| "Would you please talk to my daughter? She wants | | | | better choice for their child to study. There is no |
| to take jazz dance instead of ballet. Please tell her | | | | doubt that every dancer can benefit from learning |
| that this would be a big mistake!" This was a | | | | ballet. Once a dancer knows the terminology, she can |
| desperate plea I often heard as a dance instructor. It | | | | express herself more clearly, be better prepared to |
| was a familiar situation. There are many styles of | | | | understand choreographers, and do more efficient |
| jazz dance, but what the dance student often | | | | improvisation of her own. |
| wanted in this situation was the hip hop or funky | | | | With this in mind, there is a concern to be addressed |
| style of jazz dance. This of course, horrified the | | | | if the student threatens to quit dancing entirely |
| parent who had dreams of her daughter becoming a | | | | because she is not allowed to try Hip Hop Dance. |
| prima ballerina with a prestigious ballet company. | | | | The benefits of dancing are too great for the |
| My advice to that parent was always to listen to the | | | | student to lose. At the very least, dancing can |
| student. Why? Well, there are some good reasons. | | | | enhance creativity, coordination, social skills, and |
| First, let me clarify that there are many different | | | | self-esteem. These are some pretty good reasons to |
| styles of jazz dance: lyrical, blues, theatrical, modern, | | | | encourage a student to keep dancing, no matter |
| Latin, rock, funky, Hip Hop, and the list goes on. | | | | what the style. Letting kids start with Hip Hop or a |
| Dance teachers often exercise artistic license to | | | | style of their choice can cultivate interest and allow |
| conveniently define the styles according to their own | | | | them to explore the benefits of dance as an art |
| dance abilities. However, keep in mind that each style | | | | form. Later on, especially if they are serious about |
| of jazz dance does have a valid history and defining | | | | improving their skills, they will discover that dancers |
| terms. Jazz styles are relatively new and are still | | | | often take ballet to enhance their vocabulary and |
| evolving, while ballet has been with us for centuries. | | | | technique. They will get much more out of ballet if |
| Since the history and traditions of ballet appear to be | | | | they make the choice on their own. Oh, and maybe |
| more familiar, a parent might think of ballet as a | | | | the dancer will be surprised and actually LIKE ballet. |