MT 2: LITTLE MERMAID

"Calypso beats and ocean moves!"

Life Under The Sea

This week is all about DANCE! "Under the Sea" uses a style of music called Calypso, which comes from the Caribbean. It's bouncy, joyful, and makes you want to move!

DANCE VIBE

Bouncy and flowing! We want to imagine the water pushing and pulling us as we dance.

CHARACTER MOVES

You aren't just dancing; you are sea creatures! Think about how a crab, a fish, or a turtle might move to the beat.

UNDER THE SEA

Broadway Choreography

Mr. James's Focus

The Bounce: Keep those knees bent so you can bounce to the Calypso beat.
Fluid Arms: Let your arms move like seaweed swaying in the ocean current.
Energy: Sebastian is trying to convince Ariel that the ocean is the best place to be. Show that excitement!

"We Got No Troubles!"

Performance Challenge

"Can you remember the dance steps while keeping a massive smile on your face the whole time? It's harder than it looks!"

PRO TIP

Practice your steps slowly first. Once your feet know what to do automatically, then you can add the big character energy!

GO TO MT-PLAYER

Musical Theatre 3 | Broadway Jazz Focus

ALADDIN

Mastering high-energy Broadway Jazz and Showmanship through "Friend Like Me".

Choreo Study: Mr. James

DANCE FOCUS: BROADWAY JAZZ

•Showmanship: This number is all about spectacle. You must project your energy all the way to the back row of the theatre!
•Sharp Lines: When you hit a pose, freeze perfectly. The contrast between fast movement and frozen poses makes the choreography pop.

The Choreographer: Casey Nicholaw

Practice Station

Head to the player to listen to the tempo of "Friend Like Me". It's fast! You need to know the music inside out to keep up.

Launch Player

MT3 CHALLENGE

The Genie is essentially doing a massive magic trick for Aladdin to show off his powers. How can you make your dance moves look like "magic" arriving out of nowhere?

Musical Theatre 4 | Advanced Broadway Jazz

THE PRODUCTION NUMBER

Deconstructing the stamina, precision, and spectacle of a Casey Nicholaw mega-musical number: "Friend Like Me".

Choreography Deep-Dive: Mr. James

TECHNICAL FOCUS:

•Stamina & Breath Control: This is a classic 11-o'clock-style number placed right in the middle of Act 1. You must be able to execute sharp, relentless jazz technique without showing fatigue.
•Syncopation & Accents: Nicholaw's choreography heavily relies on hitting the brass section accents. Listen deeply to the orchestrations—the dance is literally playing the instruments.
•The "Showgirl/Showboy" Posture: Elevate the chest, keep the core engaged, and maintain an open, welcoming upper body even during complex footwork.

The Director-Choreographer Era

Casey Nicholaw

The King of Musical Comedy

Known for directing and choreographing massive hits like The Book of Mormon, Aladdin, Something Rotten!, and Mean Girls. His style blends classical tap and jazz with incredibly fast-paced, character-driven comedy.

Why do we study this style?

The Industry Standard

If you want to work in commercial musical theatre today, you must be able to execute this style of high-energy, high-precision ensemble jazz. It tests your technique, your memory, and your character acting simultaneously.

MT Player

Use the player to get the rhythm of the track into your bones. The better you know the music, the less you have to think about the counts.

Go to Portal

Did you know?

In the Broadway production of Aladdin, "Friend Like Me" is almost 8 minutes long and involves multiple quick changes, pyrotechnics, and a massive tap break, routinely receiving standing ovations mid-show!