How To Do A Dance Leap [ Dance Skills Tutorial Video For Absolute Beginners ]

Let's do some leaps!

This video will break down a dance leap at its most fundamental level.

Let’s start by learning a chassé step leap on the left side. Start with your left foot pointed out in front, right arm out in front, and left arm out to the side. Press those shoulders down and reach those arms straight out.

Perform one chassé--Left, Up, Right-Left. Next, take one more step on that right foot and then kick that left leg out in front of you as you leap over a puddle and land on your left foot, followed by a quick step on your right to help stop your momentum.

Footwork would be: Left, Up, Right-Left, Step on the Right, Leap with the Left Leg in Front, Land on the Left Leg, Quick Step on the Right.

A common mistake I see students make is that they jump off of their back leg and then land on their back leg, but you want to make sure you jump off that back leg and then land on the front leg, as if you are jumping over a puddle.

For arms, you can leave them in that 90-degree angle the entire time as this is the position we want for both the chassé and the leap. Another option is to bring your arms into a first position on the step between the chassé and the leap while having them in the 90-degree angle the rest of the time. Both options are completely acceptable.

The same rules apply to the right side. Start with your right foot pointed out in front this time and left arm in front with right arm straight out to the side. Press those shoulders down and reach those arms out.

Footwork: Right, Up, Left-Right, Step on the Left, Leap with the Right Leg in Front, Land on the Right Leg, Quick Step on the Left.

NOTE: There are different schools of thought on leaps, as there are with most things in dance. My philosophy is to travel UP, not out. So often, I see students traveling forward across the room for their leaps at the sacrifice of height and air time. This starts with your chassé and carries over into your leap. Instead of charging forward as you do your chassé step leap, I want you to think about hitting your head on the ceiling every time your feet leave the ground. And when it comes time to leap, HIT IT as if a super professional photographer for a famous magazine is capturing your leap in the air.


OTHER VIDEOS THAT MIGHT BE USEFUL:

How To Do A Center Leap:    • How To Do A Center Leap [ Dance Skill...  
How To Do A Chassé:    • How To Do A Chasse [ Dance Skills Tut...  


Subscribe for WEEKLY DANCE CONTENT:    / @micodance1524