Dance with Bill Brown

 

  Jazz Dance
Most of all, I attempt to create a supportive atmosphere in my jazz class. Also, fun takes priority when I teach. I say, "fun—first, discipline—second." I admit that I am a playful instructor and strive for a collective good mood during my class. My goal is to see every student walk away with a big grin when the session has ended.

Jazz class consists of an energetic standing warm-up followed by plies (which interprets into a slow, lyrical dance), then stretching and strengthening while lying on the floor. Very upbeat music is played at this time. The entire warm-up is approximately one half of an hour.

Next, we do progressions of steps in lines across the floor. These include practicing turns and kicks. These steps are included in a jazz dance combination that changes weekly.

In effect, students have four classes (Tues., Thurs., Friday and Sat) per week in which to learn the week's dance combination. Each of those days I take time to teach the combination from the very first step to the last so that if you only come to one of the four days, you will have the opportunity to shine. Jazz combinations vary from slow and lyrical to fast and funky and everything in-between. The class culminates in a slow cool down.
about Bill

 

  Bill's BodyWorks
Yep, this aerobics/dance class averages 5400 steps (of various kinds) within an hour's time. Now that's working your buns off!

During this period I take participants on a ride of fast moving, easy-to-follow jazz, salsa and funk steps. The music I play is as diverse as the choreography itself. Whether it be blues, Motown, jazz, Latin or pop, I often notice someone in the studio is singing along (an encouraged enhancement to the hour). All divas welcome!

Believe it or not, sometimes you may even experience a Mozart piece on the sound system (I use this genre of music during a brief balancing section of class immediately following the aerobics).

The remainder of the class consists of abdominals, leg and buttocks toning exercises. Bodyworks culminates with a relaxing stretch section. Ahhhhhhhh.

 

  StretchZone
Here, Bill incorporates strengthening, balance and relaxation along with the stretching. The hour session takes on the feel of a calm easy-to-follow choreographed dance (meditation in motion, if you will) and culminates with five minutes of relaxation. But don’t let this fool you as StretchZone provides the entire body a thorough workout. The music varies from classical to soft jazz.

Oh, and don’t worry about intimidation as Bill sets the tone for improvement by suggesting corrections to the group as a whole rather than to individuals. StretchZone is ideal for those who haven’t exercised in a while and require a complete workout that doesn’t overwhelm. Hope to see you there.
about Bill

  BodyZone
BodyZone has it all--stretching, cardiovascular strengthening, balance and more. I'd like to call the class well-rounded, but some might get the wrong idea, so for now let's just say BodyZone is a total fitness experience.

I begin the class with slow stretching at the barre, then take our warmed bodies onto the center floor where we begin to move to upbeat music. This segment of class lasts approximately 35 minutes. All right, so there may be a few dance steps, but I repeat them so much that eventually all who participate do catch on. Then voila! The experience is enhanced tenfold.

We laugh, we move, we sweat.

After this, I play slower music and we spend the next ten minutes on balancing. While standing on one leg, we raise the other in various positions coordinating the arms to help achieve perfect balance. So sometimes the moment of perfection may be fleeting--not to worry. Practice makes better-- then we make a great discovery--- our center of gravity. Wow. Even you might catch a glimpse in the mirrors and ask yourself "Is that really me, or some exquisite ballet dancer I saw on a stage once upon a time?"

Hope to see you there!

  about Bill
As a last resort to rehabilitate chronic lower back pain, Bill Brown started taking ballet classes in 1976. He immediately became enamored with the art, and even more so by what was happening in the adjacent studio. Jazz dance.

The lure of the music and slick choreography caused Bill to take on a split major, if you will. Jazz dancing became his passion, and ballet his discipline. From that point on he set forth to sample classes throughout the Los Angels area. His mentors include Joe Tremaine, Sally Whalen, Sarah Reed Tayir, Christine Verse, Vince Patterson and Fred Walton.

After thousands of pirouettes and becoming intimate friends with Terrance Curtis (his favorite jazz instructor), the two set forth to open their own studio. Studio A Dance successfully debuted in 1982. At that time, Bill began teaching aerobics in their Los Feliz studio (now in Silver Lake), and soon after he led jazz dance classes and continues today.

In addition to jazz and aerobics, from time to time Bill teaches ballet and stretch classes. He has also led movement classes in halfway house for recovering addicts, and hires himself out regularly as a private trainer. Bill performed in the review "Earl Carrol Revisited" at the Variety Arts Center, a rock musical entitled "Cosmic Sands," choreographed a piece presented on the Orpheum Theater stage, strutted down runways in fashion shows and appears yearly with Studio A Dance's resident company Cumulus. Bill also volunteers his time as choreographer for the local high school musical theatre productions.

But teaching takes top billing. The supportive instructor allows his students to find pleasure with dance rather than perfection. By keeping the atmosphere positive and by sharing his joy for dance, Bill motivates students to the point of surprising themselves and excelling far beyond preconceived expectations.