Isolation Warm-up Exercises for Jazz Classes

A Body Isolation Sequence for Beginner to Intermediate Jazz Students

Mar 8, 2009

Before any dance class or exercise session, you must remember to follow a series of beginning exercises and stretches to warm up your muscles and prepare for the class.

To follow are some of the isolation warm-up exercises that may be offered in a typical beginner- or intermediate-level jazz class. As always, remember to consult with your instructor if any of the following exercises have not yet been covered in your class. It is recommended to follow these isolations or a similar routine before beginning more strenuous stretching exercises in the jazz class.

To isolate in jazz class means to separately move one body part, keeping the rest of the body in place. This stretches the body in sections, and allows you to concentrate on moving your body in sequence rather than as a whole. This is important in certain jazz and hip hop routines.

Isolation Warm-up Exercise for the Head

This isolation warm-up sequence will start from the head down. Stand with your feet slightly apart, and arms down at your sides. First, take your chin down toward your chest and look down. Hold this stretch for one count. Then, lift your head to look at the ceiling for one count. Repeat these stretches three more times.The second head and neck stretch is to tilt your head to the right, leaning your right ear down toward your right shoulder, for one count. Then, tilt your head to the left for one count. Repeat this three more times.Next, turn your head to look to the right, keeping the rest of your body facing forward. Then, turn to look to the left. Repeat this three more times.Finally, take your head down to the front and circle it to your right shoulder, up to the ceiling and around to your left shoulder, finishing to the front. This makes a complete circle with your head. Circle your head to the right and left two times.

Isolation Warm-up Exercise for the Shoulders

With your arms at your sides, push your shoulders forward and lift them up toward your ears, taking them around to the back and into starting position. This makes a circle with your shoulders, front to back. Repeat this seven more times.Reverse the shoulder circles by pushing your shoulders back, lifting them up toward your ears, and then taking them around to the front and into starting position. Repeat this seven more times.Circle your shoulders individually, right then left, to the back eight times. Reverse these alternating shoulders, left then right, to the front eight times.

Isolation Warm-up Exercise for the Ribcage

With your hands on your hips, and your knees slightly bent, move your ribcage only toward the front. Make sure to keep your shoulders straight. Come back to center, starting position, and then move your ribcage toward the back. Come back to center and repeat the exercise three more times.Keeping your hands on your hips, take your ribcage over to the right side and back to center. Making sure to keep your shoulders straight, move your ribcage to the left and back to center. Repeat this exercise three more times.Then, make a square (or diamond) shape with your ribcage. Start by isolating your ribcage to the front, then move it to the right, to the back, and to the left. Make two squares to the right, and then two squares to the left (ribcage moves front, left, back, right).

Isolation Warm-up Exercise for the Hips

With your knees bent, and feet slightly further apart, move your hips to the right and left eight times. Then, take your hips to the front and back eight times.Repeat the hips to the right and left in triple-time. You will push your hips to the right on one count, then come back to center quickly and move your hips back to the right on the next count (one-and-two). Repeat this exercise right and left for eight times.

By following these isolation exercises to start your jazz class warm-up, you will find it easier to isolate your body as needed in jazz routines and combinations. It is important to learn to have control over the parts of your body in order to sequence through certain exercises. For more warm-up exercises in jazz class, please see the article Beginner to Intermediate Jazz Warm-up Exercises.

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