Music is the heartbeat of any dance class, and selecting the right Jazz Dance Songs can transform a good session into an unforgettable experience. As a dance instructor, I understand the constant quest for fresh, engaging, and appropriate music. It’s about finding that sweet spot – tunes that inspire movement, maintain energy, and align with the technical and artistic goals of your class.
Building a playlist that’s both diverse and suitable for a dance environment can be challenging. You need tracks that are catchy and motivating, yet free from explicit content or overly suggestive themes. While clean versions are an option, they sometimes fall short, merely replacing one questionable word with another.
Through years of teaching, I’ve developed a refined approach to discovering jazz dance songs and crafting playlists that consistently hit the mark. This guide shares my proven tips and tricks to help you find the perfect music and create playlists that will elevate your jazz dance classes.
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Alt text: A visually engaging image showcasing a person creating a jazz dance songs playlist, emphasizing the creative and organizational aspects of music selection for dance classes.
Key Elements When Choosing Jazz Music for Dance Class
When I’m on the hunt for new music for my jazz dance classes, I focus on three crucial elements that determine a song’s suitability and impact:
- Tempo
- Dynamics
- Emotional Quality
Tempo: Setting the Pace for Movement
Tempo, or the speed of the music, is a fundamental consideration. Different tempos serve different purposes in a dance class.
High-tempo tracks are excellent for high-energy exercises like abdominal work or fast-paced movements like dégagés. These songs provide the drive and urgency needed for exercises that demand quickness and stamina.
Songs with varied tempos, on the other hand, are invaluable for choreography and combinations. The inherent changes in pace within these tracks prevent the movement from becoming monotonous and allow for dynamic shifts in the dance sequences. This variation keeps dancers engaged and challenges them to adapt to different rhythmic patterns.
Consider the example playlist provided later. Under “Battements,” you’ll find contrasting songs like Black Cat by Janet Jackson and Wake Me Up (Acoustic) by Aloe Blacc. Black Cat, a pop track with sharp downbeats and a rapid tempo, is perfect for staccato kicks, demanding precision and energy. Conversely, the acoustic version of Wake Me Up is ideal for slower, more controlled battements, allowing dancers to focus on technique and extension throughout the movement. The tempo variation within your playlist is key to creating a well-rounded and effective class.
Dynamics: Matching Music to Movement Intensity
Dynamics refers to the energy and intensity of a song, and how well it aligns with the intended purpose of a dance exercise or routine.
High-energy, powerful tracks are fantastic for high-intensity activities like push-ups, cardio bursts, and leaps. For instance, Work Work by Britney Spears is a go-to for leaps. Its powerful, driving beat motivates students to push their limits and execute leaps with power and dynamism.
Conversely, softer, more mellow tunes, especially acoustic covers, are better suited for stretching, cool-downs, or exercises requiring focused control and grace. The dynamic range in your playlist should mirror the ebb and flow of energy in your class.
Dynamics also play a crucial role in choreography. You can choose to synchronize movement with the song’s dynamic shifts, creating a harmonious flow, or you can intentionally contrast the music’s dynamics with the movement, generating an interesting sense of tension and artistic dissonance. The choice depends on the desired effect and the expressive goals of your choreography. Understanding dynamics allows you to use music not just as background sound, but as an active partner in your dance instruction.
Emotional Quality: Inspiring and Motivating Dancers
Music possesses a profound ability to evoke emotions. The emotional quality of a song can significantly impact the atmosphere of your class and the dancers’ engagement.
For example, after an intense competition weekend when students are fatigued, a calming, chilled-out warm-up mix is ideal. Conversely, in the lead-up to a competition, an energetic, pump-up mix can boost morale and focus.
Consider how music can resonate with your students on a personal level. While you might be using a song simply for battements, a particular track could deeply inspire a student, motivating them to push harder and achieve more. The right emotional tone in your music can transform routine exercises into moments of inspiration and personal growth.
The opening track of my sample playlist, Lay It All On Me (feat. Ed Sheeran) by Rudimental, exemplifies this. Its upbeat, feel-good vibe instantly creates a positive atmosphere, setting an optimistic and encouraging tone for the entire class. Selecting music with positive emotional qualities can significantly enhance the learning environment and inspire your students to connect more deeply with the dance.
Organizing and Building Effective Jazz Playlists
Creating a well-structured jazz dance playlist is just as important as selecting individual songs. A thoughtfully organized playlist enhances the flow of your class and keeps students engaged.
Creating an Arc: Structure and Flow
Nothing disrupts the energy of a class like a monotonous playlist. Imagine ten songs in a row with the same tempo and feel – it can lead to student disengagement and a stagnant class atmosphere.
To prevent this, aim for variety and structure in your playlists. I typically develop three distinct warm-up playlists and rotate them throughout the year. Each playlist is carefully curated to create a specific arc, moving through different tempos and dynamic levels to prepare the body progressively for more intense work.
For optimal class flow, I often time out exercises to match the length and tempo of specific songs. This meticulous planning ensures seamless transitions between exercises and music, maximizing class time and minimizing interruptions. While this level of preparation requires time, it pays off significantly in smoother, more efficient classes. The upfront investment in playlist construction saves valuable class time that would otherwise be spent searching for music or adjusting audio equipment.
Variety: Keeping it Fresh
Variety is the spice of life, and the same holds true for dance playlists. While repetition can be useful for mastering technique, musical monotony can lead to boredom.
When building playlists, aim to include at least three song options for each exercise type. Creating alternate lists allows you to rotate music regularly, keeping classes fresh and engaging. While a teacher might be content listening to the same track repeatedly during tendus, students often crave variety.
New music helps students stay focused and motivated, providing a welcome distraction from repetitive exercises like 32-count extension series. Musical variety keeps students mentally stimulated and enhances their overall enjoyment and engagement in the class.
Shuffle: Embracing Spontaneity
For instructors who prefer a more improvisational approach, the shuffle feature can be a valuable tool. Creating a large playlist of fifty or more excellent songs and hitting shuffle offers spontaneity and keeps both you and your students on your toes.
Shuffling introduces an element of surprise and excitement, preventing classes from becoming predictable. It also encourages you, as the teacher, to hone your improvisation skills, adapting your exercises and combinations to the unpredictable flow of the music. This method keeps warm-ups and progressions feeling fresh and dynamic, fostering a lively and engaging class environment.
Quick Edits: Tailoring Music to Perfection
Sometimes, a song is perfect in every way except for a single explicit word. Don’t let that stop you from using it! With simple audio editing, you can easily remove or cut out unwanted words or verses.
Free tools like Audacity (available for download online) make audio editing accessible to everyone. Taking just a few minutes to edit a song allows you to use a wider range of music without compromising on appropriateness. This quick editing capability ensures that you can use fantastic tracks without worrying about unexpected explicit content interrupting the flow of your class.
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Alt text: A screenshot of Audacity audio editing software interface, highlighting its utility in editing jazz dance songs for class playlists by removing explicit content or verses.
Sourcing the Best Jazz Music for Dance
Finding the right jazz dance songs for your class involves exploring various avenues for music discovery. Here are four primary methods I use to keep my playlists fresh and exciting:
1. Tap into Your Network: Ask Your Friends
Often, the simplest solutions are the most effective. Reaching out to your personal network is a surprisingly fruitful way to discover new music.
Every few months, I post a simple request on social media: “HELP! Need new music!! Share your favorite tracks here.” The response is consistently impressive, drawing recommendations from a diverse group of people, not just dancers. This broad input often leads to the discovery of unique and eclectic music that I might not have found otherwise. Don’t underestimate the power of personal recommendations – they can lead you to unexpected musical gems.
2. Explore Digital Music Platforms: iTunes & Apple Music
Digital music platforms like iTunes and Apple Music are treasure troves of musical possibilities.
Start by exploring the top downloaded songs charts to get a sense of current popular music. The “listeners also bought” section on iTunes is particularly useful for discovering music related to your existing preferences. If you find a sound you like, this feature helps you uncover similar artists and tracks, expanding your musical horizons. Apple Music’s recommendation engine further enhances music discovery by suggesting tracks based on your listening history. These platforms offer continuous exposure to a vast and varied musical landscape.
3. Identify Music on the Go: Shazam
Shazam is an indispensable tool for identifying music in your everyday environment.
If you hear a song you like while shopping, dining out, watching a movie, or even in someone’s car, use Shazam. This app quickly identifies the song, providing you with the artist, title, lyrics, and download links via iTunes. Shazam eliminates the frustration of hearing a great song and not knowing its name. It’s a free smartphone app that turns everyday encounters with music into opportunities for playlist enrichment.
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Alt text: A person using the Shazam app on a smartphone to identify a jazz dance song, illustrating a practical method for discovering music in real-world settings for dance class playlists.
4. Leverage Streaming Services: Spotify
Spotify is another excellent platform for music discovery and playlist creation, offering a vast library of songs and curated playlists.
Spotify allows you to create and share playlists, and its top charts feature is particularly useful for finding popular music across different genres and countries. Exploring the top 50 charts in various regions can expose you to diverse musical styles and trends. While Spotify offers a free version, premium membership unlocks enhanced features. Streaming services like Spotify provide ongoing access to a massive music library, making playlist building more efficient and enjoyable.
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Alt text: A screenshot of a jazz dance songs playlist on Spotify, demonstrating the platform’s interface for creating and managing music playlists for dance classes.
Sample Jazz Dance Class Playlist
To give you a starting point, here’s a sample playlist inspired by my personal collection. Feel free to use it as inspiration, share your own playlists with me, or suggest artists you love!
Warm-up (Undulations, Tendus, Isolations, etc.):
- Lay It All On Me (feat. Ed Sheeran) by Rudimental
- Pony (It’s Ok) by Erin McCarley
- I Need A Dollar by Aloe Blacc
- Someone New by Hozier
Stretch:
- Let It Go by James Bay
- River Lea by Adele
- Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay by Sarah Bareilles
Workout (Abs, Push-ups, Cardio):
- Can’t Stop the Feeling! by Justin Timberlake
- Work from Home (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) by Fifth Harmony
- Woman’s World by Cher
Progressions:
- Battements
- Black Cat by Janet Jackson
- Wake Me Up (Acoustic) by Aloe Blacc
- Turns
- Right Here by Jess Glynne
- We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris) by Rihanna
- The Man Who Never Lied by Maroon 5
- Leaps
- You’ve Got The Love by Florence + The Machine
- The Sound by The 1975
- Every Teardrop is a Waterfall by Coldplay
- Break Free (feat. Zedd) by Ariana Grande
- Work Work by Britney Spears
Start Building Your Ultimate Jazz Dance Songs Playlist
Creating effective jazz dance playlists requires thoughtful consideration, but the rewards are immense. An engaging, well-organized, and energizing playlist can significantly elevate your dance classes, making them more enjoyable and effective for both you and your students.
The tips and tricks outlined above are designed to streamline your playlist creation process and help you discover music more efficiently. With practice, you’ll find yourself building playlists with enthusiasm and sharing your musical discoveries with colleagues and friends.
I encourage you to experiment with these methods and share your feedback. As a perpetual music seeker, I am always eager to discover new tracks and would love to hear your suggestions and favorite jazz dance songs!
