Beginner to Intermediate Jazz Warm-up Exercises

Stretching Exercises to Begin Jazz Class for Any Level

Mar 8, 2009

In order to get the most out of your jazz class, as well as to prepare your muscles for the strenuous routines ahead, you must be sure to stretch your body thoroughly.

To follow are a series of stretches that are typical to a jazz class in the beginner to intermediate level. To begin a jazz warm-up, you should follow a series of body isolations that can be found in the article, Isolation Warm-up Exercises for Jazz Classes. As always, be sure to consult with your instructor if any of the following exercises have not yet been covered in your class.

Side Stretches for Dance Warm-ups

With your feet a little more than shoulder-width apart, facing forward, lift your left arm over your head. Stretch your body to the right from your waist, keeping your shoulders and upper body facing forward. Your right arm should reach low across your body to the left. Repeat this stretch on the left side, and then repeat the exercise one more time.

Flat Stretches for Dance Warm-upsKeeping your feet apart, take your left arm over your head. Twist your upper body to face the front left corner. Bend your body forward from your waist, reaching the left arm forward to the corner, and stretching your right arm out to the side. Your upper body should be flat, creating a "table" and a straight line from your hips through to your left fingertips. Lift to center and repeat this stretch on the left side, and then repeat the exercise one more time.

Reach Stretches for Dance Warm-upsWith your feet apart, facing the front, reach your right arm up above your head. Bend your right leg when you reach your right arm, to enhance the stretch through your right side. Lower your right arm and reach up with the left arm, bending your left leg. Repeat these stretches on the right and left.Reach both arms up at the same time, with straight legs. From this position, "melt" down to the floor by bending both legs, arching your back, and bringing your arms down slowly. You should finish with bent legs, hands on the floor, and head facing down. From here, straighten your legs and keep your upper body down with your hands as close to the floor as possible. Roll up through your back to an upright standing position. Repeat this entire stretch one more time.

Leg Stretches for Dance Warm-upsWith your feet turned out in second position, bend your knees to a deep plie with your hands on your knees. Hold this stretched position for eight counts.Straighten your right leg, keeping it turned out with your knee facing up. Place your hands on the floor in front of you and lean forward over your left knee, still facing out to the side.Move through a center, second position, to straighten your left leg and bend your right. With your hands on the floor in front of you, now lean over your right knee, turned out to the side.From this position, turn your body toward the right, placing your hands on the floor on either side of your right knee (still facing the right, now parallel to your body). Your left leg is straightened behind you, with the knee facing the floor. This is sometimes called a runner's stretch.

From the runner's stretch position, straighten your right knee and try to keep your chest on your right thigh and your hands on the floor on either side of your right foot. Relax your head over your right leg.Turn your feet to parallel second position, facing the front, with your body down to the center and hands on your ankles. Roll up through your back to a standing position. Repeat this entire exercise to the other side.

Foot Stretches for Dance Warm-upsStanding in first position turned out, with arms at your sides, tendu your right foot to the front. You will slide your foot forward, lifting up onto your toes with your leg and foot turned out. Slide your foot back into first position. Repeat the tendus to the right side, back, and side. Tendu with your left foot to the front, side, back, and side. Repeat the tendu exercises on both sides.

Standing in first position, turned out, with arms at your sides, demi plie. You will bend both legs, keeping your feet flat on the floor. From demi plie, lift your heels up while keeping your knees bent. Then, straighten your legs while keeping your heels off the floor. Finally, lower your heels back down to first position. Repeat plie, lift, straighten, lower three more times. Then, reverse the combination four times (lift heels off the floor with straight legs, then plie while keeping heels off the floor, then lower heels, then straighten legs).

By following these exercises at the beginning of your jazz class, you will be able to stretch the muscles that will be used more strenuously in the rest of the class.

The copyright of the article Beginner to Intermediate Jazz Warm-up Exercises in Jazz Dance is owned by Terry Finch. Permission to republish Beginner to Intermediate Jazz Warm-up Exercises in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.