The Hipsters formula - Recipe for a successful club?

[Andy McGregor]

Nigel and Nina were told their services were no longer required when Jive Bug became Ceroc Plus, I was told by and insider that it was a condition of the deal. I thought I'd said that. I never said any of the other stuff.

changing your story again I agree with Gadget!

Now I am confused. Which bit of my story has changed? Which bit of Gadget's post does he/she agree with? I've only stated 2 facts in my last post.

1. Nigel and Nina were told their services were "no longer required when Jive Bug became Ceroc Plus". I've said this a few times, I may have added a few bits about how Nina felt about it but the basic story remains the same.

2. "condition of the deal" - RobC, who is an insider, has confirmed this is true on this very thread!

So how has my story changed?


Hipsters Influences the Evolution of Modern Jive

And, to get back on thread. I've been thinking about this a bit. I think that the perceived success of Hipsters is what has upset the Masters of Ceroc - whoever they are. But, I believe that, without Hipsters, Ceroc would not now be teaching advanced lessons. I think that those Masters of Ceroc have risen to the perceived challenge of Hipsters in a brilliant way that all dancers gain from. And, I'm sure that those independants who base their formula on Ceroc will soon follow suit. So everyone who goes to Ceroc has benefitted from Hipsters existence, even people who never go to Ealing.

[Martin]

Please do correct me if wrong, but gadget - from what I have read you do not attend these venues...

So why post?

I have attended both venues.

I have read "Ceroc is great" - blah blah posts, that is cool as that is your opinion.

I attended "Simon and Marilaine's" 'new' venue called Jive Bug... Things have moved on and I see various opinions.

I attended because they were friends of mine.
Nigel and Nina was a once a month bonus.

Now all changed - so instead of looking outside, look inside...

Big Mac's suit some people, other like steak burgers...

If you saw a fall off... maybe you got it wrong...

[spindr]

...I believe that, without Hipsters, Ceroc would not now be teaching advanced lessons.

Which venues are giving advanced Ceroc lesssons Andy?

SpinDr.

[Andy McGregor]

Which venues are giving advanced Ceroc lesssons Andy?

SpinDr.

None of the ones I've been to. But I've read about it on here. I'd like to know the answer to this one too*. Maybe someone could start a thread on this subject - a Hipsters thread probably isn't the place


*please let me know if they're smoking or non-smoking venues

[RobC]

Which venues are giving advanced Ceroc lesssons Andy?

SpinDr.

Ones that I personally know of are:
Ceroc Plus - Fleet (Thursdays)
Ceroc Surrey - Godalming (Sundays)
Ceroc Surrey / Plus - Woking (Tuesdays)
(not sure, but I think) Ceroc Surrey - Surbiton (Wednesdays)

Anyone want to add to the list ?

[RobC]

Ones that I personally know of are:
Ceroc Plus - Fleet (Thursdays)
Ceroc Surrey - Godalming (Sundays)
Ceroc Surrey / Plus - Woking (Tuesdays)
(not sure, but I think) Ceroc Surrey - Surbiton (Wednesdays)

Anyone want to add to the list ?

Oh, and they're all non-smoking

[Martin]

None of the ones I've been to. But I've read about it on here. I'd like to know the answer to this one too*. Maybe someone could start a thread on this subject - a Hipsters thread probably isn't the place


*please let me know if they're smoking or non-smoking venues

So where do "we" go for advanced stuff?

Ceroc - please give us an answer?
(nah not swing and Salsa - Ceroc stuff)

Marty

[Lory]

Anyone want to add to the list ?

Fulham on Thursdays
Ceroc Metro does an X factor class on Monday's with Adam!

[Martin]

Ones that I personally know of are:
Ceroc Plus - Fleet (Thursdays)
Ceroc Surrey - Godalming (Sundays)
Ceroc Surrey / Plus - Woking (Tuesdays)
(not sure, but I think) Ceroc Surrey - Surbiton (Wednesdays)

Anyone want to add to the list ?

And what do you call ADVANCED?

Teachers, styles, credibility?

Not not funk or swing - CEROC advanced?

[Martin]

Fulham on Thursdays
Ceroc Metro does an X factor class on Monday's with Adam!

Tried Fulham on Thursdays - nah - not tried Metro though

[DavidB]

Anyone want to add to the list ?

Jive Bar on Wednesday

[spindr]

To me advanced means a discussion of technique -- not just an overlong improvers class -- or convoluted moves.

Ones that I personally know of are:
Ceroc Plus - Fleet (Thursdays)

Hmmm, that's definitely not advanced Ceroc; half the time it's an unpartnered hiphip stroll -- bl**dy good fun, but not advanced Ceroc.

I believe it's advertised as Jive Fusion -- which matches with the lessons I've been to; unless Ceroc's now added WCS sugar push, Lindy circle, Lindy turn, reverse Lindy turn, and LindyHop partnered charlestons to its advanced curriculum

Ceroc Surrey - Godalming (Sundays)
Ceroc Surrey / Plus - Woking (Tuesdays)
(not sure, but I think) Ceroc Surrey - Surbiton (Wednesdays)

Anyone want to add to the list ?

Haven't been -- they're a bit too far for me.

SpinDr.

[Lory]

And what do you call ADVANCED?

Teachers, styles, credibility?

Not not funk or swing - CEROC advanced?

Over to you David Barker

[Martin]

RobC

So interesting that you have avioded the BIGOT comeback AND comments about your "revised venue"

Ah well you and Gadget should get together and think of pleasent things and ignore what the real reasons are...

[RobC]

And what do you call ADVANCED?

Teachers, styles, credibility?

Not not funk or swing - CEROC advanced?

Something that gives you more than your usual intermediate class. Often a mixture of all of the above. Sometimes adding in footwork patterns, more in depth teaching of lead/follow techniques and styling points. Sometimes drawing on the influence of other dance styles (hip-hop, latin, etc) to 'twist' variations on existing 'jive' moves.

N.B. I dont call a teacher going through a really tough routine an advanced class, it needs to offer something more than just a complicated choreographed move that both leader and follower need to know in order to dance it in freestyle. Now if it is broken down in such a way as to teach the lead/follow, style points and other factors involved to enable the moves to be danced freestyle with a partner than may not know the move, then that's a different matter.

[Martin]

Something that gives you more than your usual intermediate class. Often a mixture of all of the above. Sometimes adding in footwork patterns, more in depth teaching of lead/follow techniques and styling points. Sometimes drawing on the influence of other dance styles (hip-hop, latin, etc) to 'twist' variations on existing 'jive' moves.

N.B. I dont call a teacher going through a really tough routine an advanced class, it needs to offer something more than just a complicated choreographed move that both leader and follower need to know in order to dance it in freestyle. Now if it is broken down in such a way as to teach the lead/follow, style points and other factors involved to enable the moves to be danced freestyle with a partner than may not know the move, then that's a different matter.

Seriously that is great stuff - so who do you get to teach it?

Is that once a month or every week?

[Andy McGregor]

IMHO advanced dancing is usually something that advances your dancing. And it think it depends on your current level. What is advanced to me might be basic stuff to a beginner like The Tramp

This is nothing to do with the thread but I'm wondering if anyone else gets this. Just recently, and only from time-to-time I've been experiencing a Zen-like place when I'm dancing. I've had all the time in the world to do moves, I've been aware of my breathing/heartbeat and felt exactly where every body part is as if I was looking from outside, I could choose from a number of possible moves, listen to the music and know what's coming, respond to my partner as if I could read their mind, be in the right place and it all goes right - in fact, now I think about it, I'm not sure I'm doing moves or even thinking at all At the end of the track, or when someone bangs into me, I feel like I'm slowly surfacing from underwater.

I used to get this feeling when I'd been fencing for years, but at the time I put it down to wearing the mask - which also improved my looks

[DavidB]

To me advanced means a discussion of technique -- not just an overlong improvers class -- or convoluted moves.

That would be my preference. However a lot of people do prefer learning moves.

The Fulham advanced classes are done at the moment by guest teachers for a month at a time. Currently for July it is James Geary. Myself & Lily did June, and Will & Kate did May. I believe Will & Kate are doing August??? Rob May has also done some in the past.

We tried to do one simple move that emphasised a particular technique - mainly Lead & Follow, but also a bit of Musical Interpretation. We would also do a more complicated move for those that liked something a bit more challenging. As such they were not aimed at established advanced dancers, but more for people who wanted to learn about what they can do.

David

[RobC]

One observation I did have was that word biggot...

Keeping in mind the statement "OK, I might be wrong here, but I believe that it was actually Nigel we were not allowed to have teach for us, due to his involvement with a competing london venue....."

Now has this got any corrolation to the below description also offered by yourself?

big·ot
n.
One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.

mmmm does make you wonder?

So interesting that you have avioded the BIGOT comeback AND comments about your "revised venue"

What, me, bite the hand that feeds me ?
Surely not - that's not like me at all

[spindr]

Seriously that is great stuff - so who do you get to teach it?

Well Nigel may still be free on Thursdays -- but he's not free monthly on Mondays, as he's teaching with Nina at RebelRoc in Woking, like tonight

SpinDr.