You hear that infectious swing, that syncopated beat, that call of the brass. Your body wants to move, but where do you even begin? Welcome. Jazz dance isn't just a style; it's a conversation between your soul and the music. Let's start the dialogue.

Forget "Steps," Find the Feel

Traditional dance often starts with positions. Jazz starts with pulse. Before you learn a single shuffle ball change, spend time just listening. Put on a classic jazz standard—think Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, or a modern vibe like Kamasi Washington. Close your eyes. Don't try to move. Just notice where your body wants to respond. Is it a head nod? A shoulder shrug? A tap in the heel? That’s your innate rhythm speaking. That’s your starting point.

Your Body is an Instrument

Jazz dance is percussive. Your feet can be a snare drum, your claps a hi-hat, your entire body a crescendo. Begin by isolating these "instruments."

• Feet & Floor: Practice basic weight shifts. Step side-to-side, feeling the entire sole of your foot connect with and push off the floor. Listen to the sound you make.
• Spine & Ribs: Sit in a chair. Keep your hips still and see if you can slide your ribs to the right, then to the left, as if drawing a line with your collarbone. This is the beginning of body isolation, the core of jazz vocabulary.
• Arms & Energy: Jazz arms are rarely soft. They have intention, shape, and energy that extends through the fingertips. Practice reaching an arm out, not just to a point, but as if you're sending a current of electricity all the way to the wall.

Embrace the "Jazz Attitude"

The technique is crucial, but the attitude sells it. Jazz dance has a signature swagger—a confidence that comes from within, not from having all the moves. It's in the tilted chin, the direct gaze, the playful smile, or the intense focus. Practice this in the mirror. Walk across your room not as yourself, but as if you're a cool cat in a 1920s speakeasy or a powerhouse in a Broadway spotlight. How does it change your posture? Your energy? That’s the character.

Build Your Foundation: Three Moves to Master First

1. The Jazz Walk: This is your bread and butter. It's a purposeful, grounded walk, often with a slight plié in the knee, a pointed toe contacting the floor first. Practice walking in a square, focusing on smoothness and maintaining a low center of gravity.
2. The Ball Change: A rapid weight shift (step back on the ball of one foot, then quickly change weight to the other). It's the punctuation in a jazz sentence. Do it slowly to a count ("and-ONE") until it's second nature.
3. The Plié in Parallel: Unlike ballet's turned-out plié, jazz often uses a parallel stance. Feet under hips, knees tracking over toes. Sink down with control, keeping your spine long. This is your power position for jumps, turns, and rebounds.

Remember, the goal in week one is not complexity. It's clarity and connection. Clean, clear execution of one move is worth more than a messy attempt at ten.

Your Practice Sanctuary

You don't need a studio. You need a safe, clear space (even a 6x6 foot area) and a full-length mirror if possible. Wear clothes that let you see your body's lines—fitted leggings and a tank top work perfectly. Jazz shoes or socks are ideal for starting; they allow for slides and turns. Most importantly, create a ritual. A specific playlist, a few minutes of stretching, a mental intention: "For the next 30 minutes, I explore."