Ceroc - UK Dance Phenomenon Comes Home!
For the last 28 years the Brits have been obsessing over a partner dance called Modern Jive.
The phenomenon was started when James Cronin a Frenchman but resident in Britain remembered the dance that his friends and family all did in France - an easy partner dance which apparently was an adaptation of the jitterbug that the American GI’s had taken over in World War II.
James set up his business – Ceroc, in 1982 and now 27 years later more than ½ million people are members in the U.K and the dance has already crossed the waters to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Italy, Spain, Hong-Kong, Russia, Israel, Dubai and of course back to France as a new hybrid.
Ironically it now comes back to the States courtesy of the US Air Force and is starting in Phoenix.
Sarah Taylor is a Scottish self proclaimed Ceroc addict whose husband serves with the US Air Force, when notified about their family transfer to Phoenix Sarah knew she couldn’t bear to stop dancing, so now she comes to Arizona and brings Ceroc classes with her. Sarah says, “When I first went to Ceroc I really couldn’t believe how friendly everyone was and the dance is so easy to learn that you very quickly feel part of the dance community. What’s even more amazing is that at any one of the U.K Ceroc dance nights its commonplace for anywhere between 100 – 400 people to turn out for lessons! I just couldn’t believe there was this underground ‘scene’ I had managed to miss for so long.”
Obviously the jitterbug roots of this dance mean it can be high energy with lots of turning and spinning, but it really can be danced to all styles of music so it’s like the jitterbug with a funky twist.
Sarah had no idea of the history of the dance until she applied to bring it to the States. “It all seems a little spooky that the American Forces took the dance to Europe and now they bring it back – albeit through me. It’s very strange and maybe a good omen,” says Sarah.
Though a partner dance, there is no need to bring one! Each routine is broken down so the class rotates every few moves, this way you dance with a new person every couple of minutes so it’s the ideal way to socialise and meet new friends too. This is not a dance just for singles, many couples go along to Ceroc in the U.K and whilst it’s easier to learn if you swap partners it’s not essential to do so.
Sarah will be launching their brand new weekly dance classes starting August 2010 so if you want to learn a few show-stopping dance moves, shed a few lbs, make some new friends or simply have a good laugh with your friends, watch this space...
