Southern UK Jive

Sugarfoot · Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 6:05 pm Post subject: West Coast Swing

Ok...if at first you don't succeed Wink

As a local West coast Swing teacher I will kick this thread off for anyone who either dances WCS or is interested in the dance.

I started WCS 3 years ago all be it only at workshops whilst we were away teaching Tango. I decided the only way I was going to learn properly was to travel up to London every week to learn from Paul & Cat (UK Champions). I still found this hard, as there was nowhere to dance/practise locally. Cat started teaching monthly workshops at Mojive Southampton and asked us to help. The feedback reflected my feelings. Most who attended the workshops liked the dance, but could not see the point if there was no where local to go regularly. Cat suggested that I start a local class night a year ago. So here we are.

Although slow growing as it takes a bit of front end commitment to get the basics we have grown a really good friendly group. Although WCS has a strong competition following due to many of the teachers like Cat & Paul and the US pros being champions, it is first and foremost a fun social dance that can be danced to a very wide genre of music and tempos. The more experienced dancer can use tempos from 80 ? 140+bpm, but it is more comfortable from 95 ? 120bpm.

It would be great to hear from anyone else on here that dances WCS either locally or elsewhere. Smile

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DJ Andy · Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:05 pm Post subject:

It's a shame you're too far from me to make it feasible to tryout WCS.
Having done a bit of Lindy, I'd hope I'd be able to pick up some basics without a big struggle.
A question for you about the music though - is it all slow, funky modern R&B music now for WCS, or does some more retro style R'n'B still get played?
I only ask 'cos I really struggle to LIKE modern R&B! Confused

(and I really only enjoy dancing if I like the music)

Sugarfoot · Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:23 am Post subject:

Hi Andy

We do have a few travelling form Portsmouth, but you are right, it's a bit of a hike for midweek. Maybe if we get more form the Portsmouth area it would be worth exploring the possibility of starting a local class.

Re: your Lindy experience
We have a few Lindy dancers with us. They share a common history; they both use the 6 & 8 count basics, utilise extension and compression and have a good crossover on the music front. Most Lindy dancers don?t have any problems learning WCS. It is almost there similarity that can cause problems. I have invited some of dancers to join this forum, so hopefully anyone who does both Lindy & WCS can throw more light on this subject.

I attended the recent Rockbottoms WCS/Jive weekender. RB as you know has a large Swing/Lindy following. I think it is fair to say that traditionally they have been a bit anti WCS, but it was interesting to see many Lindy dancers giving it ago (even Tor & Andy) and enjoying it. I can reminder trying Boogie Woogie and finding the footwork patterns identical to WCS at hyper speed. Hell of a workout. Rolling Eyes

For you question on WCS music, I think it would be best if I start that as a separate topic. I am sure we could both exchange many possibilities on this. Very Happy

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Sugarfoot · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 7:52 pm Post subject:

Did anyone on the forum attend the recent Rockbottoms WCS/Jive weekender?

The teachers were:
WCS - Jordan & Tatiana (US WCS Champs)
WCS - Olivier & Henriette (Belgium)
WCS - Lee and Sydney (UK)
Smooth Jive - Simon & Nicole

Jordan & Tatiana are always amazing, so expectations were high & they did not disappoint.
Lee and Sydney are popular WCS teachers in the London area.
UK Jive champions Simon & Nicole catered for those who wanted to stretch their Jive ability.
The real surprise was Olivier & Henriette who are international popular Lindy teachers but no one (including the organisers) realised that WCS is their first love. They were amazing teachers, funny, warm and friendly whilst demonstrating great skill. They managed to get many first timers hooked on the dance.

The cabarets from all couples was jaw dropping. Andy also provided his usual humorous take on things with alternative cabarets in the Sunday. The look on Jordan face when he found himself tied to a chair, whilst Andy, John, and Mick dressed as tarts gave him a lap dance he will never forget. I bet he is still having nightmares now.

It was an interesting new direction for the Rockbottoms crew. The organisers are very pro Lindy & Swing and traditionally a bit anti WCS. I was therefore surprised to see so many regular Lindy dancers giving WCS a try including the organisers. It turned out to be a lot of fun.

The organisers were initially not sure if it would work, but decided to give it a try. The event sold out and was a huge success and will now be a regular weekender on Rockbottoms calendar.

Anyone who knows the Rockbottoms crew?Andy, Tor, Hev & John acknowledge what great hosts and organisers they are. There nest event is a Tango/Jive weekender in May.

http://www.jivelive.com/rockbottoms/index.htm
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Sugarfoot · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:14 pm Post subject:

Great clip of Jordan & Melina having fun freestyling at a Jack & Jill.

For those who don't know what a Jack & Jill is...it is a WCS version of dance with a stanger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=446_lXFQycY
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Sugarfoot · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:39 pm Post subject:

Another clip to show that WCS is not all slow R&B

Robert Royston's Swing Jam from Swango
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=j-WqQphhFPk&feature=related

Robert & Nicola will be teaching again at UK WCS Champs the April at Western Super-Mare Very Happy

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Happy Camper · Newbie Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 15

Yes, Swing Jam...they are extremely good at what they do but anyone can see what is meant when people say WCS is posey. It is a far cry from the Jiving that people in this area tend to practice at freestyles and long may it stay that way, i say.

Sugarfoot · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:50 pm Post subject:

qdos · Frequent Poster Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 195

Happy Camper · Newbie Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 15

sugarfoot, i think you have me confused with someone else. i don't particularly like dancing to rock and roll, it's generally too fast for me and the leads tend to be a bit rough. i enjoy dancing to good Jive music. Also, i have only posted here a couple of times so you must be thinking of someone else. i agree with qdos, i don't really care what i look like when i am dancing, i just want to enjoy it.

Sugarfoot · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:04 am Post subject:

Nicky · Forum legend Joined: 22 Feb 2009 Posts: 401

If you mean Spinning Leslie, I was chatting to her last night....She often goes to Hamworthy on a Monday night now!

I went to the WCS weekend in Torquay last month, after being persuaded to give it a go by a friend. I had never attended a single class before and only agreed to go when I was reassured that it also catered for jivers.

The standard of teaching was superb, and I definately came away feeling that I learnt something. However, I was SOOOO thankful that they had a choice of rooms for the freestyles.....Most of my evening were spent in the jive room! Smile

I think that its rather a sweeping judgement to say that WCS dancers are "posey"....Yes, some of them definately were, but then so are some jivers...I found the majority of them to be very friendly and approachable.

My only criticism of the weekend would have to be directed at the so-called jive teachers. They were clearly well into WCS, and seemed to be very scathing about us jivers. Their classes were taught with structured footwork and designed to smooth out our dance style. As some of the people that were there had come only to jive, it was a real shame that they couldnt have found some teachers that were actually passionate and enthusiastic about jive to teach those particular classes. Tellingly, neither of them made any effort to mix with the jivers during the freestyles! Sad

qdos · Frequent Poster Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 195

Sugarfoot · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 12:13 pm Post subject:

Thanks for your very balanced view and feedback Nicky

Good to get feedback from a Jiver who is was WCS virgin on the Rockbottoms weekender. Did we get to dance???

In the past RB had WCS teachers alongside other styles. The WCS classes had always proved very popular, but the freestyles reverted back to Jive in the evenings. RB hold several events devoted to Jive and one to Lindy. They have added 2 events this year…the WCS/Jive that you attended and
the Tango/Jive in May. This was always going to be a WCS biased event hence 3 sets of WCS teachers and 1 Jive. As a first RBs had no idea what the mix of dancers would be until the event. As it was, most wanted to WCS or were willing to try it.

I can certainly understand why a Jiver who mainly wanted to Jive would not have been so pleased. It was Simon & Nicole teaching the Jive. Nicole has been into WCS for some time and Simon has now taken it up. There style of Jive is defiantly heavily influenced by WCS. I would go as far to say it is WCS without the footwork. I take your point that it might have been better to offer a contrast to WCS. I think RB felt they would be a sort of stepping stone to provide a link between Jive & WCS.

I did not attend any of their classes, but heard that they were having problems. I do know that Simon had a real health shock days before the event. He had a minor stroke due to blood loss from a growth. It was affecting his ability to construct sentences etc. Simon is normally unstoppable on the Jive floor, but he did not freestyle much at all. I think this health scare had a big part to play in his attitude and performance.

Did you do any of Olivier & Henriette’s classes? I thought they were spot on for WCS newbies.
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qdos · Frequent Poster Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 195