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Lounge Lizard
20th-June-2005, 12:01 PM
The Empire hath got bigger it seems
p

Lou
20th-June-2005, 12:08 PM
Yeah - I noticed the news item (http://www.uk-jive.co.uk/news-detail.asp?NewsID=735) this morning.

Andy McGregor
20th-June-2005, 12:23 PM
Why did the Borg and 'assimilation' pop into my head when I read the article?

Will Katy Baxter now be referred to as 'third of five' in the collective conciousness?

Me? Red Dwarf fan :clap: Just call me cat - I'm the one who's looking so cool :innocent:

David Franklin
20th-June-2005, 12:27 PM
"So...{wheeze}...young Katherine...{wheeze}...you fear death... {wheeze}...the death of your business...{wheeze}"

[Andy heckles from stalls]If you only banned smoking at your venues, you'd be breathing more easily!

"No!" replies our Heroine, "I fear nothing. And by the way, Andy, my Woking venue has aircon!"

"Your fear makes you weak! {wheeze} But learn...{wheeze}...the power of the semi-circle...{wheeze}...and you need fear nothing...{wheeze}"

"Never. Never will I succumb to the dark side!"

"Deliver...{wheeze}...your Rebel empire to me...{wheeze}, and I will give you the money^h^h^h^h^hpower to live on in digital media forever..."

"Oh, OK then. So, that's a semi-circle to the left, and a bold step-across to the right. Follow it up with a Ceroc(tm)-spin. I'm beginning to see the light! By the way, got any young dancers you want executed? Might as well make the character change as unbelievable as possible!"

Meanwhile, in a small Hammersmith hall:

[Sfx: CD playing tango starts stuttering]

"What's happening?", asks the hushed crowd?

DJ Toby-wan takes the mike: "A disturbance in the dance - as if thousands of jivers had missed a beat, and been crippled..."

David Bailey
20th-June-2005, 12:45 PM
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
I've now got the Empire theme tune running through my head:
"Dum dum da dum, dum da dum dum da dum..."!

Rhythm King
20th-June-2005, 12:54 PM
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
I've now got the Empire theme tune running through my head:
"Dum dum da dum, dum da dum dum da dum..."!

and I have visions of Divi with her hair coiled up over her ears :rofl:

R-K

Jedi, actually

Peter
20th-June-2005, 02:00 PM
So far there is no news about the future for Nigel & Nina's first Monday of the month Masterclasses ...

bigdjiver
20th-June-2005, 02:19 PM
[Andy heckles from stalls]If you only banned smoking at your venues, you'd be breathing more easily!...

FWIW Wellingborough has joined the list of no-smoking Ceroc Central venues following succesful trials of the policy. I do not yet know how far the policy has spread.

David Franklin
20th-June-2005, 02:23 PM
So far there is no news about the future for Nigel & Nina's first Monday of the month Masterclasses ...I warned Nina not to go to the bilateral Ceroc/separatists peace conference. But she told me:

"Size matters not. Look at me..judge me by my size do you? And besides, I have this really wicked trick where I turn people to stone with my death glare..."

But then, at the conference, Katy turned up. I think she must have been drinking the night before, 'cos she had the most awful bloodshot eyes. Nina tried, but those red eyes were unbeatable.

"Observe the power of my fully operational death stare" cackled Katy...

Divissima
20th-June-2005, 02:40 PM
"Observe the power of my fully operational death stare" cackled Katy...That's no moon..... :what:

David Franklin
20th-June-2005, 02:45 PM
That's no moon..... :what:I thought we were trying to avoid the sleaze threads... :wink:

Divissima
20th-June-2005, 02:47 PM
I thought we were trying to avoid the sleaze threads... :wink: :rofl: :devil:

Jon L
20th-June-2005, 02:58 PM
Nice to be back all after a long break.

A very interesting piece of news today.

Jon L

Sheepman
20th-June-2005, 02:58 PM
Just in case there's anyone wondering what on earth this is all about, here's the press release, which is on both the Rebelroc & Ceroc Surrey websites:-


PRESS RELEASE
UK’s Leading Leisure Dance Business (Ceroc) acquires major competitor forcing prospect of further consolidation in sector

London – 20/6/04 – 10.51
In a joint statement released today, the management of Ceroc Dance and Rebel Roc announce the acquisition and integration of the Rebel Roc business throughout the South of England in a move which significantly consolidates Ceroc’s position as the leading brand in the rapidly expanding UK leisure dance sector.

With control of five leading venues and more than 12,000 registered dancers in the South, Rebel Roc was able to promote both high profile and innovative partner dance events. Although Ceroc already has a large presence in the South East this acquisition represents an important strategic development for Ceroc Dance which is looking to grow its attendance numbers in the UK.

Mike Ellard (managing director of Ceroc Dance) says:
“As a high growth business we are constantly looking for opportunities to expand our commercial franchise either organically or via acquisition in the UK. With a dance business which now operates in 45 major UK cities and hosts events each week for more than 100,000 dancers, Ceroc needs to ensure that any acquisition represents the continued delivery of the high product standards which we expect to provide through to our end customers.

With the meteoric growth of the leisure dance sector over the last 5 years especially within the 20-50 age group, several competitors have developed. To date only Rebel Roc has established a business model we would consider complimentary to our overall strategic objectives, because of this and coupled with their continuing success it made sense to seek a closer business relationship.”

Katy Baxter (principal of Rebel Roc) says:
“I am pleased that the company is now being integrated into the Ceroc network as they are clearly the only leisure dance organization in the UK capable of sustaining and developing the substantial dance franchise I have built over the last six years.”

In earlier discussions with Ms Baxter it was indicated that this sale would now permit her time and resources to complete and launch a digital media business which has been under development for the last six months.
“Managing both companies was simply not possible and I had to make a clear choice about which direction I wished to take for the future.


Digital media has for some time been an area of business which has interested me and the experience gained with Rebel Roc will be invaluable going forwards”

Greg

CJ
20th-June-2005, 03:14 PM
"Observe the power of my fully operational death stare" cackled Katy...


That's no moon..... :what:

Is hard to tell the difference, tho, isn't it??

Trousers
21st-June-2005, 03:35 PM
Wow I'm shocked!

But I knew Katy was thinking of other things but .... wow.

Do reckon she's gonna have a party now?

Hey ho end of an era and all that mularky

More power to your elbow Ms. Baxter

Swinging bee
21st-June-2005, 04:35 PM
The Empire hath got bigger it seems
p



Does this mean that the Empire will take over at Camber where Rebel Rock left off?????

Let the games begin.....

Trousers
21st-June-2005, 05:08 PM
Does this mean that the Empire will take over at Camber where Rebel Rock left off?????

Let the games begin.....

Pigeons meet the Cat!

There be some good car flyers floating about if that happens, allegedly. . . .

RobC
21st-June-2005, 06:03 PM
Does this mean that the Empire will take over at Camber where Rebel Rock left off?????

Let the games begin.....
Dunno about the Camber event, but the Rebel Yell event held in Woking should be joining MJC in being another Ceroc-run weekender.

Minnie M
21st-June-2005, 11:12 PM
There be some good car flyers floating about if that happens, allegedly. . . .
:rolleyes:

Jon L
22nd-June-2005, 01:09 AM
Does this mean that the Empire will take over at Camber where Rebel Rock left off?????

.....

Whatever happens now, I'll say that all three of the Rebel Yell one day specials in Woking organised by Katy, I have enjoyed. They have been well organised , and FYI it's where I first came across Nigel and Nina, and Mr. Lizard and Alina. At last years also I had a fab day with Nelson and Karen's classes.

I hope that this weekend in October can continue with the high quality over the last three years.

bigdjiver
22nd-June-2005, 02:51 AM
I have advocated Ceroc merging with some of the independents as being necessary to achieve the economies of scale and the image of a national organisation. I hoped to see Ceroc using their natural, acquired, advantages in an efficient and sensible fashion.

I do not want to see silly turf wars. I do not think that they will succeeed, and I think that course will do more harm than good. Fortunately I have not seen any evidence of this as a national policy.

I am not convinced of the maximising of advantages and use of resources. People saying that they have to choose between Twyford and Daventry is one indication that things perhaps could be better organised.

I have been using the last hour of the Leroc night at Bedford to practise new moves, including arials. The class is held in the Corn exchange and there is plenty of room. Tonight I learn that Nicky Haslam will be giving a specially arranged close moves class next Monday, and will be at their Thursday venue too. Monday and Thursday are also Ceroc night, held in the Kempston Addison centre, about a mile away.

This is great for the Bedford MJ scene, but I would have hoped to see her at the Ceroc venue, and I am sad to see that Ceroc have, to my eyes, failed to use her to maximum effect.

DangerousCurves
22nd-June-2005, 10:41 AM
Does this mean that the Empire will take over at Camber where Rebel Rock left off?????



It would be interesting to see what Ceroc would do with a weekender. I've been to Franco's Camber/Bognor and to Southport, but not to Katy's Camber. I believe that she directed a lot of the event towards beginners and was pretty successful in getting interest in a new event. Wonder if Ceroc would keep the "beginner" angle or turn it to another direction?

Trousers
22nd-June-2005, 11:22 AM
I have advocated Ceroc merging with some of the independents as being necessary to achieve the economies of scale and the image of a national organisation. I hoped to see Ceroc using their natural, acquired, advantages in an efficient and sensible fashion.

I do not want to see silly turf wars. I do not think that they will succeeed, and I think that course will do more harm than good. Fortunately I have not seen any evidence of this as a national policy.

Well that is an opinion BigD but personally I don't go for that.
Economies of scale lead to laziness in these companies as if the Ceroc monster wasn't already there. Competition keeps the operators looking for new ideas and ventures and I'm for that.
Ms. Baxters group was good and I've said this before her teaching method was great as she did 3 moves as hard as you like with no run on etc. etc. if you want your freestyle time hers were the venues that always delivered.

Personally I had expected big improvements when Mr Ellard took over the reigns at Ceroc Towers but there haven't really been any that I can see. Oh we've had a whole new book of moves but the book was big enough anyway to keep us amused til the Gnab Gib. What's gonna change now? Nothing

And as to the spread and depth of venues - this is down to the local franchises they've all got to make their money. It just gives you choice on a night in my book - who do I want to dance with tonight, how far am I willing to travel, who's teaching and of course that old chestnut who've I got to avoid now . . . . all valid questions leading to your choice of venue.

The really sad thing is we all keep posting on here like it makes a difference. Take the overcrowding at the last Solihull freestyle - We all whinged but the only reason numbers will be down at freestyles now is the weather not because Ceroc want to improve the service. Normal overcrowding services to be resumed once the weather cools - Lovely.

I can not speak for the North where this Forum supposedly lives and breathes (although we southerners seem to have taken over somewhat). But Frank is in here and I would like to think He listens. But idon't know if the issues in the north are the same as ours here. Frank may wish every night for a venue to be spilling out of the doors.

So I personally feel sad that RebelRoc has been assimilated, I know why she did it and I know why she chose Ceroc over competitors (and I respect her judgements). But as to it being a good thing for my Hobby, my entertainment (my life too but that sounds sad) well i don't think it is.
I hope the Lerocs and Ginger Jives and Blitz's and all those iddybitty venues around the country keep going because they definitely add something to the whole scene rather than take it away.

David Bailey
22nd-June-2005, 12:36 PM
Personally I had expected big improvements when Mr Ellard took over the reigns at Ceroc Towers but there haven't really been any that I can see.
Well, I dunno how much leverage Ceroc Command has over the franchises, but I imagine sudden or dramatic changes in policy would be difficult to implement due to the distributed nature of the business.

And there have been some changes - merchandising tie-ins, new moves, nosequins (ballroom dancing) etc. But change for the sake of it would be dumb.


The really sad thing is we all keep posting on here like it makes a difference.
I never assume anything I post will make a difference. We're not a lobbying group, we're here to, you know, chat about dancing...


Take the overcrowding at the last Solihull freestyle - We all whinged but the only reason numbers will be down at freestyles now is the weather not because Ceroc want to improve the service. Normal overcrowding services to be resumed once the weather cools - Lovely.
Well, I'd go on about my "structured feedback mechanisms" bugbear, but I've done that once or twice already...


But Frank is in here and I would like to think He listens. But idon't know if the issues in the north are the same as ours here. Frank may wish every night for a venue to be spilling out of the doors.
Franck seems to run one of the best operations in the UK, from what I've heard, so yes, I think he's probably listening. Although he may have better things to do with his time than read every post :)


So I personally feel sad that RebelRoc has been assimilated,
I can't honestly bring myself to care too much, sorry.

If a particular MJ dance venue is good, I don't worry about who's getting my money. If a particular MJ dance venue is bad, there are others locally to me. If it turns out that there are no others, I'll go to salsa. If no salsa, I'll get a life (or more likely, post on the forums :) )

I appreciate that I'm priviledged, there are so many London venues, but I've got to get some value out of living in this dirty poor-air-quality place... :)