Jive Workshop

1. The Jive and Hand Jive Rehearsal
The focus withintoday’srehearsalistolearnthe basicstepsto the jive andapplythemto the dance
numberwithinGrease.AfterlearningbasicstepsIwill learn,rehearse,refineandimprove the
choreographyforthe Hand jive withinGrease.
Therefore mytargetfortoday’srehearsal isto applyappropriate dance stylescorrectlyandensure
my movementsare accurate andin time withthe music.
Commencingtoday’srehearsalItookpart ina shortwarm upwhichcontainedcardioexercisesto
preventmyself fromanyinjuries.Immediately,afterthe warmupI tookpart ina workshoptolearn
the basic stepstothe jive.Before learningthe basicchoreographyIwasinformedthatthe jive hasto
be performedwithgreatamountsof energyandconstantlyhave aspring/bounce inyourstep.The
firstsectionof choreographytaughtwasto be performedindividually.WithinthissectionIrepeated
the moves‘Stepback,Chassé (tothe right),Chassé (tothe left)’for7 sets,afterthisforthe 8th
set I
had to do a setof kickand flicks.Thiscontinuedintopartnerworkrepeatingeverythingwe hadjust
done exceptIhad to holdmypartnershand.WithinthisworkshopIwas able toapplyappropriate
dance stylescorrectly.Additionally,Iunderstoodthatforthe jive itis importanttolistentothe drum
line ratherthanthe melodyasthe drumline providesthe beats.Followingthe workshopIwasable
to start to learnthe choreographyforGrease’s‘The Hand-Jive’.The skillsIappliedtothisdance from
the workshopwere the abilitytocontinuallycreate ahappyandenergeticdance andcorrectlykeep
my legskickinginapumpaction.The choreographywasverysimple andeasytopickup. The steps
were:1. Pat yourthighsthenclap yourhand.2. Crisscrossyourhandsso they glide pastone another
withthe righthand on top.3. Move your handsintofistsandhityour handstogetherwiththe right
handon top. 4. Give a thumbsup and move themtoyour shoulderfortwobeatswiththe rightone
first.5. You repeatthe same actions.Whilstperformingthese stepsIhadtojumpon the spot, and
thenI had to findmypartnerto performa sectionwhere we dothe handjive together.Ipickedthe
dance stepsup easilyhoweverIstruggledtojumpandperformthe stepsat the same time.Thisis
because the jumpsare double pace andthe movementsare onthe drum beat.The hand jive lasts
for sixteenbeatstoperformmovementstothe music;thishelpsme asI understandwhere Iam
withinthe dance.Thisrehearsal wasveryproductive andresultedinthe majorityof the handjive
beingchoreographed.
A strengthwithinthisrehearsalwasmyabilitytoshow understandingtowardsthe energyneeded
for the jive andbeingable toapplythe accurate dance stylestothe repertoire.Forexample,I
performedthe jive withall myenergyanddemonstratedunderstandingof pumpinglegsand
poppingkicks.Ifeel thisstyle suitsme asIgive these movements100% energyandmake sure my leg
movementsare sharpandstraightwhichreflectsthe pumping actions.
A weaknesswithinthisrehearsal wasforthe handjive.Withinthe handjive there isabigsection
where itisperformedascouples,thiswasa problemasmypartner wasnot there forthe rehearsal
therefore Ihadto performiton my own.The problemwiththiswasIwas unaware of the amount of
space I wouldhave onstage.This mayaffectthe positioningof the otherdancerssothat I andmy
partnerdo not blockothersor ourselvesfromthe audiencessight.
Reviewof my target: my targetfor today’srehearsal istoapplyappropriate dance stylescorrectly
and ensure mymovementsare accurate andintime withthe music.

2. I believeIhave successfullycompletedtodaystargetasI understoodthe dance style jivequicklyand
was able toapplythat to the hand jive.Fromthisthe companywere able torehearse the handjive
multiple times,whichmeantIwasable to pickthe dance upquicker.Asa resultmy movements
throughoutwere quite accurate andintime to the music.
Thiswas the firstworkshopheldfor
the jive.Thiswasme learningthe
basicstepof stepback,Chassé (to the
right),Chassé (tothe left).Ipicked
thisup veryquickand wasable to
move ontothe partner work.
Thissectionwashard to
comprehendatfirstas the
boysdo differentstepstothe
girls.Thisalsofollowsthe basic
stepsof stepback, Chassé,
Chassé.Eventuallyafter
repeatingthe stepsmany
times,Isuccessfullywasable
to performthe dance withmy
partner.I thenperformedthe
whole dance andeffectively
includedthe 1950s energy
neededforthe jive.
Thiswas the workshopafter
the jive.Thiswasthe first
time I learntthe ‘BornTo
Hand Jive’choreography.
ImmediatelyIpickedupthe
first16 beatswhichare,pat
your thighsthenclapyour
hand,crisscrossyour handsso
theyglide pastone another,
move yourhandsintofists
and hityour handstogether
thengive a thumbsup.

3. Thissectioniswhere eachcast
memberdanceswiththeir
partnerat the dance.I struggled
withthissectionasI did not have
a partner to dance with,however
the more I rehearsedthe
movements,the easieritgotto
perform.Thismeantitwas easier
to show my partnerand helphim
understandthe dance
movements.