Modern Jive

Slow | Smooth | Simple

A Party Hit and A Great Time

Modern Jive is a fun and versatile groove maker, it’s enjoyable to dance, and easy to pull out at nearly every occasion.

Dance to almost any music and feel like a pro when you collate mini routines into a dance experience that is all you. Not only do all the moves have exciting names, but the style is so eclectic you can always find something new to enjoy, and more challenges to pique your interest.

Learn from scratch, no prior experience needed. Learn with confidence in a fun and safe environment. Learn how you learn best, either in the classroom, or by private tuition. Everyone has to start somewhere, you don’t have to know how to dance, to learn how to dance Modern Jive.

Modern Jive is a smooth, versatile partner dance that can be danced to a range of musical styles and tempos. It has its roots in the swing and jitterbug era in the middle of the 20th century, but was adapted to suit music from the 1980s and beyond. Modern Jive borrows moves from West Coast Swing, Salsa, Latin and Ballroom styles, simplifies the steps and smooths them out. It’s a lot of fun and great for clubs, wedding dances or just cruising around the living room.

The classic back step at the start of every figure makes it easy to string moves together, and each base figure has a number of different variants to learn. With lots of “Leans”, “Seducers” and “Dips” to try, there is no end of styling potential, and with individual moves named such things as “Pretzels”, “Cleavers”, “Man Spin Cheats” and “Lady Spins”, there is no end of fun to be had.

Learn Modern Jive at Long-Steps

Long-Steps currently teaches Modern Jive by Private Tuition.

Long-Steps teaches Modern Jive according to popular and reputable sources.

History of the Modern Jive

Modern Jive developed throughout the United Kingdom in the early 1980s before being brought to Australia later that decade. The 1990s saw the dance style boom all around the world, with many variants and teaching styles being developed at the same time.

The dance style works with most music types, from the latest chart hits, through to blues, disco and even big band sounds; practically anything with four beats to a bar. The style also works in a wide variety of tempos from slow to very fast.

From a dance point of view the Modern Jive is quite eclectic.  Many Modern Jive moves have been developed, adapted, or even pinched from a wide range of other dance styles including West Coast Swing, Salsa, and Lindy Hop, to name a few. Modern Jive simplifies the footwork of these other dance styles, removing things like syncopation, to make an easier and smoother movement. The French dance style Le Bop was a big influencer, but as the faster “Jitterbug” style of music went out of fashion, Modern Jive was developed to match the slower, smoother songs that were being played at clubs in the 1980s.

Michel Ange Lau is credited with the change in pace from Le Bop to Modern Jive in 1980, together with James Cronin and Christine Keeble, two of his students. Modern Jive is called or branded with different names, including Ceroc and LeRoc, in different places, and can be danced rotationally or in a slot.

Technical Details

Time Signature: 4/4
Musical Selection: Pop, Rock
Tempo Range: 108 to 160 beats per minute

 

Contact us to start your Modern Jive journey.