Southern UK Jive

[Mandy H]

Our first thoughts were that this was perhaps an overly long event at nearly 6 hours for a Sunday afternoon/evening. It was pretty quiet when we arrived, but gradually filled up with a few more dancers.
Chillax is what the name says…a more chilled out Jive event. I have to disagree with SJ’s comments....this is a Jive event with everyone Jiving (except us ).

We decided to pop in for a couple of hours but stayed almost to the end, so that says something. I have been to other Sunday t dances and what I like about them is that they tend to be more social. People tend to sit and chat a bit more rather than chasing dance after dance.

I can’t see how it belongs in the ‘’any other dances section’’ It may not be everyone cup of tea. It may even be a bit experimental, but surely that should be welcome, even in the Jive world no one wants everything the same…do they?

It is very hard to do something a bit different. I feel that anyone who at least tries should be given some support.
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[Southern Jiver]

Fair enough, Mandy, you are entitled to your point of view especially as you teach one or two of the "Other Styles" of dance. However, I still maintain that this event wasn't so much for the "Jive" enthusiast and so will not be promoted via the Jive Calendar.

[Mandy H]

I not going to get into a massive debate about what is or is not MJ on here, but if an event attracts 99.9% Jivers who proceed to enjoy Jiving at the event it must speak beyond the narrower remit that your personal view defines.

I understand that this is your forum SJ, but you have opened it as public forum that should represent more than your personal views.

I am not trying to champion Chillax…it is the principle of being more open and having more choice even for MJ; Chillex as it stand will probably not attract WCS, Tango, Salsa or any other form of Social Dance apart from MJ’s and those who like to experiment to different music. It seems unfair that you would exclude them based on different tastes from your own.

You may or may not have heard of CJ the Scot in the kilt who likes to play alternative sets that include a good portion of Rock music. Some hate it, others love it. This will always be the way when you are brave enough to be different.
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[Southern Jiver]

[Michael H]

We JIVERS actually owe SJ a huge debt of gratitude for setting up and running the "Southern UK JIVE" website and forum. He devotes a lot of time and effort, and no doubt expense, as he recieves no financial remuneration or gain whatsoever - just because he is hooked on JIVE.

Its a JIVE website for the promotion, experiences and opinions of JIVERS.

So we feel you are being a little hard on him Mandy, particulatly as he does allow room for other types of dance in the "Other Dance Style" section.

SJ deserves a lot of credit, and our thanks.

Michael & Janice

[Olly]

Whatever the merits of whether certain events should be on the Southern UK Jive Calendar or not, is it necessary to highlight specific words in upper case? As far as I am aware, the use of upper case in electronic written communication is the equivalent of shouting. I am sure everyone understands a point clearly made without having to shout it on this Forum. Mandy has every right to express her contrary opinion without it being shouted down in this manner.

As to whether Chillax is a jive event or not is open to interpretation and debate, which is surely what this forum is here for.

[drunkenjiver]

If people have a problem with the way SJ runs his forum maybe they should start up their own

[Michael H]

Awfully sorry Olly, but we are offended that you should assume we were shouting - we were not!!!!!!! What we were doing was EMPHASISING that this is a JIVE website and forum.

We have known Mandy for years and would NOT disrespect her by trying to "shout her down".

Regards

Michael & Janice

[Steve]

I am not specifically talking about Chillax here, I didn't attend, but there is a good rule which I find works in most of these cases.
"If the majority are jivers dancing jive moves, then it is a jive event".

The fact that some individuals voluntarily limit their personal jiving for whatever reason to certain music, styles or tempos doesn't stop it being jive.

As far as the calendar goes, since every event has a description, I can't see any harm in including this type of event. On a personal level I would be disappointed if these jive events are not included as they are of interest to me. And I am a jiver! Nonetheless, SJ has the right to put on his web site whatever he wants. It's a great public service he is doing here, AFAIK, for no financial gain, if he wants to limit the calendar to a subset of jivers, that is his right.
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My local WCS dance guide: http://www.southernjive.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726

[DJ Andy]

[Southern Jiver]

Thanks for your input, Steve and Andy. I do take your points however it seems best if I explain the reasons for my stated policy. I started this website originally as a way for my friends to know what Jive events were on each weekend as I was attending a lot of them. Originally, it was an email list. This grew and so became the Calendar. This seemed popular so I added the Forum. All this time I was attending Jive events and really enjoying dancing all night to the music played. It has been discussed in other threads on this Forum all about what makes a good Jive track and I began to notice that with some events I attended, the music had changed so that I was unable to Jive comfortably to some of the music. This meant that I found myself sitting out waiting for tracks to end or I had to interrupt dancing consecutive tracks with a partner. This concerned me and I put it down to WCS, Tango and Blues influences which had become fashionable in other parts of the country. I decided that I preferred to Jive to the tempos and genres that I had been Jiving to over the last few years and I met and talked to a lot of other people of the same mind. My decision was that the Calendar should include only those events that I knew to be ones that enabled a "Jiver" to enjoy dancing to the music all night. It seemed to me that people would not want to pay their money to attend a Jive event where a large percentage of the music played was best danced with WCS, tango or Blues and they would have to sit out if they only knew Jive or attempt to slow Jive for example with the awkwardness that it entails. Obviously, if Jivers attend an event which is supposed to be a Jive event, they will try and Jive to the music, whatever is played. So to say that any event where people are mostly Jiving is a Jive event may be a misnomer as it's possible that the music is not really suitable for Jiving but they are doing what they know even if it is to an uncomfortable tempo or genre. To that extent, I wanted people to know that if a Jive event was included on the Calendar, then they could be assured that they would be able to Jive all night long (and not just slow Jive). Obviously there are always a small percentage of Tango tracks and some slower tracks to provide some variation but the preponderance of the music should enable people to Jive. I don't believe this includes a "subset" of Jivers as Steve suggests, but rather includes the majority of Jivers in the area. I have included The Verwood Hub and other events that offer separate Blues/WCS rooms but only because the main hall usuall offers a sufficient quantity of good Jiving tracks. Yes, it is my personal choice as to what I include on the Calendar but there is nothing to stop people promoting other style events through the "Other Dance Styles" section of the Forum. There will obviously be pressure on me from WCS/Tango/Blues teachers and organisers to include more events with their own particular music tastes but this will mainly be because they want to promote their own styles, classes and events and I am reluctant to accede to their pressure until I believe that Jive as I know it has finally become irrelevant and the fashionable WCS/Tango/Blues styles have taken over.
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"We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance."
~Japanese Proverb

[Ab]

I was delighted when SJ started this web site. Thanks SJ. Friends and I have spent many a freestyle waiting to dance to jive tracks. Sadly at the end of the evening we could count on the fingers of two hands how many tracks we had felt inspired to dance to. The music left us without the will to jive and wondering if we had actually attended a jive freestyle. When advertising a jive freestyle make it a jive and stick to it.

We have given certain venues many a visit hoping that these nights (in our opinion) would improve. We now avoid them until we hear differently. The power of this site works faster than word of mouth and again, thanks SJ, you have saved us travelling time and money as we can now source the venues, which we prefer to dance at. The feedback by other dancers has proved invaluable. We want to dance to jive music, not blues, wc swing etc. We don't mind a mix of tango and other such tracks slotted in, gives us chance for a rest or to adapt our style.

Presently it appears a competition who can provide the best cakes and biscuits to get people to attend their events - just not interested - where does it go next bed and breakfast?

[Nicky]

As I understand it, SJ is saying that he feels that the Chillax events would be better placed under the "Other Dance Styles" section of the Forum, which would mean that there would actually be no mention of them on the Calendar.

I fully understand why SJ is reluctant to post details of such events, but I also feel that there is an ever increasing number of jivers who appreciate the range of music that certain events offer. I think that the concern here is that a lot of people wouldn't necessarily think to look in the "Other Dance Styles" section for anything other than Salsa, Tango or WCS events, and as such, these crossover events would be overlooked.

SJ, would it be possible to maybe have some other sub-section in which organisers could provide details of the slightly more 'alternative' jive events? That way, anybody thinking of attending would do so in the full knowledge that not all of the music will be of a faster tempo. The onus would then be on any organisers wishing to advertise their event, to post details of exactly what dancers can expect..... Just a thought!

[Southern Jiver]

Good idea, Nicky. I much prefer positive feedback with good ideas.
What would be a good heading? Alternative Jive? Experimental Jive? Slower Jive? Chilled Jive? Smooth Jive? I need suggestions.
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"We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance."
~Japanese Proverb

[Southern Jiver]

Lilblue posted while the thread was being moved :

Lilblue wrote :
"I think Nicky has come up with a cracker, I make regular use of forum and calendar but I would not think to look in other dance styles for events like Chillax and D2D, the latter of which I enjoyed immensely and the former I couldn't attend as I was ill but I was really looking forward to trying out some new stuff, that didn't require me to learn a new dance! I don't blues, or WCS, or Salsa or anything other than modern jive in fact, but I do like to try some new music and variations on jive (I recently partook in some double trouble and tagging as a follower and thought it was great fun - see other sections for discussion on these) which is why I loved the Meltdown Mix Up at Minstead. Kinda lost track there sorry! The point is that I jive, in fact I only jive, but I enjoy these different events!

The new heading could be along the lines of Modern Modern Jive I suppose... Since that's what it is, just modern jive to a different beat. Not very helpful on the headings front! Sorry SJ!"
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"We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance."
~Japanese Proverb