A poor rendition of Jazz hands.

Description

To perform jazz hands, the performer's hands are opened with palms facing forward, and the fingers are splayed.

The position of the arms can vary. Forearms are usually extended upward, or the forearms may extend forward with the elbows held close to the body, or forearms may extend to the sides or downward.

The hands may then be shaken slightly, as if holding a tambourine. However, this is not a necessary part of the jazz hands action.

Spirit fingers

If the arms are outstretched with fingers wiggling up and down it is more commonly referred to as "spirit fingers" (as made famous by the 2000 teen film Bring It On).

History

Some believe the gesture to be derived from The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson.

In Popular Culture

• Synth-Rock group Reggie and the Full Effect uses the phrase "jazz hands" repeatedly in their song "Boot to the Moon".
• Television Without Pity coined the term "tough guy jazz hands" to refer to the practice of holding a gun in one hand and a flashlight in the other, with the gun-holding arm crossed over and steadied by the flashlight-holding arm.
• Ugly Betty's nephew Justin describes his performance in his school's Thanksgiving play: "I was the only Pilgrim doing Jazz Hands!"
• In the Totally Spies! episode "Mime Your Own Business", an evil mime known as "Jazz Hands" seeks revenge on the world.
• In a Geico caveman commercial, a caveman talks about dancing "Anything with Jazz Hands".
• In The Simpsons episode "A Star Is Torn", Homer teaches "Johnny Rainbow" how to perform jazz hands.
• In the Friends episode "The One With All the Jealousy", Joey fakes his way through a dance audition number that concludes with a large group jazz hands.

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