jazz requirements

I am coming upon two years of teaching in the expansive dance program at my YMCA and have grown as a teacher. I work under the direction of an exceptional woman and dancer, Lynn Wilmot-Stenehjem. This month is all focused on preparing the over 500 students for their recital at Tacoma's Pantages Theater where they will perform their dances for over 1,500 relatives and friends.

Aside from all the 'organized chaos' of the recital, it is the time of year where I decide which students are ready to move on to higher levels. Here is one of my handouts I include for the dancers and parents when they get their next class assignment:

Required Skills to Enter Advanced Jazz Level, 8- 12 years old,

students should master the following:

warm up

working for great flexibility

center work

strong foot technique

upper body and core strength

pirouettes (turns) single mastered-inside & out, working on doubles

across the floor

fan kicks

6ct step

battements (kicks) fwd, sdwys, bkwd (above 45 degrees)

chaines-correctly executed, faster paced

diagonal

pas de bourrees (begin turning)

front, side, back jumps & leaps, tombe pas de bourree prep

complex combination of steps

working on fast directional changes

*demonstrate performance quality

*demonstrate musicality

*ability to master choreography

*ability to apply corrections

'ides' press release

For Immediate Release
Contact: Michael Hoover
Phone: 253-380-7981
Email: michael@barefootcollective.org

COME ENJOY AN EVENING OF UNCONVENTIONAL DANCE PERFORMANCE FEATURING REVEALING AND EMOTIONALLY RISKY DANCE IN THE 'IDES OF MAY' AT BAREFOOT STUDIO.

Two show nights in May will exhibit exciting new dance works from choreographers Michael Hoover, Hannah Crowley and Marianne Gary.

The Barefoot Collective in cooperation with MG & MH Arts, a dance art collaborative, present The Ides of May a live and mixed media dance performance featuring young and talented dancers from the south sound area. Ides will show Monday, May11th and Friday, May 15th, 2009. Both shows start at 8PM, with pre-show guitar music from 7:30 to 8PM, provided by Tacoma natives, Tim Beecher and Barry Simmons.

Michael Hoover, a masterfully creative choreographer, will debut his new work danced in duet by two incredibly physical and daring dancers, Jill Shaffner and Heather Whinnen. This extensive piece has moments of extreme craftiness in the art of dance partnering work, a relatively new phase in the art of modern dance. The emotional tone of this piece takes the audience through segments of humor and then quickly turns and morphs to the tumultuous.

Along with this duet, Hoover has planned a solo performance for himself involving the personal and revealing idea of striping away one’s presented social layers and getting rid of the outward facade. This promises to be an interesting and honest number to witness.

In concert with Hoover for Ides, he has asked fellow dancers/choreographers Hannah Crowley and Marianne Gary to display their talents as dance artists. Crowley will dance a unique solo piece created in collaboration with the musical skills of her brother, William Crowley who has composed the sound for her dance. Gary is pleased to be showing her video work in a dance film highlighting the dance abilities of her YMCA modern students entitled, Beautiful Dancers in Blue.

Ides of May will be presented May 11th and 15th at 8PM with pre-show music starting at 7:30. These two performances will be at Barefoot Studio, 1604 Center Street in Tacoma. Tickets are available in advance for $9 online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ and at the door: $15 general admission, $12 student senior military.

If you would like anymore information about this show, or to schedule an interview with Michael Hoover please call 253-380-7981 or email him, michael@barefootcollective.org.

ides of may