Uconn Dance Sport

The beginnings of jazz dance were completely different from what we know of the style today. Before the fifties, Jazz dance was most commonly associated with tap dance; however, when the Jazz age arrived, the genre would change again, this time including the popular dances of the twenties. Jazz dancers were performing the Cakewalk, the Jitterbug, the Boogie Woogie, as well as the Charleston.The concept of modern jazz emerged after the fifties arrived. Seen most frequently on Broadway, modern jazz dancers must follow three particular techniques: center control, spotting, and pointing. Each one of the techniques allows dancers to perform balance-testing moves without toppling over. Many of these techniques have a foundation in ballet, and as a result, Jazz performers are frequently trained in ballet as well.