...dance?

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 8:09am

Hey there, lords and ladies...

I'll try to make this short--

My best friend and I are both Broadway lovers-- we have the same voice teacher, do all the shows at our school together, are planning a NYC roadtrip, and are both chorus members in an upcoming production of Ragtime... in other words, we do everything together.

So when we were watching the Tony's, we decided that it would be fun to take a dance class together. She's limited in her dance (to the extent of what our director for musicals at school has taught), and I've long forgotten everything I learned in my ballet and tap classes from when I was 5.

In addition, I haven't really got the build of a dancer... in other words, I could afford to lose a few pounds.

What sort of a class should we be looking into?

[GypsyRoseLee]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 9:01am

Tap is grand fun! I highly recommend it!!!!

[hannahshule]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 9:04am

Tap an maybe light ballet, just to help you learn to move.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 9:51am

Tap is great for all body types and an absolute blast
Jazz is fun and mostly the style of dance used for Broadway shows
I'd also recommend ballet
Best of luck!

[trpguyy]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 10:07am

I've asked a few different Broadway danders this question, and they've all said "Take ballet first. It's the foundation of all other forms of dance." Or something to that effect....

[tshell88]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 10:24am

If you're just looking to go into a fun dance class for a one time thing (not necessarily to lay the basis for the beginning of a dance career) I highly recommend Sue Samuels basic jazz class at Broadway Dance Centre. Her class is always full of a combination of people who have very little experience to people who obviously have spent a good part of their life training. Anyway, hope that helps.

Lindsay

[kim1061]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 10:36am

tap is fun.
I would say take a jazz class, but you may need ballet also.

Broadway Dance Center is great, try there.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 10:39am

If you are wanting to actually train in dance then you should start with ballet. Period. If you are just wanting to improve your movement for stage I would suggest possibly looking into a Musical Theatre Dance class. If you want to try a class in the city then I would recommend going to New Dance Group as it is a smaller studio than BDC and Steps. Just my two cents worth.

[kim1061]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 10:42am

Speaking of Steps..has anyone ever been? I want to try a class there. Where exactly is it? And how are the classes?

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 10:53am

I personally do not care that much for Steps. I have a few friends that teach and sub there. I haven't taken there in a while so I couldn't tell you how the classes currently are. It is located on the UWS, Broadway and 74th. If you get a chance take Cecilia Marta's jazz class, JP's modern class or a theatre class from Annie, Tony or Chet.

[peach]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 11:32am

When I lived in the area, years ago, I did a lot of classes at BDC. I liked it, but the classes are (were) rather large. Sometimes, beginners need more personal attention and are more comfortable in smaller classes. Just my 2 cents.

I can be a real stickler about this, but it's how I was trained and I'll say it again...anyone who wants a career in dance must take ballet.

Getting off resin-covered soapbox now.

If you are just looking for something fun to do and polish up your skills for auditions though, try jazz. Tap, as others have said, is great fun, and pretty satisfying, because you can learn the basics relatively fast.

If you are looking to just get your feet wet, and you are not in the NYC area, call a couple of your city's local schools. Try a beginner class (most schools have drop-in classes). Try a couple of different styles to see what strikes you.

Good luck!

[LilMissBway14]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 12:18pm

I second all the advice already given. Broadway Dance Center is a FABULOUS dance studio and they're all extremely nice and they really know what they're doing. Their classes are a lot of fun and they have a lot of beginniner and "basic" classes you can take. Tap is fun but ballet (in my opinion) is really the center of all dance. It teaches you how to move and makes you more aware of your body so you can excel in all types of dance. BDC's jazz is always a lot of fun, I highly recommend it!

[kim1061]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 12:58pm

thanks for the info WonderBoy..i'll check it out

I've been learning tap by taking the Basic tap at Broadway Dance with Germaine S. It's a lot of fun. I took a basic ballet a few times to start up and it was really good as well.

Can't hurt to try, you never know how you will do

[WickedCatsontheRoof]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 1:08pm

trpguyy- You are correct. Ballet is the basis of different dancing styles. You just build onto those techniques learned in ballet.