Jazz Walks

I think it is important to develop the jazz walk technique before trying to approach jazz runs. The jazz walk is an exercise for foot and leg shape, and propelling the body forward. This technique can be used in a show and is the basis for the jazz run technique. The jazz walk will generally be practiced at a much slower tempo than any jazz running. Jazz walks can be done anywhere from 8-to-5 – 6-to-5, or smaller step sizes. They can also be done with no step size. Just have the performers take the biggest step size they can using a jazz walk technique.

The jazz walk technique is all straight leg technique, and the counts are similar to that of regular marching. The crossing count (both legs side-by-side) on the off-beat, and contact with the ground on the beat. However, instead of landing on the heal like a regular forward march, each step is a placement of the foot, and it should land toe first. The students can be reminded that they should be thinking toe, ball (of the foot), heal repeatedly throughout the exercise. For this exercise, the performers do not go through coupé on the off-beat. Although, there are exercises and marching styles where the use of coupé is appropriate.
The performers must start in a first position turn out, and their upper body should be lifted with the qualities explained in the checklist articles. The weight of the performer should be moving forward as if somebody is pushing them from behind between their shoulder blades. However, their posture should still remain upright and lifted, it’s just the forward momentum that is important. Another visualization is to imagine that the body hanging on an assembly line, and the body weight does not clunk, fall, bounce, etc into each step.
When taking a step the performer’s sternum should line up with their front heal. The back leg will move the body forward by pushing backward. Using the same motion as the leg swing mentioned earlier. The legs will make a scissor shape for each step forward. When swinging each leg forward for another step, keep the foot next to the ground, and move each leg like a pendulum. As the performer takes the first step they should be rotating their feet outward to maintain a well defined turn out position with feet pointed. Remember, this is done with straight legs. Jazz walks are also commonly called “Toe-lead walks.”

The arms can be in several different positions for jazz walks, and each can help emphasize certain visual elements. For example, the arms can be straight up, above the performers head with palms facing each other. This will help emphasize lifting up and encourage the performers to get the weight out of the hips throughout the exercise. This will also help with playing on the move. The arms can be at the performers side, behind their back or in playing position.

Jazz Running

If the jazz walk technique is used to approach jazz running, then the jazz walk needs to be done at a larger step size. But lets face it, this is not a perfect world and that would just be too easy. When jazz running the body naturally has a tendency to get lower to the ground. This causes bending in the knees and posture issues. Performers need to know that they will have to fight the tendencies of their body.
Posture issues can be avoided by having the performers run (jog or sprint) with the postural qualities desired during the show. If they are comfortable moving quickly over a large area with good posture, then posture will be less of an issue when jazz running. As the performers get more comfortable with jazz running and what their body is doing, they will be more comfortable lifting up as they move.

The biggest issue with young jazz runners is dropping the body weight and bending the legs at the knee. To prevent this they need to be reminded to lift up constantly. There are also a few techniques to helping this issue. The performers can jazz run with their arms in the air (with palms facing each other). This will not only help with posture and leg shape, but also the ability to play with a steady air stream while jazz running. It is also good to let performers jazz run at a small step size. It is much easier to jazz run with straight legs that way. By doing this, they will get a feeling for what they need to look like.

During the early stages of jazz running, let the performers do it on their own, with no tempo and no specific step size. Just tell them to take a big enough step size to jazz run, that way they can focus solely on the technique. Once the tempo is incorporated into jazz running, remember that it should be fairly brisk to maintain the gracefulness of jazz running.
As far as the jazz running technique goes, it is very similar to the jazz walk. Obviously, more ground it being covered, and there is also a very short period where the performer is air born. During that brief second, both legs should be completely straight and extended. Like the jazz walk, the back leg is propelling the body forward, and upper body momentum should be forward. Remember pushing between the shoulder blades and the assembly line analogy? That still applies to jazz running. I would avoid telling the performers to flick their feet. By doing that, they will start to flick their feet too high, which will change the technique. The feet should stay low (just like the jazz walks).

Learning to jazz run is process, and it is definitely not something to be rushed. Utilizing the techniques and exercises from this article will help set the process up for success. Remember, that you have walk before you can run.