Switching from ballet to jazz is not a typical transition for a dancer, but it’s what Dance 1 students are doing as they work on executing a fast paced and sharp jazz combo which they will perform for a test grade at the end of the marking period.

“The most difficult thing about teaching jazz is that there is a lot of style and technique required to do the style,” teacher Marina Gonzalez said. “And so do you want to spend more time teaching style and flare or more time teaching the technique?”

Gonzalez believes there are still many challenges the students will face technique wise.

“I think students struggle the most with things like direction changes that are quick and sudden and mastering that pirouette,” Gonzalez said.

For freshman Kelsey Dreskin, the pirouette is a mountain that she is looking forward to overcoming.

“I’m looking most forward to nailing my pirouette and having full confidence in my overall dancing,” Dreskin said.

In addition to learning the moves, students have already covered the history of jazz and are learning to adjust to dancing with fast paced jazz music.

“I like how it looks when other people dance,” freshman Amelia Pirrello said. “It’s really pretty to watch and we get to dance to really fun music because the beat is really fast and loud.”