Move · Videos · Dance · 27 min

Beginner Jazz Dance Class: Jazz Walks, Turns, Kicks and Leaps

Video by BodyKinect by Kendall on YouTube · Open on YouTube

Dance teacher Miss Auti leads a 27-minute beginner jazz class like a first studio lesson: a cardio warm-up and stretch, then jazz walks, chaîné and piqué turns, a jazz pirouette, kicks, chassés and a leap, each broken down slowly with a demonstrator.

  • 27 min
  • Beginner
  • High impact (jumping)
  • No equipment
  • Jazz

Good forDancing for fun

Step by step 11

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Cardio warm-up: jumping jacks, high knees, butt kicks and jump rope. 0:33
  2. Neck and shoulder rolls, squats and second-position pliés, then a rise. 1:38
  3. Standing stretches: a grand plié with shoulder drops, wide-legged folds, then lunges for the hip flexors. 3:12
  4. Floor stretches: straddle, butterfly and a forward fold; bend the knees if needed. 7:35
  5. Jazz walks: step and cross on a bent knee, high on the balls of the feet. 10:26
  6. Chaîné turns: straight legs, staying up on high demi-pointe. 12:18
  7. Piqué turns: step onto a straight leg from a plié, foot up to the knee. 14:05
  8. Jazz pirouette: tendu, plié back on demi-pointe, passé, then a single turn. 16:05
  9. Battements: plié, brush through first position and kick with straight legs. 20:10
  10. Chassés: an alternating gallop step, opposite arm forward. 21:55
  11. Chassé, step, leap: build up to a straight-legged leap across the room. 23:25

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Jazz walks: keep a soft bend in the knee and stay high on the balls of the feet
  • Keep the legs straight and lifted on demi-pointe in chaîné turns
  • Bend the knees in the stretches if they feel too intense

What it works Whole body

Tap an area for more videos that work it.

Joints it uses 3 takes load

  • Hips takes loadstraddle and lunge stretches, kicks, leaps
  • Knees takes loadjumping jacks, jump rope, squats, pliés, leaps
  • Ankles & feet takes loadjumps, leaps, turns on high demi-pointe
  • Neck moveshead turns, tilts and rolls
  • Shoulders movesshoulder rolls, jazz arm positions
  • Lower back movesforward folds, flat-back straddle stretch
  • Jumping or hopping. Impact goes through the ankles, knees and hips.
  • Kneeling. Pressure on the kneecaps — a folded towel or cushion under the knees helps.
  • Down on the floor. You get down to the floor and back up again.
  • Rounding or twisting the back. With osteoporosis or a back problem, move smoothly and within comfort, and ask a physio which suit you.
  • Standing on one leg. Keep a chair or a wall within reach.

Easier option from the coach: Bend the knees in the stretches if they feel too intense

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by BodyKinect by Kendall; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety