Jbug
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Re:What dance classes would be most useful? - 2008/04/28 21:03
 Ok, this is my former field. I have danced professionally and have worked and seen many dancers through the years. I began taking dance when I was 10. It was a class that was a combination of ballet, tap & jazz. Not ideal, but then my family didn't know any different. (A long time ago). Today, I don't dance much as I am too old to really dance in most chorus shows. I only do it for roles that call for an older person to dance. Or more often, I choreograph. I continue to study singing and acting.
I assume that you take dance just for the purpose of getting cast in musical theatre. That is how I was.
My recommendation is to study BALLET. It is the basis of all dance. If you have a good teacher, you will learn to preserve your body. Jazz & especially Hip-Hop will eventually destroy your knees. Your knees are everything. Once they go, they will NEVER be the same. I can say proudly that I still have my knees. Ballet dancers are also the best dancers in all musicals that I see. I can ALWAYS spot a well trained dancer - as a choreographer - the person with the ballet background usually stands out. They have better placement of their angles, hands, and legs. The best Broadway dancers have all had good ballet backgrounds. I recommend you take a couple of years of ballet only and eventually add jazz & tap to your training. Then keep at least 1 ballet class a week for the rest of your dance career.
I will also add. If you are allowed to take more than 2 classes a week, you could add a different class other than ballet at this time. I say ballet only at this point because you specifically said you couldn't take more than that. I view hip-hop as something you can pick-up if you have to. Study tap or jazz as your 2nd choice. The most important thing in studying dance is to learn TECHNIQUE. Just like technique will make you a better singer, the same goes for dance. Ballet, Jazz & Tap will give you the technique. Then you will be able to pick up all the other forms of dance as needed at auditions and shows.
Post edited by: Jbug, at: 2008/04/29 12:44
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