For one person's view on jazz dance [& it's history/derivatives] in general
check http://www.jazzart.org/jdh/history.html ... that's probably not what
you want but it could be fun... You may be able to find a funk class, but
there's a good chance it'll be really hard.
I took dance classes, workshops, performed etc. for at least 15 years [I
started when I was 4], and what ends up on the dance floor in a club is
usually unrelated to training [mostly ballet, some modern, jazz, Spanish,
and character] but I think that in my case my dance background allows me
greater balance [even while intoxicated], turning ability, ease of motion,
improv, ability to pick up choreography or mimic other styles, etc.
Since you don't know exactly what you want - and in my opinion there isn't
just one style or studio out there which you might like - shop around. Don't
just let your fingers do the walking, once you call and tell them what
you're looking for, bring yourself there and sit in on a class, or ask if
you can try one out and see if you like it.
Just remember that what you take in class is an established technique, or
moves that have been around long enough to be given names. Once you're used
to consciously controlling your body you'll find it a lot easier to
translate what you see others do into movement, or find what your body wants
to do all on its own. You may be able to find people that do practice
together on their own. When I was in London I met some amazing dancers at
Ma d a m EMAIL souljazze Jo Jo's [Funk night on Sunday] and one of them invited me to come
practice with them... I never did, but it's proof that some of the people
that you see in clubs do spend a lot of time on their technique. I asked
that guy how he'd learned to be such a great dancer/breakdancer and he said
he used to watch videos over and over and he just practiced like mad.
Dancing is the main reason I'm on this list, so I'm not an objective voice,
but I say it's never too late to start.
-s-
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