Jazz Quiz 1

Pre-Warm-Up

Gentle, slow movements to align and prepare the body. Often done independently before class begins.

Warm-Up

Stimulates circulation and gradually stretches and strengthens muscles. Performed standing, seated, lying down. Isolation exercises are introduced here.

Isolation Exercises

Involve controlling and moving one specific body part independently — like the head, shoulders, or hips — without affecting the rest of the body.

Locomotor Movements

Traveling steps that move the dancer across the floor, such as leaps, runs, or turns, often used to build technique and spatial awareness.

Combinations

Culmination of the class; choreographed sequences combining technique, rhythm, and style. Taught in short segments with counts and spacial directions. Performed in small groups with music. Encourages observation, memory, and refinement. Often followed by a cool-down to prevent soreness.

Lyrical Jazz

Ballet-influenced; flowing, expressive movements with extended body lines. Emphasizes emotion and musicality.

Musical Comedy/Theater Jazz

Jazz used in stage musicals; integrates character-driven movement, storytelling, and often props like hats or canes.

Contemporary/Modern Jazz

Draws from modern dance techniques; features contractions, flexed feet, and off-center shapes for expressive, grounded movement.

Latin Jazz

Fast, syncopated footwork with hip and shoulder movements; uses Latin steps like salsa, mambo, and cha-cha.

Afro Jazz

Rooted in African and Caribbean dance; earthy, rhythmic, and often barefoot with drum accompaniment.

Hip-Hop

Street-style dance with freestyle, popping, locking, and breakdancing; high energy, strong attitude, and influenced by rap music and urban culture.

Importance of Alignment

Proper skeletal alignment ensures balance, ease of movement, and injury prevention. It supports fluid transitions in dance and helps maintain stamina and control. It is most effectively developed during the warm-up phase of class.

Alignment

How body segments are stacked and related to each other — like the head over shoulders, pelvis over knees — to create efficient posture and movement.

Placement

Where the body’s weight is centered which affects balance and readiness to move. Ideally weight is slightly forward over the ball of the foot.

Alignment Reference Points

Top of ear → middle of shoulder girdle → center of hip → back of kneecap → front of anklebone

Postural Deviations

When the body lacks proper alignment, habitual misalignments can lead to three main spinal deviations.

Lordosis

Excessive inward curve of the lower back; causes a tilted pelvis, protruding abdomen and buttocks, and often a forward head. Especially in the lumbar spine.

Kyphosis

Exaggerated outward curve of the upper spine; leads to rounded shoulders, sunken chest, and forward head posture. Especially in thoracic spine.

Scoliosis

Lateral curve of the spine; creates uneven shoulders, hips, and rib cage, often shifting body weight to one side.

Cervical Vertebrae

Located in the neck, at the top of the spine (C1–C7), just below the skull and above the thoracic vertebrae.

Thoracic Vertebrae

The twelve bones (T1–T12) located in the mid-back, between the cervical vertebrae in the neck and the lumbar vertebrae in the lower back.

Lumbar Vertebrae

The five large bones (L1–L5) in the lower back, located below the thoracic vertebrae and above the sacrum.

Turnout

Outward rotation of legs from the hips enhances balance and movement. Must originate from the hip joint, not just the feet.

Ballet Arms

Arms are held rounded and relaxed, forming a graceful line

Sacrum

A triangular bone at the base of the spine whose wedge shape helps stabilize pelvic alignment by fitting securely between the hip bones.

Pliés

Bend. Strengthens inner thighs, lower legs, and Achilles tendon. Movement should be continuous, with spine lengthened.

Relevé

Rising onto the balls of the feet with straight legs and erect torso. Weight should be centered over first and second toes. Movement must be smooth and continuous.

Battement

Leg extensions that brush the foot along the floor.

Battement tendu

Stretched beating. Stretch of the feet. Foot remains on the floor, building strength and flexibility.

Battement dégagé

Disengaged beating. Disengaged feet. Quick brush slightly off the floor. Trains speed.

Grand battement

Large beating. High leg lift, emphasized control and strength.

Weight Shifting

Must occur without pelvic tilt. Engage abs to stabilize.

Pointing the Foot

Maintain a straight line from knee to toe; toes should be long and extended — not curled or dangling.

Creates a straight line from the knee through the ankle to the big toe, ensuring proper alignment and strength.

Begings at the top of the knee, travels through the ankle, and finishes at the toes.

Jazz Hand

Fingers spread wide.

Inverted Arm

Elbows down, wrist extended or flexed.

Jazz Fifth

V position; arms lifted diagonally, palms up or down, elbows extended.

Flat Back

Bend forward at hips, back parallel to floor, don’t lock knees, align neck with spine.

3 checkpoints are back alignment — spine should be flat from skull to tailbone; neck position — keep neck in line with spine, don’t lift your head; knees — slightly bent to avoid strain, never locked.

Lunge

Keep weight centered over the bent knee. Bent knee must align with the ankle and toes.

Jazz Arms

Arms straight, fingers spread wide, elbows extended.

Shifting Weight

To perform a tendu or dégagé, shift weight without tilting pelvis. Engage abdominal muscles to keep the pelvis horizontal and weight lifted out of the legs. Maintain centered balance over the supporting leg. Lift up, shift to one hip while keeping everything in alignment.

Stretching Guidelines

Use static stretches, not bouncing ones

Stretch to mild tension, hold 15-30 seconds, then repeat

Use reciprocal techniques

Maintain proper alignment and breathe steadily

Isometric Exercises

A type of muscle contraction where tension is created without movement (e.g. holding a pose).

Isotonic Exercises

A contraction where the muscle shortens and joint movement occurs (e.g. push ups, pliés).

Flexibility

The range of motion available at a joint, influenced by muscle elasticity, joint structure, and surrounding tissues. Crucial for injury prevention and expressive movement.

Endurance

The ability of muscles to sustain repeated contractions over time. Includes muscular endurance and cardiorespiratory endurance.

Muscular Endurance

Specific to exercised muscles

Cardiorespiratory Endurance

Involved efficient functioning of the heart, lungs, and blood vessels during sustained activity.

Body Composition

The ratio of fat to lean mass in the body. A healthy composition supports mobility, strength, and overall fitness without focusing solely on weight. 

Aerobic

Exercise performed with sufficient oxygen intake, allowing sustained activity (e.g. jogging, swimming).

Anaerobic

High-intensity exercise performed without oxygen, leading to quick fatigue (e.g. jumps, fast footwork).

Hamstrings

Located on the back of thigh; purpose is to increase range of movement of flexion in the leg.

Quadriceps

Located on the front of the thigh; purpose is to flex the leg.

Abdominals

Located on the front of the torso; purpose is to stabilize the core, support posture and balance, helps with alignment.

Gluteus Maximus

Located on the buttocks; purpose is to extend and rotate the hip.

Sacrum

Located on the base of spine, connects to pelvis; supports spinal alignment and pelvic movement.

Pelvis

Located in hip region; central for balance, rotation, and leg mobility.

Rib Cage

Located in chest area; protects organs, expands for breath control, helps with alignment.

Patella

Located on kneecap; aids in knee extension and stability.

Sternum

Located in center of chest; anchors ribs, supports upper body alignment.

Static Stretching

Involves holding a position gently, allowing muscles to lengthen safely.

Ballistic Stretching

Bouncing stretches can trigger muscle tightening and risk injury.

Breathe Into the Stretch

Using deep, controlled breathing to help relax the muscles and deepen the stretch without strain. Holding breath indicates tension.

Strength

The ability of muscles to exert force against resistance. It supports joint stability,  posture, and control during movement.