If your dancer loves pom, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical, or other styles of dance, there’s another class that can help take those skills to the next level: Leaps, Turns & Jumps (LTJ).
LTJ is a technique class focused on the “tricks” of dance — the leaps, turns, jumps, and other skills that show up in choreography across many different styles. While these skills may look impressive on stage, they also require strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and proper technique. LTJ gives dancers dedicated time to work on those skills outside of their regular style-based classes.
More Than Just Tricks
In a typical jazz or pom class, there’s a lot to cover — choreography, musicality, style, technique, and performance quality. There may not always be enough time to slow down and break apart a challenging turn or spend several minutes working on the mechanics of a leap.
That’s where LTJ comes in.
Dancers can focus specifically on improving the skills that often make choreography more challenging, including:
- Leaps and jump technique
- Turns and turning combinations
- Balance and control
- Proper alignment and body placement
- Strength and coordination
- Flexibility and extension
- Connecting skills into combinations
The goal isn’t simply to collect more tricks. It’s to develop the technique and physical skills that help dancers execute those tricks safely, consistently, and with greater confidence.
A Great Add-On for Team Dancers
For competitive dancers, LTJ can be an especially valuable addition to style-based team classes. Pom, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and other competitive routines frequently incorporate turns, jumps, leaps, and combinations that require focused technical training.
Taking LTJ gives team dancers additional time to work on those skills so they can bring stronger technique back into their choreography. It can also help dancers feel more prepared when a routine introduces a skill that is new or challenging.
And because LTJ focuses on technique rather than choreography, the skills learned in class can carry over from one routine — and even one dance style — to another.
Recreational Dancers Benefit, Too
You don’t have to be on a competitive team to benefit from LTJ.
In fact, LTJ can be a great way for recreational dancers to challenge themselves and expand what they can do. A dancer who enjoys jazz or pom might want to improve their turns. A lyrical dancer might want to work toward a stronger leap. A dancer who simply loves learning new skills might enjoy having a class dedicated to the tricks they see in their favorite routines.
LTJ can also be a natural next step for dancers who are looking for an additional class without committing to a team program.
Think of it as skill-building that supports the dancing your child is already doing.
There’s an LTJ Level for Every Dancer
Our LTJ classes are divided by age and ability, with foundational classes for younger dancers and more advanced levels for experienced dancers. Dancers who are new to LTJ can start at the level appropriate for their age — previous LTJ experience is not required for our Intro, Level 1, or Level 1+ classes.
More advanced LTJ classes require teacher approval to ensure dancers are placed where they can work safely and effectively.
Give It a Try
Whether your dancer is a competitive team member working toward stronger skills or a recreational dancer who simply wants to learn more, LTJ is a great way to add focused technique training to their weekly schedule.
Your dancer doesn’t need to be able to do impressive tricks before joining LTJ. That’s what the class is for! With consistent practice, proper technique, and a little patience, dancers can build the strength and skills that make those exciting moments in choreography possible.
If your dancer already takes a style-based class at POD, consider adding LTJ to their schedule this season. It might just become one of the most useful hours of dance in their week.