1950s Jive Class
Depending on demand, we're planning to run the first of our Jive Courses later in 2022. They'll be based somewhere near Pontefract in Yorkshire.
Our style is suitable for dancing to Rock n Roll, Rockabilly, Jump Blues - and basically just having fun!
-
Photo courtesy of Amalfi Bella
Video Coaching during lockdown happened out of the blue for us. It was a great success and we're now also being approached by people asking us to run Jive Classes, with requests coming in to cover everything from complete beginners through to some specialist stuff!
There's a lot of commitment to consider especially when we both have day jobs, so please bear with us and Join want2jive so we know who's interested and can keep you informed about plans and progress.
What will our courses offer?
A fun, friendly and inclusive approach to 1950s Rock n Roll Jiving is just the start!
Our initial 6 Week Beginners course will get you up to speed with the core basics of Jive and then guide you through moves that will allow you to create your own routines.- Once you attend Classes, you'll also get exclusive access to additional resources and optional video coaching on the website.
We're also thinking about additional Intermediate Content Building Courses which will introduce lots more moves and combinations, and we'll also show you how to develop your styling, adapt your dancing for different types of music, and incorporate special moves to highlight parts of a song!
If you like to take it steady, there's no hurry and you'll not be under any pressure to do anything you're not comfortable with.
If you want more, we can boost your repertoire or point you all the way to entering competitions.
All you need to do right now is Join want2jive to register your interest so we can get the classes ready.
-
Please note that our classes won't cover Modern Jive, Ceroc, Laroc, Ballroom Jive, anything requiring lycra or anything remotely resembling ballet!
Common beginners Questions
Will I be ableto Jive?
- Probably!
- If you've never danced before, ask yourself this... can you clap along to a song? If the answer is yes, you should be able to learn to Jive.
- If you can already dance, even if it's just round the handbag or a bit of Dad dancing, you should be fine.
- Always remember that it's not actually about how well you dance: it's about enjoying yourself and you don't necessarily need rhythm to do that!
- If you've never danced before, ask yourself this... can you clap along to a song? If the answer is yes, you should be able to learn to Jive.
 |
|
|
Please note that the footwork pattern shown isn't really Jive. We just stuck it in there because it looks impressive ;) |
||
Will I lookstupid?
-
Nope!
Some people (particularly men) seem to worry that they'll look stupid when they're on the dancefloor. Actually, there's no need because if anyone's looking, they'll fall into these groups:
- People who daren't dance and are secretly jealous because you're dancing and they're not.
- People who smile at you because they appreciate that you're having a good time.
- People who have already learned to dance and are smiling because they're remembering the time when they were learning.
You're not at school. Stop worrying about it ;) - People who daren't dance and are secretly jealous because you're dancing and they're not.
-
Please note that the people in the pictures aren't real beginners. They're actually crash test dummies posed with period clothing.
Where shouldI start?
Which class is suitable for me?
| Your experience | Core Basics | Content Building | Advanced Techniques |
| I've never danced before | X | ||
| I can dance but I've never done partnered dancing | X | ||
| I can do partnered dancing but I've never done Rock n Roll & Rockabilly | X | ||
| I can already do this and go out to dances regularly | X | ||
| I can do finishes and include musicology | X |
Learning to crawl, walk and run have to happen in order, otherwise you'll fall over, or worse still, develop a really odd looking way of running (Monty Python springs to mind..)!
If you're coming from another dance discipline and can already sprint, this switch may feel like running on a completely new surface with different footwear. If you've done other types of dance like Lindy, Charleston, Modern Jive, Ceroc or Salsa, it's really important that you start with a beginners class since you'll be learning new footwork patterns, timing and tension.
| Expert Tech Babble: You'll be doing a 6 beat timing pattern to 8 beat music with pulsing, tension and momentum switching. Don't let that put you off... if you can dance round your handbag, you've already learned 4 beat timing to 4 and 8 beat music... with pulsing! |
When and Where?
Learn to Jive in the Rock n Roll & Rockabilly style with our weekday evening courses.
Each session is expected to run from 7.30pm with a class and then continue to 10.30pm with a Record Hop and social dance for you to practice your new skills. We'll also introduce you to bopping and strolling!
We're aiming for a location which will be within 30 minutes drive of Doncaster, Rotherham, Wakefield, Barnsley, Castleford, Selby, Goole and Pontefract. Click the map for a larger view, or get your approximate route on Google Maps once we announce the venue.
Interested? Please Join want2jive so we can get an idea of actual demand and keep you informed.
Class Options?
CoreBasics
Get up to speed with the basic stuff.
Understanding the core basics of leading, following, timing and footwork is the most important step in starting 1950s Jive. Without them, none of the spins and turns will flow correctly so you won't be able to link moves together to build a routine. We'll take things at a gentle pace and introduce these basics in a way that will allow you to learn quickly and practice at home. Each successive week we'll recap on what we've covered before adding new things to your routine.
If it's going to be your first class, here are some ideas of suitable things to wear.
ContentBuilding
Expanding your repertoire with more stuff like extra moves and different music speeds.
If you already know 1950s Jive and can consistently Lead or Follow medium speed music then this is where you want to be.
The class will also introduce starting and finishing moves and some basic musicology.
AdvancedTechniques
Introduces Styling, Musicology, Aerials and Special Stuff.
The best dancers are the ones that have developed that little something extra that catches people's attention when they're on the floor. Sometimes it's hard to quantify and measure (especially for competition judges), but it's usually down to one or more of the things our advanced classes will cover.
Please Join want2jive if you're interested
This will help us with planning and allows us to keep you posted with information about the Classes and Record Hop.
You'll also be able to see extra features in the Class Menu which will be accessible when you attend Classes.
Weekend Classes.
If you'd like to incorporate Rock n Roll and Rockabilly Jive classes into your existing event, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or catch us at a Gig.
