Modern Jive for Beginners
Group Leader: Richard Perry
Classes will begin in the autumn and will consist of eight weekly sessions.
Not enough people signed up for this class in September to cover the cost of hiring the room but the weather was still very warm then. If you feel you would like to start a class over the winter period please email me and I will fix up another 6-8 week session.
- A modern partner dance to modern music.
- Easy to learn with no step sequences to memorise
- Come preferably with a partner. However, there are limited places for singles.
- No dance experience required.
You will be dancing some basic moves by the end of the first lesson.
Do I need to commit to several lessons?
No. Each session caters for absolute beginners and assumes no previous knowledge. You learn different moves each night building up your repertoire over the weeks. And if you miss a week it does not matter.
What do I wear?
Cool casual clothing and shoes you can turn in - so not trainers.
Do I need to be fit?
Peñon Roc is a great way of keeping fit but the lessons are slow. It is the practice you do that determines your fitness and that's up to you. You can build up slowly as you learn new moves but there is enough music and practice time to exhaust real fitness freaks too.
Can I just come and watch?
We consider this unkind to the people trying to learn. Come prepared to give it a go. It's fun and it's sociable.
How many moves are there?
There are about 20 beginners moves and you will learn these in about 6 weeks but there are hundreds of intermediate moves and we will introduce one or two of these each week after your first couple of weeks.
Are there exams and medals?
No way! This is about having fun and learning something you can use anywhere from the restaurant to the disco to a dinner dance. It is nothing like a ballroom dance class. And be warned - it's addictive.
Do I need a partner?
Not necessarily. This is a partner dance but the main function of the lesson is to teach the men to lead so we change partners every few minutes to make sure you can dance with anyone. Singles are welcome but not too many. Frogmarch a man along if you can. Any man!
What kind of music is it? Is it like Rock and Roll?
You can dance Modern Jive to almost any four beat music. It is a faster dance than rock'n'roll but to slower music so it suits more modern music. This is what makes it so useful. Anything from Pop, House, Merangue, Salsa, Country and Western, Reggae, Motown or Jazz through to Barchatta and Garage.
I've tried Salsa and Ballroom but can't remember any more
The difference here is that there are no prescribed foot movements. You dance your own style after a short while. If you can step back and forth to the music you can do it. The lessons concentrate on the signals to your partner for each move and the man decides which move comes next. There are no sequences to remember after the lessons. We also use the latest, scientific approach to learning - see it - hear it - do it / fast - slow - together - practice - show others.
Do you need a sense of rhythm?
The beat is simple. If you have good rhythm you'll find it easy but people who have failed to learn all other types of dancing find they can enjoy dancing Modern Jive with their partner after only a few lessons.
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