree mark) But its nice to have some flexibility just so you look better on stage. But it also takes body control, i was actually just watching my 2006 jazz recital and noticed that one of the girls in the class could never make it in dance just because she never got the dance and it was an extremely easy dance and it was my FIRST (well in several years, i was a gymnast before hand.) dance recital and i got it. Some people aren't willing to put the effort into the time it takes to get to the point where you can do an over split, and doing only an hour of dance a week is NOT going to really do much to increase your flexibility unless you do it for years. Really if you wanna do the straddle splits and normal splits and it will help you out with a lot of things, like kicks and leaps