As a content creator at ten-dance.com, and a dedicated solo jazz dance enthusiast, I often encounter the question: “Do you practice Jazz Dancing solo? If so, what does that look like, how do you do it, and how often?”
The answer is a resounding yes! Solo jazz dance is not just my profession; it’s my passion and my life. And practice is the cornerstone of growth and discovery in this art form. For me, jazz dancing practice is both a physical and mental endeavor, something I engage in as frequently as possible. My schedule is typically packed with weekend commitments at jazz and swing dance festivals, and intensive workshops. This usually leaves me with 2-3 weekdays where I dedicate 1-3 hours each day to my personal practice. I cherish this time! It’s when I can explore new ideas, refine my skills, and maintain peak performance readiness. Beyond my solo sessions, I also participate in classes in other dance styles like Afro, tap, and house. These classes are invaluable practice in themselves, providing fresh perspectives and a wellspring of inspiration. In this blog post, I want to share some universal practice tips that I’ve found helpful in my journey.
Solo jazz dance practice in a studio
Initially, I equated practice solely with physical activity in a studio. However, I’ve come to recognize the immense power of mental practice. Watching dance videos, immersing myself in jazz music and rhythms, and visualizing myself executing movements – these are all potent tools for improvement. It’s even said that mental practice can be nearly as effective as physical practice.
While mental preparation is crucial and something we likely all do instinctively, let’s focus on actionable tips for physical practice in this article.
Structuring Your Solo Jazz Dance Practice Sessions
Schedule Your Practice Time and Space
In the life of a self-employed dancer, it’s easy to let intentions waver. One moment you’re motivated to practice, the next, a sunny day beckons for an impromptu outing (especially if you’re in a beautiful city like Barcelona, as I am!). However, the simple act of booking a studio space and scheduling your practice transforms it into a commitment. It becomes harder to reschedule on a whim. I typically book a studio, or find a suitable space – sometimes even at home. The act of deliberately allocating time and physically going to a designated place solely for dance is incredibly motivating and structuring. This is my number one tip for effective practice.
My typical solo jazz dance practice plan looks like this:
- Warm-up & Zone In
- Improvisation to Connect with My Body and Mood
- Focused Task Execution (more on this below)
- Improvisation to Conclude
- Cool-down / Gentle Stretch
When I arrive at the studio, I begin with a warm-up, usually lasting 10-15 minutes. This involves stretching and tuning into my body. I ask myself: How am I feeling today? What is my body telling me it needs for our session? Some days you might feel more restricted or fatigued than others. Acknowledging and respecting your body’s condition is essential. I have a personal set of warm-up exercises, as most dancers do. I make sure to focus on deep breathing during stretches to warm up from the inside out. Putting on some favorite jazz tunes is also a great way to set the mood and energize my practice.
Key Principles for Effective Practice
Set a Clear Focus for Each Session
Once warmed up, I immediately transition to focused practice tasks. I’ve learned invaluable lessons about effective practice from various inspiring figures, including musicians, dancers, and artists. Kenny Werner, with his insightful lectures on jazz practice, has significantly influenced my approach. His masterclass, “A Master Class in Jazz Performance and Creativity with Pianist Kenny Werner” (over an hour long, but highly recommended!), is a top resource for understanding jazz practice.
Inspired by Kenny Werner and others, here are some guiding principles I consistently apply:
1. Define Your Practice Goal
Setting clear objectives for each solo jazz dance session is crucial. I usually book studio time for around 2 hours. This isn’t a lot of time to wander aimlessly. When practicing alone, you are the sole director. Without a task, schedule, or time frame, progress can be elusive. Be your own disciplined guide! The most effective practice often comes from focused limitations, not from trying to do everything at once. Concentrating on a specific, smaller element can lead to significant overall dance improvement.
Common Practice Tasks I Use:
- Choreography Practice and Memorization
- Composition (sketching new choreography or routines)
- Rhythm and Time Signature Work
- Exploring New Movements or Styles
- Refining Movement Quality and Technique
- Dancing at Varying Tempos
- Improvisation Practice
Clearly define your objective, establish a task, and allocate time! For instance, “Choreography review and memorization, refreshing overall routines, 1 hour.” Or, “Time signature exploration, sketching new choreography in 3/4 time, 1.5 hours.”
2. Embrace Progress, Not Immediate Perfection
This is a principle I often need to remind myself of! Some days, movements flow effortlessly, and everything clicks. Other days, inspiration seems absent, everything feels mundane, and even basic turns feel clumsy. This is perfectly normal. Accept these fluctuations and keep moving forward. Perhaps shorten the practice on an off-day and treat yourself to a relaxing coffee with a friend. The key word here is “immediately”. If you maintain a consistent solo jazz dance practice schedule, say 2-3 times a week for 1-2 hours, you will see improvement. Consistent effort is the key to progress.
3. Make Practice Playful and Engaging
This is paramount! If practice feels like a tedious chore, it’s unlikely you’ll maintain it. Transform your practice into your personal playground. For me, injecting playfulness isn’t difficult because I genuinely love to dance. The simple act of moving to music brings me joy.
Here’s a glimpse into one of my practice sessions:
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CAK_X4ZgKG7
I hope these general practice tips for solo jazz dancing are beneficial! What are your experiences with practice? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
I’ll continue this discussion in Part 2: How to Practice Improvisation in my next blog post.
Written by Ksenia Parkhatskaya
