Jazz with Jeannette: A JNDS Staple

November 2012 - by Victoria Kickham

Those of us who have been taking class at the Jeannette Neill Dance Studio for a long time are well acquainted with the studio’s mission to preserve the history and tradition of jazz dance. All you have to do is attend a Boston Youth Moves Company Concert to see this (BYM is the studio’s pre-professional teen training program). And although the studio embraces all forms of dance—offering classes for every body, as faculty and staff like to put it—jazz is where it all started and what continues to form the base of the studio’s existence.

I was reminded of this mission last weekend when I made my way back to Jeannette Neill’s Jazz 2 class, at one time a regular part of my Saturday morning routine.  Jeannette’s Jazz class was my introduction to the studio more than 15 years ago (I don’t really want to say how many more than 15) and I go back regularly for three key reasons: the warm up, the conversation and the classic jazz combinations.  

Jeannette offers the best warm-up in the business; you are always ready to dance at the end of her thorough 45-minute drill. This was especially helpful last week when she ended it with one of my all-time favorite adagios—to Patti Labelle’s You are My Solid Ground. This is a key sign of a good class for me: I came home and downloaded the music and have been dancing this adagio in my kitchen (my husband and two young daughters have become adept at avoiding flying limbs on their way to the fridge).

Jeannette talks a lot in class, and for me this is half the reason to attend. I always leave inspired by the nuggets of information she shares—sometimes about the history and traditions of dance; always a helpful image or inside tip on how to gain better control of your body and improve your dancing (I’ll explain her “secret of jazz” in just a minute).  She draws from her experience as a performer, teacher, choreographer and all-around dance advocate to impart this advice.

Jeannette’s combinations are always about style and rhythms, whether she’s doing an upbeat, funky jazz piece or a gooey, bluesy number. The latter is my absolute favorite, and I pride myself on my “blues radar.” If I even suspect she’s working on a blues combo I’ll rearrange my schedule to take class.

But enough about me; here are a few things you’ll learn from Jazz with Jeannette:

• The secret of Jazz is plié. I can think of no truer dance words. The first time I heard Jeannette say this, all the advice I’d heard for years about using the floor and “thinking down to go up” became even clearer. When you start with plié, you really can go anywhere.
• Relax, they’re just steps. Yes you have to learn them and sometimes they’re fast, but they are just steps after all. Think about your rhythms and it gets much easier—and you’re likely to get out of your head and into your body a lot faster.
• Nobody cares if you make a mistake. This is a tough one because no one likes to mess up. And it is especially important for newcomers and beginners to understand that no one is critiquing your performance in this class. Of course Jeannette offers help and advice, but honestly, no one cares if you turn the wrong way or get two counts ahead of the group. Just ask questions and keep working at it.

The other reason I like Jeannette’s class so much is that all of this advice is good for beginners, serious students and professionals alike.  And fortunately for us, she teaches classes for every level. Jazz 2 is three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 11 a.m. She also teaches Jazz 1 on Saturdays at 9 a.m. and Jazz Basics—for the true beginner—on Thursdays at 6 p.m.

So if you’re looking for a great, classic Jazz class, look no further. You’re likely to leave feeling three inches taller—stronger in your core and longer in your limbs—and figuring out how you can work this class into your regular routine.