Mon, Jun 16 2008 - Jazz Dance Class - Beginners (View Original Event Details)
|
Everyone was eager and prepared for class. A few thought it might be a partnered dance but discovered it's done alone as an expression of the music, most often with choreographed steps. Everyone had a good time and had happy and I think, a little relieved, faces at the end! Here's what some of them said,
Emily (who can do the splits!) wrote: Even though the class was described as beginners, I was still a little intimidated since the last dance class I'd taken was ballet when I was seven. As it turned out I was so glad I went because the instructor was patient and really encouraging. The class was a fantastic workout and I particularly enjoyed the feel of moving to the music even if I'm not likely to be starring on Broadway anytime soon.
Kathleen (who can almost do the splits!) described the instructor as "bendable Jessica" because she looks almost like a comedy routine, where real legs are hidden in the floor and fake legs are swung and bent around the head, etc. Only Jessica's legs actually bend that way! I'd told her that I'd be bringing a lot of newcomers - levels of which I didn't know - and she took it somewhat easy on us in the dancing portion but still had us doing tondues and eventually grand jetes as well as turns and the jazz walk....and everyone did great at all of it, even though it was their first time! Amazing!
The class teaches stretching of all your muscles (and I mean ALL of them!) so that you're able to do the many moves necessary for jazz without hurting yourself! It's very demanding but a lot of fun too!
We all ended the evening on the patio of a very old establishment in downtown Toronto and laughed about the experience. It was a fun night and a great group of people.
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.