Jive Buddies

While on holiday in Turkey, Jive Buddy Ton met Julie and Steve and they had an interesting story about how they got into salsa. But what were they doing on a jive holiday? Listen to find out how they coped, what the differences are between the two dances, and a surprise confession at the end!   Chapters: Why were Julie and Steve on a jive holiday? [0:59] How did Steve cope with his first jive danc...

Kirsty Hayward loves the smooth, SILC music, and it shows! Listen to how she is helping, with her teaching and DJing, to bring this style of music and dancing to the East Midlands.   Chapters: Did Kirsty always want to dance as a child? [0:52] Kristy's Ceroc journey starts by being taken onto the dance floor by Bill Henry! [3:43] Hear about Kirsty's first freestyle and her wardrobe faux pas [12:20...

We have a great chat with Alma Neville, on how she started dancing, her softball career, and dancing with her future husband. Listen to her thoughts on dancing to your own style, owning a franchise, and what makes Moments such a great freestyle event. Chapters: How did Alma first get into Ceroc? [0:47] Alma has an epiphany - dance to your own style, and don't try to be like someone else [6:45] Lis...

Part two of three in Cambridgeshire! Neil Hubbard is our guest as he reveals the music choices in this area, and how he chooses his set for the Fire and Ice event.   Chapters: How did Neil first get interested in music? [0:48] Discover how Neil gets recommended to DJ for Ceroc [4:37] How does Neil put a class night playlist together? [10:28] Neil gets invited to DJ at a freestyle [18:23] Does Neil...

In this first of the trilogy of interviews in Cambridgeshire, we chat with one of our favourite dancers from the area and hear about the wonderful support she got from her teachers.  But behind Christine’s smiling face is a story of how she has to manage her debilitating condition to enjoy her dancing as much as the rest of us.   Chapters: How did Christine first find out about Ceroc? [0:50] Chris...

The Jive Buddies, and their guest Andrew, discusss the state of SILC and chilled dancing in the East Midlands. There's lots of options, from SILC Heaven to Ceroc Inspire to Essie Jo's to West Coast Swing, to increase your opportunities for smoother dancing.   Chapters: SILC or chilled music - what's Andrew's take? [0:47] Andrew likes the SILC Heaven events, run in Nottingham, with its class before...

Debbie Attwood has been on the Ceroc scene for ages, rising up to be a teacher and franchise owner. We finally get a chance to ask about her dancing start with Pops, how she managed to pass her teaching audition despite a lack of sleep, and what is the main reason for the Blaze holidays.   Chapters: Listen to where Debbie did ice dancing with her dad [0:47] How did Debbie found out about her first...

Kerry is a fun dancer from the North West. We find out about why she started dancing, how she keeps her friends informed of events, and what flow states are.   Chapters: After her kids were all grown up, Kerry looks for a new hobby [0:46] Kerry introduced to modern jive at Jive Teddy's before going to Rainford [3:42] Using a WhatsApp group to keep people informed of what dancing is on [10:26] Bein...

Sam is a dancer who also demos at Keith Davis' classes in Stockport Town Hall. Her dance journey involves trying lots of different things and challenging herself. And this interview is another challenge!   Chapters: How did Sam first started dancing? [0:48] Sam gets involved in some ballroom competitions [5:17] First ever beginner class of Modern Jive for Sam [8:56] Sam reveals she's been training...

To find out how the Ceroc Champs series of competitions work, we have Ceroc teacher Matthew Butler to help us. He explains the various categories, as well as telling us about his experiences at the Northern Champs with one of his partners, Mel. Chapters: What is the Ceroc Champs Series? [0:54] There's a random element to the Northern Star competition [3:50] Matthew competes with Mel [4:35] Lucky D...

Our guests today, Bernie and Sally, go out dancing without their husbands. We find out how they manage it.   Chapters: Where did Bernie first go dancing without her husband?[1:06] And Sally started a class and asked her husband Ian to come [2:50] Using a planner allows Sally to look ahead for when she can go to events [6:32] Does Bernie's husband ask what dancing is about? [9:22] Listen to Bernie'...

Gary and Julie Wharton run the successful Pirate Jive freestyle events in the East Midlands. Listen to find out how they purchased it from Ian Macleod, their venues such as The Shed and the Post Mill, their branching out into smoother music and, most importantly, how this duo got together.   Chapters: How did Gary and Julie meet? [0:47] Listen to Gary explain how he got his first gig as a DJ [4:30...

We continue Ashley Davis' story in this 2nd part, talking about his memories of weekenders, introduction to West Coast Swing, and starting a regular WCS class at Kegworth.   Chapters: Does Ashley remember his first weekender teaching gig? [0:26] Ton recalls Ashley teaching a cha-cha-cha workshop on stage at Southport [4:02] Paul goes nostalgic about Ashley's DJ SILC set, dancing outside at Southpo...

A big influence on the Jive Buddies was Ceroc teacher Ashley Davis. Paul remembers Ashley starting as a dancer in Nottingham and then, within a few months, was on the stage delivering his first class! We finally solve the mystery of how Ashley became a teacher so quickly...   Chapters: Listen to how Ashley started sequence dancing at the age of 7 [1:02] Gran takes Ashley to ballroom classes [4:40]...

Teacher Richard Chatland, who knows 14 dance styles, tells us his story of how he first got into ballroom and latin dancing, with its serious competitions, before he moved into modern jive and Ceroc. Try out his Change Dance freestyles, held in Nottingham, which caters for lots of different styles.   Chapters: How did Richard first start dancing? [0:47] Richard as a child use to do ballroom and la...

Jan Campling comes from a ballet background, and the Jive Buddies reminisce about attending her workshop at a weekender in York. We find out how Jan has taught ballet to footballers, rugby players, mixed martial arts fighters, as well has her experience with underwater scuba dancing!   Chapters: Jan remembers Paul and Ton doing a ballet class on a weekender [0:45] When did Jan start ballet? [2:00]...

We noticed one of our local dancers, Stuart, dancing lots of different styles during a freestyle and we thought we'd find out about his history - we didn't realise it was going to include salsa, modern jive, ballroom sequence, bachata, cha-cha-cha and waltz! And wait till you hear about his line model aircraft flying!   Chapters: When did Stuart start dancing? [0:55] Hear about Stuart's hobby: lin...

The Jive Buddies revisit the topic of dating on the dance floor, by talking about the etiquette of it, with guests Joanne and Jane. This is a frank discussion about some of the things that may be going on while you're having fun dancing.   Chapters: Why have so many people dated after meeting on the dance floor? [2:00] "Just because it's social doesn't meant it is a dating place, it's a place for...

Our guest today, Kris, was semi-paralysed due to an accident. But this is a great story of how he overcame the challenges, identifying the need for a passion, and finding dance. And wait till you hear about how he practises his Ceroc moves!   Chapters: What happened with his injury? [0:57] Losing his passion, Kris looks for a new activity to do [6:11] Kris tries his first Ceroc class, to avoid get...

The Jive Buddies have wanted to talk to Bapi for a long time and so we were at his Be In Time & Be Connected workshop to find out what the fuss was all about. This is a special episode, recorded straight after the class, in Penkridge village - it's a fascinating discussion about thoughts on the workshop and dance connections, interwoven with some of this well loved teacher's history.   Chapter...

For our 100th episode, we had an extra special guest: Tim Sant. And we ask him the questions that only the Head of Dance at Ceroc can tell us: Why do you keep changing the beginner's syllabus? Why was SILC developed? Has the dance styles changed with the music, or is music changing the dance? Who thinks of new ideas to implement in Ceroc classes?   But we also find out some of Tim's personal histo...

Jive Buddy Ton, with his friend Jane, went to the Scarborough Awesome Weekender, organised by Pulse Dance. This is their review of the venue, the lessons, the 2 rooms, the music, and of course, the dancing.   Chapters: How many times has Jane been to the Scarborough weekender before? [0:43] Music in the main room, provided by DJ Lily Duffield [3:00] Jane describes the 2nd room [6:32] Ton lists som...

Jo Emmerson has recently qualified as an intermediate Ceroc teacher. Her dance story illustrates just how much Ceroc keeps evolving. After a hiatus to West Coast Swing, coming back to Ceroc was like walking into a room full of friends she didn't know yet, and a smoother slotted style of dancing.   Listen to her opinions on rotational versus slotted dancing, whether it's harder for leads or followe...

Jive Buddy Paul was at the first ever CORE weekender in Daventry with Carrie and her dance gang. Ton finds out what it was like, how social it was, and what it was like being in a group.   Chapters: How did Carrie find the weekender? [0:53] Carrie's thoughts on going in a group [3:34] Weekenders as an opportunity to meet people, particularly of the same gender [6:27] Differences of going to a week...

We got hold of Tor Khan to find out how she first started Ceroc, how she got into blues dancing and who her biggest influencers were. Listen out for "blue fox", "treacle jive", "bugg" and "practicas"!   Chapters: How did Tor first get started in dancing? [0:50] Some women not keen with Tor leading in the intermediate class [4:23] Listen to what got Tor into the Blues room for the first time [7:20]...