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Any dancers out there??

(15 Posts)
oldgoose Wed 19-Oct-16 14:03:12

Could anyone please tell me if the jive has definate steps or do you just improvise?
I would love to be able to jive, but find that when I have tried, I have failed miserably. I used to go to a lot of social clubs when I was younger (MANY years ago) and I can quickstep, foxtrot, waltz, cha cha, and even do the military two step! But the jive totally foxes me.
I was watching a programme on TV the other night and there were lots of people jiving but they all seemed to do it differently! Some let the man have a little turn around, others seemed to be throwing themselves around ,others did a little twist with their hands when they twirled. I know you probably get into a definite pattern of dancing with the same person, but what about jiving with a new person? Can anyone tell me how to jive?

Wobblybits Wed 19-Oct-16 14:10:22

Ballroom Jive has recognised basic steps. The jive as I knew it in the 60's was free form, but did follow a common sequence, which is very similar to the ballroom jive.

www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=basic%20ball%20room%20jive

janeainsworth Wed 19-Oct-16 14:28:14

oldgoose you could look for a ceroc club near you. Ceroc is derived from jive & the steps are simpler. Usually you don't need a partner- dancers are divided into leaders and followers.
You learn 2 or 3 moves each week and move round the room and dance with different people.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceroc

tanith Wed 19-Oct-16 14:34:48

I used to Jive with my ex husband, but its harder with a different partner until you learn their particular style I think. I didn't know there was a specific step to learn everyone seems to make it up as they go along.

Wobblybits Wed 19-Oct-16 15:00:39

That's the beauty of ballroom jive, because it is a collection of basic recognised step, you can jive with anyone.

HildaW Wed 19-Oct-16 16:24:27

Ballroom jive has a simple basic step....but then their are a lot of add-ons......so a dance can be as complicated as you like....our problem comes when OH forgets what's next in our usual sequence and I end up in the wrong place!

janeainsworth Wed 19-Oct-16 17:39:39

And if your OH is anything like MrA it will be all your fault Hilda wink

vampirequeen Wed 19-Oct-16 17:53:21

There are a few basic steps ...step step back step....turns and side steps then you can mix and match and add anything else you like.

DH has been jiving since he was 14. He does the basic steps then adds bits from Lindyhop, swing, rock and roll and jitterbug with anything else he fancies thrown in.

vampirequeen Wed 19-Oct-16 18:00:27

If you youtube Kav Kavanagh you'll find his learn to videos. He shows the basic steps.

Wobblybits Wed 19-Oct-16 18:06:28

Our dance teacher says whatever goes wrong, it's the man's fault, he is supposed to lead his lady.

TriciaF Wed 19-Oct-16 18:26:31

I used to love dancing, especially jiving, wish I could do it now.(knees sad)
This is another version, I think it's the Lindyhop (I've posted this link before):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI5l5KvlUQ8
Those were the days!

janeainsworth Wed 19-Oct-16 21:36:35

That was amazing Tricia thank you smile
WB our teacher says the opposite. The lady is supposed to follow the man even when he has made a balls-up got it wrong.

Charleygirl Wed 19-Oct-16 22:12:29

I went to jive classes a few years before I retired and thoroughly enjoyed them. We were taught basic steps then. My knees would not survive now.

HildaW Thu 20-Oct-16 11:10:33

Quite Wobblybits......its definitely his fault! smile

shandi6570 Thu 20-Oct-16 17:42:55

Oh the jive, love it and still creakily do it with my OH, but nowadays it has to be slower jive music. Reet Petite has always been my favourite, but definitely need to have had a couple of glasses of wine first and very often am seen staggering around the next day, my poor knees! I have never had a particular pattern to jiving, as others have said, it depends on the partner and does take a while to get used to a new one.