What's Ceroc?

Ceroc (or more generally Modern Jive) is a partner dance that is easy and inexpensive to learn and is usually danced to a variety of modern and older music. It's a modern variation of French Ceroc (which is itself a variation of American Jive), with influences from numerous other dance styles such as latin and dirty dancing.

Ceroc is an extremely flexible partner dance, and the main focus is on leading moves without needing to choreograph and learn routines. So it is well suited for improvised casual dancing at parties and other events. This doesn't make it plain or boring - advanced dancers develop their own style and learn to work with their partner to give the dance plenty of flair.

What's Lebop/Leroc/Lestep/Modern Jive?

Le Bop, Le Roc, Le Step and so on are basically just alternative trade names for Ceroc and Modern Jive. There may be some minor variations in moves taught between different dance companies, but with many thousands of Ceroc moves to choose from, this is hardly surprising!

What happens in a Ceroc class?

For the first 15 minutes of each class there is a 'Beginner basics' session for people who are completely new to Ceroc dancing. In these sessions we explain the basic Ceroc handhold and footwork used, and introduce the idea of leading and following. You should make sure you come to these sessions for at least your first few classes.

The actual Beginner lesson of approximately 45 minutes then follows, where a short routine of three or four moves are taught. At the completion of the beginner class there is a short freestyle session for practicing the moves that have just been taught and to provide an opportunity for one-on-one personalised help with the teachers if you have any questions.

After the freestyle session, the class breaks into two groups. New dancers go to a 'Progression' class where the focus is on the key skills needed to progress to the Intermediate level, while the more established dancers have an Intermediate or Intermediate PLUS lesson. If you're new to Intermediate then don't be too disappointed if you find the Intermediate classes difficult at first - the moves and the intermediate techniques used can take a while to get used to, and the class is taught at a faster pace. After the Progession/Intermediate lessons there is another freestyle session so you can practice your moves some more and socialise with other dancers.

What does 'freestyle' mean?

Freestyle is where people dance with whomever they want, practicing whatever moves they want, while the music plays and the lights flash.

In freestyle, you can (and should!) ask anyone to dance, even if you think they are at a different skill level to you. In Ceroc ettiquette it's considered rude for someone to refuse to dance when asked, unless they have a good reason (eg. physical disability, or total exhaustion after dancing a really fast song!)

Are there big routines to learn?

Ceroc is not about learning routines, it is about learning to work with a partner in freestyled dance where the lead picks what move to do next. However, routines can help people to learn a lot of moves in a short time and for this reason we occasionally teach routines to a complete song. You will be surprised how much your freestyle will improve after learning a routine!

How much does it cost?

Unlike some other big name dance companies, you don't need to sign up in advance for six months' expensive tuition if you want to try Ceroc. You can turn up when you want to, and pay for each (self-contained) class on the night.

Class price: $13 (Full) / $10 (Concession)
5-class pass: $55 (Full) / $45 (Concession)
Monthly unlimited pass: $60 (Full) / $50 (Concession)
Couples discount 5-class pass (for two): $90

Do I need to bring a dance partner?

You don't need to bring a dance partner since we rotate every few minutes to make sure everyone gets a chance to dance with partners at a variety of skill levels. However, it would be good if you brought someone of the opposite gender along if you can, to help keep numbers even. If you have any friends you think might like to join in then please feel free to invite them along!

What do I wear?

Almost anything, although it's best to wear flat-soled shoes (especially the ladies) and not sneakers or rubber soles which won't let you turn or spin easily. If you want more specialised dance wear, check out the shops listed on the resources page.

Are there videos or DVDs that I can learn from?

Yes, there are plenty available! It is always helpful to supplement classes with videos and DVDs. Talk to Adrian at a class, or check out the page. Many other Modern Jive companies have DVDs available too -- check them out through the Links page.