ROC Special What is Modern Jive Hofgarten - Open Air Swing Impressum   |
What is Modern Jive Modern Jive also known as French Jive is a relatively new dance that started in the 1980'ies mainly in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. There are actually similar dances in Germany like Friesenrock or Knotentanz. Due to the simple footwork it is easier to learn than any other dance. You can dance Modern Jive to any pop music, Swing, Boogie Woogie, Rockabilly and many ballroom dances like Cha Cha, Disco fox, Jive, Foxtrot und Quickstep. You can dance it to any event like Ballroom venues Discos, Weddings und anywhere you meet up. Only requirement is that there are 4 beats in the bar - no Waltz. Some moves look good to slow music, but some look cool with very fast music too. Same for each Dance Evening The many organisations that promote it have basically the same formula: total beginners lesson, followed by short free-style (anyone dances with anyone), followed by intermediate class, followed by longer free style. You don't take lessons to learn modern jive, they are an integral part of the evening and everybody dances with everybody - you need not bring a partner - and a beginner will not find their first time too daunting. It is not a precise dance like the ballroom jive or most other swing dance but can be used as a framework for one's own interpretation. In each course you will learn about 4 moves put together in a sequence. However it is up to find your favourite moves and put them together as you like. Since you learn different moves you can come as you like without missing sequential parts. There are some 32 beginner's moves. After about 4 lessons you can move on to intermediate where the level will raise and variations increase to a few hundred. A nice llist of figures are on www.jiveoholic.org.uk. You do not need to go with a partner as the ethos is to dance with lots of people and the classes rotate partners anyway. It is very exhilarating and your fitness will improve in leaps and bounds. And when I'm addicted Their are other venues in München promoting Modern Jive. - We, Christine and Erich ROC Special - Joe offers Jive for many years already www.munichjive.com In most UK cities you have many venues www.modernjive.com and www.uk-jive.co.uk. And finally try out dance holidays. Similar Dances You might wish to consider: - Lindy-hop (see table below for differences) - Ballroom (Jive, Cha Cha, Fox) - East-coast Swing (6 beat: rock-step triple step triple step) - West-coast Swing (6 beat: rock-step triple step triple step, lady moving up and down in a line, man darting out of the way) - Salsa (4/8 beat: left right left pause right left right pause, hip gyrating, tropical music, more twirly) - Rock'n'roll (6 beat: rock-step toe heel toe heel) |