azz dance and its inherent music is recognized as one of the original and most potent art forms of the last two centuries. From its African roots to our present-day global dance community, the jazz idiom has afforded a cross-fertilisation with all other artistic, cultural and social representations within the arts industry, providing an accessible dance platform for dancers, teachers and creatives to enjoy both recreationally and professionally. The Essential Guide to Jazz Dance offers a practical and uncomplicated overview to the multi-layered history, practices and development of jazz dance as a creative and artistic dance form. It covers the incredible history and lineage of jazz dance; the innovators, choreographers and dance creatives of the genre; specifics of jazz aesthetic, steps and styles; a detailed breakdown of a practical jazz dance warm-up and technical exercises; creative frameworks to support development of jazz dance expression and aesthetic; performance and improvisation; jazz music and musical interpretation, and finally, choreographing and creating jazz works. With over 230 colour photos and a wealth of tips and advice, this new book will be an ideal reading companion for dancers of all abilities, dance teachers, choreographers as well as all jazz dance enthusiasts. AUTHORS: Dollie Henry has straddled a career of thirty-eight years as a performer, choreographer, director, creative producer and educator, and is recognized as one of the most formidable exponents of jazz dance in the UK. Her vast career crosses musical theatre, concert dance, music production, film and television. As co-artistic director and choreographer of the jazz theatre company Body of People (BOP), she continues to create original jazz theatre repertoire and commissioned theatre projects. Dollie is both an Associate Teacher of ISTD and an Honorary Member of IDTA. Paul Jenkins has a professional career spanning thirty-seven years as a jazz musician (trumpet), composer, arranger, music producer and educator, creating musical scores and compositions for television, film, dance and musical theatre. His work spans all musical genres and he continues to teach practical recording and music workshops throughout the UK and internationally. Together with Dollie he is co-artistic director and musical director/composer of Body of People (BOP).
208 colour and 17 b/w photographs, 10 colour diagrams