Jazz-funk as a new dance direction

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Jazz Funk is a new dance direction filled with life, energy and emotions. These are not just certain movements: jazz-funk collects many directions. That's the beauty of this style. The ability to combine different dance directions, take elements of different styles, combine them, creating a new, unique dance - that's what attracts dancers all over the world. There are no boundaries of fantasy here, you can do what you want, dance as you want, in general, create, not paying attention to the norms and rules established in other dance styles. Day after day jazz-funk is gaining momentum. This young style was completely unknown just a couple of years ago: now they talk about it, write it, dance it.

What styles are present in jazz funk?

Jazz-funk is a dance that combines such directions as:

• waacking (waacking) - continuous movements, swinging arms;
• strip plastic (strip dance) - soft, plastic, sexual movements;
• hip-hop (hip-hop) - a mixture of positive, enthusiasm, energy;
• variety choreography - dance show; active, role-playing movements;
• jazz choreography –improvisation, acrobatic studies.

About the history of jazz-funk

This trend appeared not so long ago: just a couple of decades ago in the United States of America, the famous American choreographer Bobby Newbery, who worked with American pop stars at that time, decided to combine different styles into one original style. And so a new, unlike anything else, direction of dance appeared, combining both sharp, active elements of jazz and hip-hop, and gentle, smooth movements of strip plasticity and choreography.

This impudent, in some places defiant, incredibly emotional, mannered and very beautiful style also appeared in the domestic stage: today you can see hundreds of clips of Russian performers in which this direction is present. That is why, nowadays, outrageous, unlike anything else, jazz-funk is one of the most popular dance styles, which thousands of girls and young people want to learn.

Perks of Jazz Funk

A distinctive feature of this style is that jazz-funk is an impulsive dance, filled with “shocks” of the body, expressive and very emotional, one might even say, sexual performance. A person who owns jazz-funk techniques will be able to light up any dance floor. In addition, people dancing in this direction assure that they have never received greater pleasure from dance and music.

Of course, when mastering this style, a beginner will have to sweat: good physical preparation is needed here. However, after a while, the frantic pacedance, as well as all the complex movements and acrobatic elements, will even seem pleasant to a beginner. This implies the conclusion that no disadvantages can cover all the advantages of this dance direction.

Key moves

The main element of jazz-funk is an impulse, a "push", an "explosion" that comes from the inside - from the hips, shoulders, chest. It is this "push" that causes the body to "recline" to the side, and these movements are absolutely impossible to predict. Each breath in the dance ends with a "point", after which the impulse appears again. The key movements of this direction include waves of different execution (sharp, broken or soft, smooth). In addition to the waves performed by the hands, leg movements called "step-step" (steps from side to side) and "slide" (sliding) are popular in jazz funk.

What kind of music do they dance to?

Many beginners wonder: “What kind of music do jazz-funk dance to?” Music, in fact, can be different: it will be pleasant for beginners to discover that jazz-funk can also be danced to your favorite hits. Most often in such directions as pop, jazz and club music. In general, this is a kind of club mix. In order to at least roughly imagine the rhythm of music or jazz-funk songs, it is enough to listen to popular performers (for example, Mary Jane).

Difference between jazz funk and hip-hop

In hip-hop you can notice big steps, sweeping hand movements, and in jazz-funk all movements are small, smoothly and beautifully replacing each other. In addition, in hop-hop, the originalposture of the body implies a soft, slightly bent back. Jazz funk, on the other hand, implies a direct, choreographic setting of the body.

Each performer eventually has his own "chips" - movements that are the "calling card" of this performer at any dance event. Each newcomer will also acquire his own performance style over time: someone will move towards hip-hop, someone will focus on the soft, smooth movements of strip plastic, and someone will realize that he likes power choreography and acrobatic etudes. The choice is up to the performer. One thing can be said here: there are no two people in the world who dance in the same jazz-funk style, since this direction was created precisely with the aim of “unleashing the potential” of a beginner.