It All Begins Here

This time, we’ll put some moves together into a small routine to practice moves from bebop dancers in Spirits of Moves. It’s uptempo, but it feels good, and it’s a fun way to work on the rhythm and flow of the movements.

Focus: Rhythm · Coordination · Flow · Practice
Level: All levels

Josephine Baker was an African American dancer, singer, and entertainer who became an international star in France during the 1920s. She was known for her incredible stage presence, musicality, rhythm, and unique way of using her whole body. Her dancing was playful, powerful, and full of personality, and she became one of the most iconic performers.

We’ll explore four movements inspired by her dancing:

• Basic Charleston

• Squat Charleston

• Fish Tail

• Spank the Baby

What I love about Josephine’s dancing is how rhythmic and full of energy her movements are. She plays with her whole body and makes even simple movements feel incredibly alive.

So get ready to move: I recommend doing a torso or hip warm-up first, because we’re going to need those muscles awake.

Focus: Rhythm · Full-body movement · Expression · Vernacular Jazz
Inspiration: Josephine Baker
Level: All levels

Inspiration

Josephine Baker — Video 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBGXsQfGY4M&t=5s

Josephine Baker — Video 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhEhK4bgYtI&list=RDUhEhK4bgYtI&start_radio=1

In this video, we’ll work on the classic Jump Charleston move, taking inspiration from Al Minns and Ann in the Block Party Rebel Soundie (1943).

We’ll explore how the movement can begin from different parts of the body—either from the hips or from the upper body—and how each initiation changes the quality and expression of the movement.

Focus: Jump Charleston · Body Initiation · Hips · Upper Body · Rhythm · Vernacular Jazz
Level: All levels

Inspiration

Al Minns

Block Party Rebel Soundie

In this video, we’ll explore three different Charleston transitions, each inspired by a different Soundie.

I love looking at Soundies that show connections between different vernacular jazz movements—connections that might not be as common or popular in the way we dance today. They’re a great way to discover movement vocabulary.

Focus: Charleston · Transitions · Rhythm ·
Level: All levels

Inspiration

Soundie 1 — Charleston → Tic Tocs
https://youtu.be/S6F071yJOrs?is=pfkNnoGQZxF5mD-O

Soundie 2 — Charleston → Full Break → Boogie Drop
https://youtu.be/USJoBzxyr2Q?is=YsBwE62WLW55Z_Oj

Soundie 3 — Charleston → Suzy Q
https://youtu.be/veYAOpHRTcw?is=4Thfc_BrJGQVYyp8

In this video, transition between Fall of the Log and Hitchhiker.

Instead of treating them as two separate movements, we’ll look at how one can naturally flow into the other, paying attention to rhythm, hips, and the connection between the movements.

A simple transition to add to your vocabulary and play with in your own dancing and improvisation.

Focus: Transitions · Rhythm · Flow · Improvisation
Level: All levels

In this video, we’ll explore the Boogie Drop by looking at one of the tools we used in the Charleston foundations: where does the movement start?

Does the Boogie Drop come from the hips, the waist, or the upper body? We’ll experiment with each approach and notice how changing the point of initiation can completely change the feeling and flavour of the movement.

This is a great exercise for developing body awareness and individuality. It can help you understand how different dancers create their own version of the same movement, and how you can use these different approaches in your own dancing and improvisation.

Focus: Boogie Drop · Movement initiation · Hips · Waist · Upper body · Individuality
Level: All levels

In this video, we’ll explore the basics of Charleston by looking at where the movement starts in the body.

Does the movement come from the hips, the waist, or the upper body? How does changing that starting point affect the way the Charleston looks and feels?

This is also a tool I personally use when studying old clips. Instead of only looking at what a dancer is doing, try asking: Where is the movement coming from?

Paying attention to this can completely change the quality and intention of a movement. It can also give you different ways to approach the same step and bring more flavour, texture, and individuality into your improvisation.

Use this practice as a way to watch dancers more closely, experiment with your own body, and discover different possibilities within the Charleston.

Focus: Charleston · Body awareness · Movement initiation · Rhythm · Improvisation
Level: All levels

In this video, we’ll learn the Chicken Shack Shuffle, inspired by the 1943 Soundie featuring Mable Lee, where she is both singing and dancing. 

Mable Lee (1921–2019) was an American jazz dancer, tap dancer, singer, and entertainer. She began performing as a child and moved to New York in 1940, where she performed at places including the Apollo Theater. She became known as the “Queen of the Soundies” after appearing in more than 100 of these short musical films during the 1940s. She also performed on Broadway and continued dancing and teaching throughout her life.

I absolutely love this Soundie. Mable’s movements, expression, musicality, and transitions make the whole performance so captivating. There’s so much personality in the way she moves, and every detail feels connected to the music.

This choreography is 100% inspired by Mable Lee. We’ll study her movement and use the choreography as a way to explore her particular style, rhythm, and way of expressing herself.

Pay attention to the transitions, the details, and especially the way Mable uses her waist to start the movements.

Focus: Rhythm · Musicality · Expression · Transitions ·
Inspiration: Mable Lee
Source: Chicken Shack Shuffle — Soundie, 1943
Level: All levels

Watch the original: Chicken Shack Shuffle — Mable Lee (1943)
https://youtu.be/BXQoTgLMysw?si=nJWJr0GYkJNGcMGs

n this video, we’ll explore one of Mable Lee’s signature movements, which I consider to be another version of the Tackie Annie, a classic vernacular jazz step.

Mable Lee (1921–2019) was an American jazz dancer, tap dancer, singer, and entertainer, best known as the “Queen of the Soundies” for her appearances in more than 100 of these short musical films during the 1940s. She began performing as a child, later worked at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, appeared on Broadway, and continued dancing and teaching throughout her life.

What I particularly love about Mable’s approach is how much of the movement comes from the waist and hips. There’s something so distinctive about the way she connects the lower and upper body, creating a movement that feels rhythmic, grounded, and full of personality.

We’ll break down the movement and practice the rhythm, focusing separately on the hips and the upper body, before bringing everything together.

The goal is to understand Mable’s approach while also exploring how you can find your own way into the movement.

Focus: Rhythm · Hips · Upper body · Coordination · Individuality
Inspiration: Mable Lee
Level: All levels

All of this was filmed at the beautiful Kmita dance studios in Kraków.

This video focuses on vernacular jazz foundations. We’ll work through the three rhythms of the Boogie Forward and the Rocks, exploring the different ways these fundamental steps can be used in your dancing.

Lets talk about the rhythms, weight changes, and movement so you can understand how they work in your body and start incorporating them into your own vocabulary.

These are simple but important foundations that can give you a lot of possibilities once you start playing with the rhythm and making them your own.

Focus: Rhythm · Weight · Foundations · Musicality
Level: All levels

All of this was filmed at the beautiful Kmita dance studios in Kraków.

In this video, we’ll work on the Spank the Baby, a vernacular jazz step with plenty of room for personality, rhythm, and individual interpretation.

For this variation, I’m taking inspiration from Marie Bryant, an extraordinary African American dancer, singer, and choreographer who performed with artists such as Duke Ellington and appeared in films including Carolina Blues (1944) and Jammin’ the Blues (1944). In Carolina Blues, Bryant appears in the “Mr. Beebe” dance number alongside Harold Nicholas and several other remarkable dancers.

What I love about Marie is the flavour she brings to even the simplest movements. The way she plays with rhythm, pride, and hotness makes the movement feel completely alive.

Her version of the Spank the Baby is actually what made this one of my favourite jazz steps.

Don’t just think about getting the shape right—listen to the rhythm, play with the timing, and find your own flavour.

Focus: Rhythm · Pride · Musicality · Personal expression
Inspiration: Marie Bryant
Level: All levels

Watch the original:Mr. Beebe — Carolina Blues (1944)
https://youtu.be/emvtpt-P9ok?si=L7GS80Wdwncdvn3v

All of this was filmed at the beautiful Kmita dance studios in Kraków.

The Camel Walk is a vernacular jazz movement with many possibilities. There isn’t one single way to do it—each dancer can shape it through their own rhythm, body, and personality.

For this video, I’m taking inspiration from Marie Bryant, an extraordinary African American dancer, singer, choreographer, and dance coach who worked with artists such as Duke Ellington and appeared in films including Carolina Blues (1944) and Jammin’ the Blues (1944).

What I particularly love about Bryant is who open, proud and full of rhythms are her movements driven. In the “Mr. Beebe” number from Carolina Blues, her Camel Walk has a particular rhythmic quality that caught my attention and inspired this variation.

Watch Marie Bryant’s original performance and see what you notice before or after practicing:

Watch Marie Bryant in “Mr. Beebe” — Carolina Blues (1944)

Focus: Rhythm · Produness · Texture · Personal expression
Inspiration: Marie Bryant
Level: All levels

All of this was filmed at the beautiful Kmita dance studios in Kraków.