On Modern Jive

I felt this topic deserved its own separate entry.

Last Sunday, I had my first ever bonafide Modern Jive experience. I headed out to the Marylebone Summer Fayre knowing there would be Modern Jive but expecting there to be a fair bit of West Coast Swing, as well. Alas, there was practically none, and so I had to have a go at this slightly-scary-to-me dance that I'd heard so much about.

Allow me to explain. Modern Jive (also known by the brand name Ceroc) is a dance form practically unheard of in North America but very popular in Europe. Inspired by swing, salsa, and other partner dances, it has simplifed footwork so that it's very easy to learn.

I first heard of it several years ago in a blues dance forum. We had a hot (and somewhat nasty) debate over the inherent evils of Modern Jive, which (as far as any of us could tell from descriptions and YouTube videos) taught people to dance with little-to-no connection, musicality, or technique. If you're a swing and/or blues dancer, you'll know that lack of connection, musicality, and technique = Satan. I decided that it wasn't fair of me to judge a dance that clearly had different values from my own, and so I put it on the shelf with other things that I don't personally care for but don't necessarily oppose.

Then I moved to Europe. Suddenly, Modern Jivers were a part of my reality. They were coming to my blues dance classes and made up the majority of the West Coast Swing scene. I was surprised to realise that these Modern Jivers actually made really good westies. They had style, they had technique, they had musicality, and they had connection! One of them explained to me that the MJ scene had stagnated several years ago, and so they'd turned to learning WCS technique.

But how was my experience actually dancing Modern Jive? I had a good time! Some of the dancers were pretty good, and although the dance style itself didn't do much for me, I also really understood for the first time how great it is that it exists. Many of us who partner dance often lament about how tragic it is that social dancing is no longer a part of popular culture. We go on and on about its social, emotional, and physical benefits. And yet, in the same breath, we are prescriptive about how this social dancing must be executed and which values people who participate must share. Thereby excluding a large number of people who might otherwise enjoy social dancing and its benefits.

The truth is, no matter how much joy and fulfillment some of us find in practicing and developing our craft, the majority of people in the world don't have the interest, the time, or the opportunity to focus on this particular pastime. Perhaps dancing intimidates them. Perhaps dancing isn't one of their primary passions in life. Perhaps they'd like to make it a priority but other realities stand in their way. But I believe dancing can and arguably should be a joyful part of any person's life, no matter how casual they want or have to be about it. Those who want to learn more, will.

What I saw last Sunday was a group of people who enjoyed dancing and who enjoyed the benefits of the social community they had formed. These are the parts of social dancing that are most important when it comes to the social, emotional, and physical benefits we extol. These are the sorts of interactions that are missing from our every day modern society. And these are the things that our society can reclaim if everyone is made to feel welcome dancing whichever style they want, with whatever skill or commitment level they have to offer.

Back in the golden era of swing, people weren't all Frankie Manning and Norma Miller. Most people just had fun messing about, moving to music, and socialising with people. Most of their dancing was bloody awful by today's swing scene standards. But they had something that most people today lack, and I for one would love to see us claiming it back.

If you don't already partner dance, I really encourage you to give it a try. The benefits, as I've mentioned, are enormous. Start with a dance style done to music you enjoy so that you'll remain inspired and can have fun even if you're sitting out for a while. If you're mostly into contemporary music and worry that you have two left feet, Modern Jive may well be a good option for you. It doesn't matter what you do, so long as you get out there and do it.

Incidentally, I think the rest of us dancers have something to learn from Modern Jivers. Many of them have said to me, "When I tell other dancers that I'm into Modern Jive, they tend to snub their noses up at me. I don't understand why they do that. I don't do that to them."