<p>Ok folks daughter is taking jazz dancing..and according to the dance teacher of the show she is in (not related to her dance class) she needs to loosen up and relax when she dances. So we are sorry we didnt take dance all these years (she took it when she was young for a couple years and then quit) and we have to try to catch up some.
Naturally we know she cant catch up to someone who has been taking it for years..but what would you all recommend to help her.
She suggested ballet..but the dance instructor at the studio suggested tap..
She loves jazz so will continue with that also.
What do you all think ? If it comes down to ballet or tap..which one?
Also other ideas for becoming a better dancer are appreciated.</p>
<p>And what about hiphop?</p>
<p>Ballet is the foundation for dance...I would recommend your D start taking ballet.</p>
<p>I would recommend to continue taking jazz and pick up ballet. I also have to say that it appears throughout auditions for musical theater majors for most programs dance is the least thing they are interested in, but you certainly do want to be familiar with the terms and etc...I am sure she will losen up when she gets more comfortable with dancing.</p>
<p>Can she take private dance lessons as well on technique?</p>
<p>Well she was selected for the show which is singing and dancing..but there was a section where they needed some dancers and picked a few girls and she was not chosen and she was pretty disappointed. And the dance lady said she was trying so hard..so I guess she needs to really let go with it.
The voice comes so easy for her. </p>
<p>Hmm private dance lessons...now would that be for ballet techniques or what do you think? This may be a good idea if I could swing it.</p>
<p>As to which dance discipline to take....</p>
<p>My opinion is that if your child were to pursue musical theater, and you were adding just ONE more dance discipline to Jazz, I would choose ballet. Ballet is the foundation for all the other types of dance. Even if one does not become a ballet dancer, the basic technique in ballet is used in jazz and modern, for instance. As well, many of the terminology from ballet is used in other types of dance. Further, often in a musical theater audition, ballet is a component. For instance, at several of the BFA in MT college auditions my daughter went to this winter, there was a ballet component either at the barre or combinations. Often there was a jazz component as well. Many Broadway dance auditions stipulate that ballet training is required. </p>
<p>However, your daughter wants to become a pop singer. For THAT discipline, I would have chosen jazz and hip hop. </p>
<p>For someone serious about musical theater, however, I would say to study ballet, jazz AND tap. As a parent of a child who has been passionate about musical theater throughout her childhood and has been taking dance since preschool, she has chosen to study ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, tap, and hip hop. I'd say that hip hop was the least important discipline of these. </p>
<p>In short, if she can only take two kinds of dance and IF she is interested in musical theater, I would pick jazz and ballet (but would try to do tap too if she is truly interested in pursuing this field) and IF she wants to go into pop music, I would pick jazz and hip hop. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Ballet ballet ballet.</p>
<p>Question to anyone who would know: I have been attempting to track down some sort of dance classes in my area for the summer, and have not yet found one!! Should I resort to private lessons? Would that be a wise decision?
I too have not had dance lessons my entire life (unfortunately!) But I had started taking dance this last fall/winter - 3 seperate classes of Jazz, Ballet & Tap (tap being my absolute FAVORITE!!). But the classes ended last week and only start up again next fall!
ANY suggestions or thoughts would be much appreciated! Thanks!</p>
<p>In regards to the private lessons---preferrably ballet technique, she is going to have know the terms, but jazz technique would work as well, as you will find out ballet is the foundation of jazz, and again I agree with picking up the ballet as a second class above all. Maybe she could do a hip hop workshop or tap workshop down the line in the summers or something.</p>
<p>speaking of tap workshops-- does anyone know of a 1-3 week tap intensive at the end of the summer? I looked at Broadway Dance Center and the only one they have that I'd be interested in is "theatre dance". I'm going to look into that one- but still was wondering if anyone knows of any good workshops/intensives (that admit beginners) in tap, ballet, or jazz (that order is my order of preference). It would have to be in NYC or around that area and allow you to commute (not mandate staying in dorms or boarding).</p>
<p>Dani, I know of one actually for tap. We don't have experience with it but we know who teaches it. Actually a boy from Stagedoor who went many years with my daughter but not in recent years, who is an EXCELLENT tap dancer, is the brother of a young man who was in Tap Dogs. That guy now runs a tap dance program in NYC and in fact, I believe there is a summer tap program there. His younger brother (the one who used to go to camp but is now about 18 or 19) always tries to convince my daughter to go to it (she is a serious tap dancer). I once read the website and would have to find it again but I recall the name as being Break the Floor. If you can't find it, I will try to figure it out. Have you ever seen Tap Dogs? We have and it is quite the show. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Thanks all. Yes Susan she does want to be a pop singer. But she still loves doing MT. I think I will try to get her in a ballet class and a hip hop with ballet the priority.
The show she is in now involves a lot of dancing so that is good..she was just not picked for when a smaller group was picked for a dance number and this disappointed her. Now granted there are kids in there who have been in dance since age 3 but we know she needs to kick the dance up alot! And this will help her with her pop singing also..being more in the groove with her body.</p>
<p>BTW of course there is no substitute for real life training..but does anyone know of any VIDEOS that would be helpful for at home practise for ballet, hip hop or other dance.</p>
<p>BTW just as an update she was recently asked to sing a demo for a record producer who is trying to sell the song so she is doing that and she is working on her 3rd song for demo.</p>
<p>Break the floor is indeed a good one for tap run by Mike Minery and there is Shake the Floor as well for jazz.</p>
<p>You can also check the Dance Magazine they always run a summer list of camps and workshops.</p>
<p>Good Luck.</p>
<p>I aqree with the other posters that ballet is definitely the basis for all dance discriplines, but you're going to need jazz and tap as well. My older dd is an accomplished ballerina, but it took a long time to get the "jazzerina" out of her. Her jazz was always too balletic. She's been studying with a good teacher the last couple of years and has finally gotten that "jazzerina" out of her and her BFA auditors made some wonderful comments concerning her jazz. Tap is also very important for musical theater.</p>
<p>Good luckk.</p>
<p>Any dance teacher who advises a student to take Tap over Ballet is not worthy taking dance from. I would piroutte far away from that studio and find a more qualified instructor. Ask any professional dancer in any type of dance troupe and they will tell you 100% that Ballet is the essential element; the main ingredient and jumping off point (pun intended) for any dance training.</p>
<p>If you live anywhere near a resident dance company, I would call the artistic director and get some names. Good luck.</p>
<p>As far as your D's singing prowess--great news!!!</p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone had any information on dance auditions at 2005 auditions for musical theatre..
how difficult each school was and such. Yes, this is a very competitive business, but since all of the auditions for 2005 are mostly done, I don't see any harm in sharing thoughts about this year's auditions. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>My dd recently auditioned at UCF and said the dance audition was pretty easy. At the initial audition (UCF had a callback), they had the kids in two groups. For the most part, the dance consisted of a ballet/jazz combination with some modern intermixed. One of the rooms wanted more tap. In my dd's room, there was a tap combination, but nobody put on tap shoes. That was not the case in the other room.</p>
<p>At the callback, it went basicly the same except that my dd was with another set of auditors and was given the option of doing a solo tap combination with tap shoes. The basic combination was more of a ballet/jazz combination with emphasis on "free dance".</p>
<p>She is going back next week to audition for a new minor in dance the university if offering. Since she's already been seen twice at both the BFA audition and BFA callback, I e-mailed the department and asked if it would be necessary for them to see her again. I received an answer that the minor audition would be more "intense" than the BFA audition, so I'm assuming they'll want more technique this time around.</p>
<p>Best wishes for your success in this field.</p>
<p>Thanks so much. That's very helpful. I haven't looked into their program very extensively, but it's good to hear about any audition. I've heard Point Park has one of the most difficult dance auditions. I guess this would make sense because they have a strong dance program. One of my good friends is majoring in dance there next year and loves the school. (PP) I'm going to visit sometime this summer because she said it's awesome in dance and MT.</p>
<p>-amy</p>
<p>My dance audition for Point Park was nothing less than insane. The MT kids did there audition along with the BFA Dance auditioners. The jazz combo was taught in about 5 minutes and we practiced it about 2 times... I just laughed at myself the whole time!</p>