Honeyman 1

Danielle Honeyman
Darlisa Wajid-Ali
Jazz 1
5 June 2016
Jazz Paper: Jazz Dance

In the chapter A Twenty-First Century Jazz Manifesto by Sheron

Wray, Professor Wray discusses the importance of four elements in jazz
dancing: rhythm, musicality, improvisation, and dynamic play. She
especially emphasizes the importance of rhythm and improvisation in
jazz dance, as these two create the form aesthetically as well as define
it as a dance genre.
Wray discusses the roots of jazz dance in both African and
European dance styles, as we have talked about in class. Professor
Wray illustrates how so many concepts of both of these dance styles
have fed into todays jazz vocabulary, as well as how vernacular dance
has also become a contributor to jazz dance vocabulary in todays
dance world, especially with the emergence of commercial dance as an
enterprise. She also discusses the interplay between music and dance,
and how one affects the other and vice versa.
Professor Wray also emphasizes the importance of play and
improvisation in jazz dance, as well as its importance to the aesthetic
of the dance style. Individuality is very important to Wray, especially

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within the realm of a choreographed piece; she makes a convincing
case that dancers will bring their own artistry and individuality to a
piece, especially when they are allowed to improvise within the piece.
She talks about the element of surprise in dance; when the audience is
surprised, they get amazing enjoyment from a piece. Additionally, she
touches on the idea of stillness in a piece and how it can be used to
accentuate the movements- choreographers should not be afraid of it.
The stillness can be used as a moment for the dance to linger in the
air; for the energy to stay active while the audience interprets what
they have just seen. I have seen the use of stillness in many dance
pieces, and I find that this always leaves me on the edge of my seat
wondering what beauty will come next. I love the way the energy
hangs in the balance in these moments, and often times the music will
line up beautifully with the moment and time stops for a minute.
This class has taught me more about the African roots of jazz
dance, as well as new movements in the classical Indian and African
realm. I have also learned about cross rhythms and how they can be
used in dance choreography. I can use the principles Ive learned in this
class throughout my life- as an actor, I need to have spatial awareness
and the ability to move around like a normal human being. I feel as
though my balance and body awareness have been greatly improved.
The importance of balance in my life has been greatly underestimated
until I discovered this jazz class. I also love the exploration of rhythms

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and movements that weve found throughout the quarter. I also
learned how to do inside pirouettes, which I never learned how to do
properly. Being in this dance class has helped me as a human, actor,
and a singer, as I have learned how to use breath over an extended
period of time, how to control the body and what to do with my hands,
and how to tell the story through movement. I am so appreciative of
the opportunity to explore my life and myself as a human being and an
artist in this class this quarter.