REVIEW: Beginner Broadway Jazz (Sue Samuels)

Style: Broadway Jazz
Teacher: Sue Samuels

Review:
Sue was very encouraging, offered helpful critiques, and made the classroom a safe learning environment. The strong emphasis on proper jazz technique makes this class a must take for actors and singers who want basics, a knowledge of dance terminology, and confidence!

What's very important for beg. dance students is that she teaches various levels at 3 different studios, 7 days a week. Students maybe flexible with their schedules or add extra classes when needed. She also offers DVDs/CDs of her jazz barre, isolations for purchase to those who want extra practice!

What TO expect: Sue's warm-up concentrates on placement, stretch, and strength (done to live percussion). The class continues with jazz isolations and across the floor work on turns, kicks and jumps. All followed by a choreographed combination to contemporary dance music which gets the students dancing and having fun! This class works on stretching, strengthening, moving, and giving you the tools to pick up choreography in ANY style. (excerts taken from BDC website)

What NOT TO expect: She is not a Hip Hop teacher or aerobics instructor. If you want a hard core work out and not proper dance technique this is not the class for you. This class moves at a slower pace to make sure the beginning dancer can master their skills, execute proper alignment, proper stretching, and become familiar with dance terms.

CURRENT CLASS SCHEDULE (as of June 2009):

-Monday -

Beginner Jazz - *BDC - 10:30-12

Basic-Beginner Jazz - *Alvin Ailey -7:30-9 ***

-Tuesday -

Adv Beg Jazz - *Flamenco Latino Studio - 10-11:30

Basic-Beginner Jazz - *BDC - 1:30-3:00

Beg Jazz - Alvin Ailey - 6-7:30pm

-Wednesday-

Beginner Jazz - *BDC - 10:30-12

-Thursday-

Adv Beg Jazz - Flamenco Latino Studio- 10-11:30

Basic Beginner Jazz - *BDC - 1:30-3:00

-Friday-

Beginner Jazz - *BDC - 10:30-12

-Saturday-

Intermediate Jazz - *Alvin Ailey - 12-1:30

-Sunday-

Beginner Jazz - *BDC - 10:30-12

CLASS LOCATIONS

BDC - 322 W. 45th Street bet. 8th and 9th Ave., NYC

Alvin Ailey - 405 W. 55th Street @ 9th Avenue, NYC

Flamenco Latino Studio - 244 W. 54th, 4th floor bet. Bway & 8th ave., NYC

Contact: susamjaz@aol.com, 2122620873
To purchase DVDs: www.divinerhythmproductions.com

* For ways to save money on dance classes check out my blog about special intro rates at various dance studios.

Special Rates for Introductory Lessons!

DANCE STUDIOS
Ailey Extension
2 classes for $25 (save $9)
Save 3% by purchasing online

Manhattan Movement
Buy ONE Get ONE FREE! (save $13-$15)


BALLROOM
Stepping Out Studios
- Lots of classes, various levels, great teachers (especially Christian)

Dancesport
- Lots of classes, various levels, great teachers (especially Tobi)

Dance Times Square
- Created by Tony Meredith & Melaine Lapatin (So You Think You Can Dance choreographers)


ADDITIONAL WAYS TO SAVE
Groupon offered a great discount at the beginning of the summer that offered 3 classes at the Ailey Extension for $25! (regular $17 per class)

What Holds Us Back? MONEY

I'm a dancer who can't listen to a song without choreographing a dance in my head! So one would think that it would be simple for me to find the motivation to take a dance class. I wish I could say it was simple. I even live in NYC where people literally dance 24 hrs a day!

Of course I can list all the factors of things that hold me back: Money, Class Size, Competitive Studio, Fear, Insecurity, Busy

MONEY was my biggest excuse! After a lot of research it seemed a work study program was my only option. I realized that lots of studios have great introductory offers, especially ballroom dance studios. I had never taken official ballroom lessons, but thought it would be a great style to add to my resume. That night I created a chart of all the ballroom studios in Manhattan. I called them all and scheduled free or discounted dance lessons at each studio. I danced basically for free for about 3-4 weeks while trying out all the studios. The tricky part was buying packages at every studio. Suddenly the unmotivated dancer was dancing 7 days a week spending lots of MONEY, which at the beginning was holding me back in the first place!

What worked was mixing private lessons with group classes because I progressed much faster and could break down steps so at the group classes I could follow along. Yes it was more expensive at the beginning, but then I could go into a group class applying what I had learned in the private. Soon private lessons were not as necessary and could focus on taking group classes to maintain skills.

Look at what holds you back and figure out how you can get over the hump!