How to use Solo Jazz 101

Scan this before jumpin’ into jazzin’ away! Find out how the course is built & how to get the best out of it 💃

STRUCTURE

Solo Jazz 101 is a course is build around vocabulary jazz steps.

The course consists of 6 chapters.
Inside each chapter, you will see Lesson video and Practice video to that lesson. In Lesson video, I break down the step with no music. In Practice video we practice the material, we dance the step for ca.1 min or more with the music.

“Fundamentals” is the 1st chapter and here I am talking about all the essential ingredients to start dancing in the style of swing: feeling the beat, walking with groove and bouncing. If you are new to swing, do practice this chapter!

Following that you have 4 chapters of “Jazz Steps”. For the ease and logic I split it on

• Jazz Steps I – the essentials. The name says it all. Simple rhythm steps “must know”.
• Jazz Steps II – extras & variations. Additional steps & variations of few essential steps from the previous chapter.
• Jazz Steps III – syncopated steps. Steps with swinging 8th note in them. Essential vocabulary steps to know, but they are a little more challenging because of the syncopated rhythm.
• Jazz Steps IV – signature breaks. More sophisticated rhythm steps that we use for a “break”, “resolution” moments in music and dance.

The last chapter “Jazz Choreographies” you can use along the way, while learning the “Jazz Steps”.

Choreographies are given in a progressive order “simpler – more challenging” and are corresponding to the “Jazz Steps” chapters. For example, Choreo 1 “Wonderful Thing” is good to learn after or during going through “Jazz Steps I – the essentials”. You will have the same footwork used in a choreo.

All of the footwork I use in choreographies you can learn and practice separately in “Jazz Steps” chapters. So if you started a choreo and you don’t know a step, go to “Jazz Steps” and learn it separately.

Each choreo is a full chorus, AABA structure (32 bars, 16 eights).

HOW TO USE?

If that’s your first acquaintance with solo jazz & swing – use the whole course in chronological order. I thought it through to be progressive from more simple to more complex material.
Use “Jazz Choreographies” along the way.

You can as well use “Jazz Steps” chapters in any order you want if you prefer.

CONTENT

Fundamentals

• Lesson 1: Bounce
• Practice 1: Bounce
• Lesson 2: Back Beat
• Practice 2: Backbeat
• Lesson 3: Walking with groove
• Practice 3: Walking with groove
• Lesson 4: Walking with kicks
• Practice 4: Walking with kicks
• Lesson 5: Kick steps
• Practice 5: Kick steps
• Lesson 6: Stomps
• Practice 6: Stomps
• Lesson 7: Syncopation
• Practice 7: Syncopation
• Lesson 8: Triple steps
• Practice 8: Triple steps
• Lesson 9: Kick Ball Change
• Practice 9: Kick Ball Change
• Tip: Opposition
• Demonstration

Jazz Steps I – The Essentials

• Tip: how to approach jazz steps
• Lesson 10: Tacky Annie
• Practice 10: Tacky Annie
• Lesson 11: Boogie Forward
• Practice 11: Boogie Forward
• Lesson 12: Boogie Hips
• Practice 12: Boogie Hips
• Lesson 13: Fishtail
• Practice 13: Fishtail
• Lesson 14: Charleston Step
• Practice 14: Charleston Step
• Tip: Charleston Twist & Happy Feet
• Lesson 15: Fall Off The Log
• Practice 15: Fall Off The Log
• How to Twist in Suzy Q
• Lesson 16: Suzy Q
• Practice 16: Suzy Q

Jazz Steps II – Extras & Variations

• Lesson 17: Boogie Drops
• Practice 17: Boogie Drops
• Lesson 18: The Rocks
• Practice 18: The Rocks
• Lesson 19: Camel Walk
• Practice 19: Camel Walk
• Lesson 20: Fall Off The Log Variations
• Practice 20: Fall Off The Log Variations
• Lesson 21: Suzy Q Variation
• Practice 21: Suzy Q Variation
• Lesson 22: Jump Charleston
• Practice 22: Jump Charleston

Jazz Steps III – Syncopated Steps

• Lesson 23: Ball Change & Hip Swings
• Practice 23: Ball Change & Hip Swings
• Lesson 24: Boogie Back
• Practice 24: Boogie Back
• Lesson 25: Crossover & Scissor Kicks
• Practice 25: Crossover & Scissor Kicks
• Lesson 26: Shorty George
• Practice 26: Shorty George
• Lesson 27: Apple Jack
• Practice 27: Apple Jack

Jazz Steps IV – Signature Breaks

• Lesson 28: Lock Turns
• Lesson 29: Lock Turns 2
• Tips: How not to get dizzy in a turn
• Practice 29: Lock Turns
• Lesson 30: Half Break
• Practice 30: Half Break
• Lesson 31: Half Break & Lock Turn
• Practice 31: Half Break & Lock Turn
• Lesson 32: Lock Turn Break
• Practice 32: Lock Turn Break Practice
• Lesson 33: Full Break
• Practice 33: Full Break

Jazz Choreographies

• Understanding Jazz Forms
• Tip: How to use Choreographies
• Choreo 1 “Wonderful Thing”
• Practice “Wonderful Thing”
• Choreo 2 “In a Mellow Tone”
• Practice “In a Mellow Tone”
• Choreo 3 “Fall Of The Log”
• Practice “Fall Off The Log”
• Choreo 4 “Jump Charleston”
• Practice “Jump Charleston”
• Choreo 5 “Ain’t Misbehavin”
• Choreo 6 “Boogie Front”
• Practice “Boogie Front”
• Choreo 7 “Suzy Q”
• Practice “Suzy Q”
• Choreo 8 “Cement Mixer”
• Choreo 9 “Exactly Like You”
• Practice “Exactly Like You”
• Choreo 10 “Scissor Kicks”
• Practice “Scissor Kicks”
• Choreo 11 “Boogie drops”
• Practice “Boogie drops”
• Choreo 12 “Perdido”
• Grand Finale!

MUSIC FOR PRACTICING
Here is a playlist I created for you on Spotify. I will continuously update it as well.