Jazz
121 performances · avg 29.68
Jazz
Charts
Article
Jazz
Category: Theatrical / DWTS specialty
Also known as: Broadway jazz, Concert jazz
DWTS performances in dataset: 121
Average total score: 29.68
First appearance: Season 16, Week 2 — Jacoby & Karina (Five Guys Named Moe)
Lift rule on DWTS: Allowed (non-core / specialty style on DWTS).
Origins and history
Theatrical jazz dance grew from African-American vernacular jazz and Broadway/Hollywood traditions across the 20th century. On Dancing with the Stars, “Jazz” is a specialty category used for theatrical numbers rather than a WDSF syllabus dance.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Jazz dance — Vernacular and theatrical lineage
- TV Insider: DWTS lift rules — Jazz allows lifts
How it is danced
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Time signature | Usually 4/4; varies with song |
| Tempo (MPM) | N/A (theatrical) |
| Tempo (BPM, approx.) | Song-dependent |
| Character | Theatrical isolations, extensions, turns and performance focus; often Broadway-flavored on DWTS. |
| Hold / frame | Partnered or side-by-side; frequent breakaways. |
| Basic steps & figures | Jazz walks, pirouettes, fan kicks, isolations, layouts — choreography-driven rather than fixed syllabus. |
| What judges look for | Performance quality, lines, musical accents, storytelling; lifts allowed. |
Competition tempi cite WDSF Competition Rules E.3.2 and related DanceSport charts where applicable; theatrical styles are song-driven.
History on Dancing with the Stars
Statistics below are computed from the Data with the Stars SQLite performance and score tables (not invented).
- Times danced: 121
- Score range: 16.0 – 40.0 (total judges’ score as stored)
- Perfect nights (every judging mark = 10): 16
Average score by era
| Era | Performances | Average total |
|---|---|---|
| S11-20 | 29 | 31.86 |
| S21-30 | 63 | 28.59 |
| S31+ | 29 | 29.89 |
Best scores
- 40.0 — S19 W3: Janel & Val — America (Leonard Bernstein)
- 40.0 — S19 W3: Bethany & Derek — Singin' in the Rain (Gene Kelly)
- 40.0 — S19 W4: Alfonso & Witney — It's Not Unusual (Tom Jones)
- 40.0 — S21 W6: Andy & Allison — Good Morning (Debbie Reynolds, Gene Kelly & Donald O'Connor)
- 40.0 — S21 W6: Tamar & Val — Rhythm Nation (Janet Jackson)
Lowest scores
- 16.0 — S17 W3: Bill N. & Tyne — Get Lucky
- 16.0 — S21 W4: Gary & Anna — That'll Be the Day
- 18.0 — S27 W2: Joe & Jenna — The Gambler
- 18.0 — S30 W3: Cody & Cheryl — ?
- 18.0 — S32 W4: Barry & Peta — _ He's a Tramp _
First perfect nights (all marks 10)
- S17 W9: Corbin & Karina — Yeah! (total 30.0, 3 judges)
- S19 W3: Janel & Val — America (total 40.0, 4 judges)
- S19 W3: Bethany & Derek — Singin' in the Rain (total 40.0, 4 judges)
- S19 W4: Alfonso & Witney — It's Not Unusual (total 40.0, 4 judges)
- S21 W6: Andy & Allison — Good Morning (total 40.0, 4 judges)
Most-used songs
- Remember Me — Benjamin Bratt (3×)
- Nasty — Janet Jackson (2×)
- A Spoonful of Sugar — Julie Andrews (2×)
- Bye Bye Bye — NSYNC (2×)
- Girls Just Want to Have Fun — Cyndi Lauper (2×)
- We're All in This Together — Cast of High School Musical (2×)
- Five Guys Named Moe — Louis Jordan (1×)
- Poker Face — Lady Gaga (1×)
Charts
Watch top performances
- Bethany Mota and Derek's Jazz (Week 03) - Dancing with the Stars Season 19! — S19 W3, score 40.0, Singin' in the Rain
- Alfonso Ribeiro and Witney Jazz (Week 4) - Dancing With The Stars — S19 W4, score 40.0, It's Not Unusual
- Jordan Chiles’ Rock Hall Night Jazz | Dancing with the Stars — S34 W8, score 38.0, River Deep – Mountain High
- Fans Can’t Believe Whitney Leavitt’s Dark Jazz Performance | DWTS “Brain Stew” Breaks the Internet! — S34 W7, score 37.0, Brain Stew
- Dancing Through Life - Dancing With The Stars - Robert Irwin — S34 W6, score 36.0, Dancing Through Life
Educational fan reference. Dance histories paraphrased from cited sources; DWTS stats from project data. Not affiliated with BBC Studios or Disney.
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