Backstreet dance, Cairns

Our Dance Classes

Check out this video to gain an insight into our fun end of term productions & dance styles: CLICK HERE

 

JAZZ/FUNK (available for all ages)

Jazz/Funk can be a fun, energetic, invigorating style of dance where you are always moving and bouncing around with energy!! It can also be a smooth and lyrical style of dance, however most times it is super funky, energetic & full of upbeat music.

Moves may include: turns, jumps, splits, kicks, runs and gallops. We also teach the correct jazz terminology such as jettes, chainé, chassé, fan kick, coupé, retiré, pirouette, plié, etc.

Saturday Preteen Jazz classes (9-12yo) have a choice between 2 styles as follows:

Commercial – can be a very sassy, feminine style. Music is generally pop music. eg. Beyonce, Rihanna, Lady Ga Ga, Ariana Grande.

Commercial has a mixture of sharp and fluid movements. It includes animated sassy expressions. Style seen in music videos.

 Broadway – very theatrical musical theatre style of jazz. Eg. Grease, Hairspray, Mary Poppins, Annie, Hamilton.

Broadway movements are exaggerated, high energy and tell a story. Loads of fun and very dramatic!!

EXAMPLES OF JAZZ DEMONSTRATED BY OUR TEAM:

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Jazz/Funk

Jazz/Funk (3yo to Adults)

Jazz/Funk classes can be very energetic & bouncy and generally involve a lot of travelling, jumping, turning, kicking and full range movements.

Jazz Terminology is used when teaching the choreography such as jette, retire, chaine turn, pirouette, plie and isolations.

Music in jazz is generally very upbeat and pumping beats.

Jazz/Funk is generally a feminine style of dance for example, the use of hips, hand flicks, & rolling shoulders, however students can make the moves their own (i.e. less feminine) if they choose to, as long as they are implementing the moves taught.

On occasion, there are opportunities in the choreography for students to choose their own moves. eg. choose 4 of your own poses.

JAZZ STYLES

Jazz

The choreography & music for JAZZ/FUNK classes can be inspired by many things such as:

1) Pop Music and Music Videos - eg. Beyonce, Britney, Lady Ga Ga, JLo, etc. Commercial Jazz can be very sassy.

2) Broadway Musicals - eg. Six, Mary Poppins, Hairspray, Chicago, Moulin Rouge. This style of jazz is very theatrical, expressive & includes moves from the stage musicals.

3) Lyrical - eg. Artists like Adele or from movies like The Greatest Showman and Frozen.

Q: What determines which style of jazz is taught? A: This depends on the Teacher and the students. Sometimes the Teacher asks the class what genre they want, and other times the Teacher completely switches styles each term to give students a vast range of experience so they keep motivated.

HIP HOP (available for all ages)

Hip hop is full of ATTITUDE!! Positive attitude of course. You’ll learn to move just like the famous music stars such as Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson, Beyonce, Michael Jackson and Rihanna.

Hip Hop is a broad term that can include popping, locking, breakdancing, house, moonwalking, waving, etc. You learn a lot of rhythm and groove – for instance, you’ll learn not only how to do a dance move, but how to sink into it the hip hop way and get a real good feel for what makes hip hop look & feel so good. This style is a great way to express yourself.

EXAMPLES OF HIP HOP DEMONSTRATED BY OUR TEAM:

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COMMERCIAL HIP HOP

Commercial Hip Hop Teens only (13yo+)

This style involves a lot of the latest music and is classified as new school hip hop ie. pop music like Beyonce, Rihanna, JLo, Fifth Harmony, Janet Jackson, Bruno Mars. It involves dance moves from music clips & movies and can be quite a feminine style. It is a creative style that requires high levels of attitude and sharp lines.

URBAN HIP HOP

Urban Hip Hop Teens only (13yo+)

This style is classified as old school hip hop and uses a range of bigger, expressive, loose and 'out there' moves. Loads of swagga! Suitable for those who like to dance it out BIG. It’s a more masculine style of hip hop, grungy and explosive energy. This loose style requires strong energy and calls on dancers who love to groove and explode out in energy.

BALLET/CONTEMPORARY

Ballet is the Godparent of dance and it’s full of tradition & format. This class is a balanced combination of both styles. It will include ballet technique and skill (No pointe/ballet shoes).

Contemporary is a style that explores the likes of Jazz, Ballet & Lyrical. It includes a lot of ballet & jazz components. Contemporary is used to tell a story & dancers are encouraged to connect with the music, use emotion & to move their body through different types of movement such as fluid, sharp or relaxed. It also features floor work, jumps, partner & group work.

EXAMPLES OF THIS STYLE:

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Heels (teens/adults 16yo+)

This style is all about female empowerment – embracing your body and holding it with confidence.

Not only do you dance in commercial HIGH heels but you also learn the very unique foundations of heels which has some Jazz elements in it and LOADS OF SASS, strutting and posing. 

The class involves some ballet technique for ankle and posture alignment and core strengthening. It includes learning how to walk confidently in heels plus learning some real cool choreography.