Southern UK Jive

AW · Newbie Joined: 27 Feb 2009 Posts: 16

Hi,
I'm new to this forum type of thing so I hope I'm in the right place!! I am really disappointed since Ceroc have taken over from Mo'jive. Having allowed a 'settling in' period I am sad to say that things have not changed for the better. You still have to queue for ages to get in - even when there don't seem to be many people in front - I thought the swipe card bit would speed things up. The music last night was absolutely dire all evening. I am fed up that the class doesn't start until about 8.15 and now they do a stupid warm up session. I could understand warming up before doing a circuit training session but the beginners class is hardly strenuous - it starts slow enough to count as the warm up. I really love dancing but am thinking of looking for something other the Ceroc!! Crying or Very sad

Southern Jiver · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:33 pm Post subject:

Hi AW, welcome to the Forum. Yes, you have come to the right place. There are other contributors to this forum who feel the same way as you do. Luckily, if you are not enjoying the Ceroc format, you can see from the Southern UK Jivers Calendar that they aren't the only people to hold freestyles in the area. Depending on how far you are happy to drive, and where your starting point is, there are probably several alternatives. Please keep us informed on your findings. thx. SJ

The-G-Man · Frequent Poster Joined: 24 Feb 2009 Posts: 105

Hi AW

personally i have yet to see the Ceroc evening on the Thursday as i attend casses else where in the week but i did goto Mo'Jive every now and then and thought the freestyles and clases were ok.

main i reason i stopped going was that i personally think as Modern Jive is a male leading dance that a male should be instructing. I got fed up with lady Jivers trying to lead me and walk away when i ask if i can lead. (This is my personal view so please dont quote me on this)

As SJ said there are other dance nights you can attend using his Calender on the Main homepage.

ME · Newbie Joined: 01 Mar 2009 Posts: 1

Its good to see Ceroc doing more drops and seducers and making the lessons more of a challenge also introducing some slower blusey tracks at hamworthy and pavillion.

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

it would be ok if most of the men i dance with could lead the slower bluesy ones. Most don't know how to do it or don't want to be more posey. So i prefer the faster ones 'cos at least i have a good night. you can keep your slow bluesy ones as far as i am concerned, i'll go where the faster ones are played.

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

General consensus so far is pretty much the same Which funnily enough is EXACTLY why I was SOO GLAD to find this forum. I don't like where Ceroc has taken things from MoJive and the Jive seems to have gone almost entirely.

It seems that the fashion is to take dance to slower indulgent show type moves. I simply go to have fun. I really don't care that much how I look, just so long as I and the person I'm dancing with are having fun. I also have fun watching others dance who are clearly enjoying themselves too. You can tell this as they smile and laugh. It's particularly infectious strangely enough when a move goes wrong!

I tend to agree with the comment above too about the lead also. I really and truly am not intending to be sexist in any way shape or form but it's a partner dance where someone takes the lead and consequently the instructor should be the lead. I have no problems at all with weather they are male or female but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can we be given instruction by who ever it is who's actually doing the lead moves. Oh and can they speak at a sensible rate too. Unfortunately the only guys who've recently given instruction when I've been at the Pavilion have both jabbered away at a million miles per hour. Interestingly they have both been the guys who were in charge of the whole thing namely Phil from MoJive and Richard from Ceroc. I know you guys are experts at this and you're both very good too but please we out here whom you are teaching are learners that's why we're out in the class and not up on the stage.

Out of interest I recently went to Winton to The Thing and I learnt some moves! Something I've not actually done in a long long time at Ceroc because the Lady on stage seems to be more interested in teaching the ladies where to put their hands as they spin or what to do with their eyes than in teaching the guys where they are supposed to move to. It's something frequently commented on by both the men and the ladies in the classes.

AW · Newbie Joined: 27 Feb 2009 Posts: 16

Hi qdos,
I know what you mean I love to dance and generally I smile a lot whilst dancing. However, when I dance with a new partner I do tend to look a bit serious as I am concentrating on their style and trying not to make too many mistakes - but I usually tell them this!!. I don't like it when the instructor keeps on about being sexy yada, yada - I find that just comes naturally with certain partners!! I wish the teachers would emphasise other aspects of the dance like leading, and sometimes the way steps need to be danced. Recently we learnt a mambo type move which was so badly taught that very few people could do the move properly. AW

The-G-Man · Frequent Poster Joined: 24 Feb 2009 Posts: 105

great response AW

Leading a dance has to be more introduced in many places, Maybe the Ceroc organisers can take this into account when they teach their moves.

As it happens my Brother is a friend of one of the Ceroc teachers on a wednesday night... i shouldnt say much when he is around haha.

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

I couldn't agree more. All we're trying to do is learn the moves. The style will follow later on particularly when we've got the right partners that suit us. We all dance differently, some people we can dance with some we can't it's just how things are in life. We each have our own styles.

Perhaps the instructors because they are professionals can dance with anyone one and put on that stage smile and do sexy stuff but personally I like to be honest and natural rather than fake and forced.

All we want is the basics of how to do the moves. It's about having fun. There's no competition taking place we're just trying to enjoy some music and hoping to dance with others who enjoy it too. So if we could have instructors who teach us the foundations rather than the bling I'm sure we'd do a lot better. So can we please have someone concentrate on the leading and let the rest follow?

Actually if you pop along to The Thing you'll find that the people doing the instructing there are doing the lead. So guess where I'm off to..................

AW · Newbie Joined: 27 Feb 2009 Posts: 16

Hi,
I went to the Pavilion last night and had a great evening. The music was much improved on last weeks choice and more to my taste. I realise that the choice of music is difficult and I would not expect to like every single track played in an evening, however, I would expect to be able to dance to the music being played which was not the case last week. Laughing

Caroline seemed to place more emphasis on leading the moves which were quite tricky and needed one's full concentration to perform them. I understand that the freestyle on Saturday was really good unfortunately I had to miss it due to a prior commitment (typical!!). Hopefully Ceroc have got the message and the next one will be equally good. Keep it up Ceroc! Very Happy

The-G-Man · Frequent Poster Joined: 24 Feb 2009 Posts: 105

Thats cool, might have to come down one evening and say hello.

Its nice to know people are taking the forum comments in hand and using them.

Southern Jiver · Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 5:51 pm Post subject:

I actually went to the Pavilion on thursday for a change as well. I was also pleasantly surprised and enjoyed not only the class but the choice of music in general. It was always my favourite venue and I am so glad it's back to being somewhere I can go and enjoy Jiving. Everyone I spoke to who went to the saturday freestyle agreed that it was back to its best. I'm sorry I missed it and will make sure I don't miss the next one.

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

Yep it does seem a bit like they have taken note of some of the comments made by customers. Who knows perhaps even this forum has had a hand in things, would be good to think so....

Seems they have a new DJ too who actually faces the audience and plays music in the lessons too how amazing is that !!! LOL I know, I know, it's not at all amazing but till recently at the Pavilion there's been very little if any music in the lessons at all and the music in the freestyle was obviously purely being done by a computer play list as the DJ was nowhere to be seen.

Re the instruction errr I have to say I can't actually say that's much better sorry didn't work for me or indeed it seemed for a lot of the guys. She spent ages going over one dead simple move (the slide) and then when she put it onto the next part of the move she'd been telling the guys to use the wrong hand! Like I say I really do think the instruction should come from the person doing the leading. I've no idea why her partner can't say anything he seems to be a very good dancer.

The-G-Man · Frequent Poster Joined: 24 Feb 2009 Posts: 105

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

It doesn't really matter to me if the instructor is male or female, so long as they are doing the lead, otherwise it's like the tail wagging the dog. It simply doesn't work, particularly when you can't see what's going on. At the Pavilion this is very frequently the case as unless you're to the left of the stage near the front you can't see. And as soon as you turn around no matter where you are you can't see. So if you're getting nonsense instructions from the instructor then it's never going to work.