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MODERN JIVE
Home of Cerocoholics Anonymous

• SUMMER 2006 FIGURES  Figures from this summer have been posted.
• EMAIL LIST!  To find out about classes, workshops & practices, and any spontaneous parties & cerocing breaking out in your neighborhood, subscribe to the cerocoholics_anonymous mailing list!

• Figures from the Summer 2006 Variations Class listed here. Updated Aug 22, 2006
• Figures from the Summer 2006 Advance Workshop with John Sweeney & Karen James listed here. Updated Aug 22, 2006
• Figures from the Summer 2006 Beginner Class are available here. Updated Aug 10, 2006
• Figures from the Summer 2005 Beginner & Variations Class are available here. Updated Aug 17, 2005
• Spring 2004 Summer 2004 Beginner Class are available here. Updated June 01, 2004
• Spring 2004 Variations Class figures are posted below. This is a detailed & comprehensive per beat description of the variations figures!! Updated June 01, 2004 -- Yeay! No more recaps for me, I do the dance of joy!!
• Figures covered in the Spring 2004 Dips & Drops Workshop (Advance class). Updated June 07, 2004
• Figures from the Spring 2003 class are available here.

• 2005 Intro-Night Demo by Megan & Alex (Requires DivX Player). From the 2005 Intro-Night Party.
• 2004 Into-Night Demo by Megan & Alex (Requires DivX Player). From the 2004 Ballroom Bash/Intro-Night Party.
• 2004 Modern Jive Formation: Friday Performance & Saturday Performance (Requires DivX Player). From the 2004 Caltech Dance Show.
• 2004 Beginner Figures Demo by Mike & Megan. From the Spring 2004 class.
• 2003 Into-Night Demo by Mike & Megan (Requires QuickTime Player). From the 2003 Ballroom Bash/Intro-Night Party.
• Flashdance Demo by Mike & Megan (Requires QuickTime Player). This is an earlier demo from 2002.

Summer 2006

• Megan Ferguson
• Mike Fleming -- special guest for Variations Class flying in from SF!!

Summer 2005

• Megan Ferguson
• Mike Fleming -- special guest for Variations Class!!

Spring 2004

• Mike Fleming -- Spring 2004 was Mike's last time teaching Modern Jive at Caltech...
• Megan Ferguson

Brought by our local Kiwi Mike Fleming to Caltech, Modern Jive is based on CEROC, a modern dance with swing and salsa influences popular in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.  In early 2001, from what we hear to be a succinct but charming email, Mike convinced Megan Ferguson to learn and develop the dance.  Together they have taught Modern Jive at Caltech for the past 3 years.  Modern Jive has become a quite staple in CBDC's dance class offerings and has created a rather enthusiastic following  -- as Megan puts it, we are definite Ceroc groupies :)

Alas, Mike finally graduated...  Megan promises to continue teaching Modern Jive though, and the rest of us will keep on dancing and spreading the addiction!

With a 4 step-4 beat rhythm and mostly open style dancing, it is the perfect introductory dance for complete beginners. And with snazzy spins, twists and dips, it is a boon for experienced dancers.  That is to say, Modern Jive is just pure fun, whether you were born with dance shoes or two left feet!  More so, it is quite utilitarian, and amazingly versatile, you can dance it to practically every modern pop-rock music --  the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, 00's, even latin beats -- it's all cerocable!!

The Caltech Modern Jive Group exist primarily as an email-list for Modern Jive & Ceroc dancers to keep abreast of classes, workshops & practices, and more interestingly, random & spontaneous Ceroc parties breaking out at the Caltech campus!

If you are interested in continuing to learn and dance Modern Jive, and being kept abreast of both organized practices and spontaneous cerocing breaking out in your neighborhood, you can subscribe to the cerocaholics-anonymous mailing list!

SUMMER 2006 VARIATIONS FIGURES

Just a list of the figures covered.

1st week
1. Ozzie Bushwacker
2. Grapevine into Seducer
3. R-hand Manhattan Walk (Sit Dip exit)

2nd week
1. Matador
2. Reverse Basket Pivots

3rd week
1. Hip-Hop
2. One-handed Pivots
3. Ladyhook

4th week
1. Cynthia's Pretzel
2. Flick into Basket Lean into Crossbow Lean
(extended variation: into Tango Drop, leader steps over into reverse Tango Drop into Seducer)
3. Swan Drop

5th week
1. Pretzel Knot
2. Breakthrough with Man's Double Spin
3. Shoulder Dip

6th week
1. Shoulder Dip variation from the Pretzel exit
2. Nessa Lunge
3. Man's Thread the Needle into Elbow Drop

7th week
1. Sway Lunge
2. Hinge (aka Dirty Dip)

8th week
1. Drape
2. Backhander exit from Pivots
3. BJ Sit & Lean

SPRING 2004 VARIATIONS FIGURES

* Also available in .pdf format here. Courtesy of Rosalyn Sayaman. Updated June 01, 2004!

Below is a detailed & comprehensive description of the figures per beat for both leaders & followers.

Note the comments below assumes familiarity with the basic figures and the corresponding beats. The notes are only meant to be a refresher for those who've attended the specific class.  Please do not hurt yourselves, ask someone who knows the moves for a demo rather than following these notes blind!

Week 1

Basket variation (Megan calls it the 'Cute Basket' or Basket free-spin)

• 8 beats

• Basket entrance (4)

• Place follower's R hand behind her head (5)

• exit in a 1 1/2 free spin, catching follower's R hand at end (8)

Eskimo

• 4 into first-move entrance, then 4x for sways, 4 into first-move exit

• First-move entrance (4)

• Swing out into rock-step (6) , and forward towards each other (closed position) into a sway (8)

• First-move exit (4)

• Variation: drop L/R hands, sway into tight closed position

First-Move with dramatic pause

• 8 beats

• First-move entrance on 4

• Beats 5-6 same, leader halts follower into a pronounced pause on 7, with partners looking at each other, L/R hand high, and a quick turn-out by follower on 8.

• Extend pause to your liking to emphasize music

Week 2

First-Move Backhander

• 8 beats

• First-move entrance (4)

• Leader drops follower's R hand, and grabs hold of it with his free R hand (5)

• Backhander exit (8)

• Variation: wind follower into a 1 1/2 free-spin exit instead

Flamenco

• 4x beats

• From comb leader signals by tapping his L lovehandl -- I mean -- L side :)

• Rock-step into side-by-side position with follower to right side of leader; follower's R hand on leader's L side, leader's R hand on follower's L side, L/L hand hold above heads in an arc (4)

• Turn 4x

• Variation: Drop L/L hand hold, lean out & turn faster!

Left-arm comb variation

• 4 beats

• Start with L/L hand hold, leader's left arm over his head, leader offer's his R hand to follower (4)

Week 3

Teapot walkaround

• 4 into Teapot position, 8 beats for walkaround, into 4x Manhattans

• Teapot entrance (4)

• Leader drop follower's L hand, and lead follower to walk around you clockwise

• Follower has 8 beats to complete walkaround, wrapping around leader into closed position

• Lead into Manhattans (4x)

• Styling: follower keep your free hand up and out, pageant-style

Jaime's Teapot

• 8 beats

• Teapot entrance on 4

• Leader slide to the L while holding both arms out, leading follower to slide a bit to the R on 6, as leader turns clockwise, turn follower into another teapot spin, ending in teapot position on 8

• Repeat if you enjoy!

Neck-break variation

• 8 beats

• Neck-break entrance (5)

• Leader offers his L hand to follower (6)

• Proceed to Neck-break exit but with both of follower's hands above her head (8)

• Leaders no thumbs please! Follower's L hand should be free once above her head

Week 4

Shoulder Pull

• 8 into, slide side-to-side 2x, 4 exit

• Nigel swizzle entrance upto ~ beat 6 when she slides to your L tap follower's L shoulder and catch her L hand with your L (6)

• Slide follower behind you from L to R to L etc. (2x)

• Neck-break exit

Rollercoaster variation

• 2 into leader's turn, 2x walk, 4 exit

• Rollercoaster entrance, but on leader's last turn, do only a 1/2 turn, back facing follower, R hand on R shoulder, L hand on L shoulder (train position)

• Walk (Follower cheats, changing step to match leader in front)

• Exit variations: 1) leader bring follower to R side for Neck-break exit; 2) leader bring R hand over head, lead follower thru your left side into 2-hand turn out; 3) leader drops both his hands, follower then winds and spins leader a) from the shoulder, or b) trace hands down to leader's hip and turn him from the hips; leader does 1 1/2 spin with follower catching leader's L hand at end

Week 5

Low checks

• 4x

• This move is just like the Slow Checks (or High Checks) just with hands kept low

• R/R, bring follower to leaders R side keeping hands low (4)

• Move follower to L side, and back to R (4x)

• Transition into Slow Checks by bringing hands high (Note: bring follower's hand high when it is not bent!) (4x)

• Exit variations: 1) from Slow Checks into 2-hand turn out; 2) from low checks, leader drop follower's L hand, turn follower 1/2 to face you; 3) from Slow Checks, leader drop follower's L hand, lead Neck-break exit

Infinite pretzel

• 8x

• Pretzel entrance into 4, leader turns under his R arm as in beat 5

• On beat 6, leader continues turning under his L arm, slide follower to L side on 7 and under leader's L hand high on 8 (the end position should look exactly like the end of beat 4 of the pretzel entrance)

• Repeat beats 5-8 above for a truly infinite pretzel

• Exit through a regular pretzel exit on beat 6

Fake pretzel

• Pretzel entrance in 4, but drop follower's R hand as she slides to your R in beat 4

• Wind follower into a Flick

• Exit variations: 1) Wind into Archie exit with leader and follower both turning under arm mirror of each other (Note: keep shoulders close to one another during turn); 2) catch follower's hand into a reverse Flick; 3) Leader tuns as follower turns during Flick, into Archie exit

• Note: during Flick, follower can turn as much as you like!  I think Megan can do like 10 revolutions :D

Week 6

Pretzel reverse

• 4x

• Pretzel entrance in 4

• Walkaround clockwise in 4

• For reverse, leader turns his body L, arm position consequently turns follower L, walkaround counter-clockwise in 4

• Reverse directions by leader turning his R, turning follower's body R in 4

• Exit variations: 1) Pretzel exit; 2) reverse Pretzel

• Note: keep out-stretched hands straight, maintaining side-by-side distance in between you and your partner

Reverse pretzel -- not to be confused with Pretzel reverse above ;)

• 8 beats

• Pretzel entrance in 4

• Reverse moves that got you into above Pretzel position with follower going under leader's R arm in 5, slide follower to leader's left in 6, follower under leader's L arm with leader dropping follower's L hand in 7, follower stepping back to face partner in 8 -- presto! you just accomplished what the moniker implies

Pretzel half-Nelson walk

• 16 beats

• Pretzel entrance (4)

• Walkaround (4)

• Leader bring R hand behind your back so that both hands are in hand-cuff position, turn counter-clockwise ducking under partner's hands (4)

• Pretzel exit (4)

• Variation: instead of Pretzel exit you can go into Infinite pretzel, Pretzel reverse or Reverse Pretzel!

Basket dip

• 12 beats

• Basket entrance in 4 but lead follower to a position perpendicular to you using your R arm as a wall; as with Pretzel dip, keep her lined tight against your body, R arm tight  supporting her back, L foot L of her, R foot R of her

• Dip in 2, up in 2; Note: dip is accomplished by loosening R arm

• Styling: look at each other during dip, follower's R foot slides up L knee keeping toe and heel flush against L leg; dip at a strong note or at the end of the song!

• Basket exit or into a double-spin in 4

Week 7

Circular bowtie (Bowtie from yoyo entrance)

• 8 beats into, 4x walkaround, 8 beats exit into fan

• Yoyo entrance, with leader presenting R hand in 4

• Rock-step in 6; follower forward on R foot on 7 (though slightly turned into partner); leader brings hands up as in regular bowtie, follower completes full turn on R foot, stepping beside partner on L foot on 8 with leader bringing hands over and behind each other's heads (hand positions similar to sombrero complicado in salsa)

• Bring arms down into the back of each other's neck on 1 of the walkaround to hit note, and continue walkaround in 4x

• Exit as leader steps on R foot on 2, bring hands up and exit out on 4, into a 2 handed return on 8, into a fan

Reverse boomerang

• 20 beats (signal in 4, 12 beats into Reverse boomerang, exit in 4)

• Beats 1-2 as in regular boomerang, on 3-4 leader signals by grabbing follower's R wrist with his R hand, keeping follower's R arm to his chest

• Rock-step in 6, first boomerang spin for follower on 7-8, leader catches follower's R wrist with his R hand

• Leader flicks follower's R wrist from his R hand to L by 10

• As leader leads follower into the second boomerang spin leader turns 1/4 ccw, follower stops short, spinning only 1/4; as leader turns, follower catches leader's R wrist with her L hand by 12

• Follower leads leader into a cw flick spin, catching leader's L hand with her R by 16

• Return exit by 20

First move variation -- lazy guy's first-move

• 12 beats

• From return, leader steps back on R foot on 6 settles back into a stationary position for the remainder of beats 7-8, beckoning follower to his side; follower emphasizes First-move entrance by opening L shoulder and hip out on 4

• First-move exit

Styling: Hip and arm movements

Week 8

Shoulder push-Thread the Needle-Elbow dip

• 12 beats

• Shoulder push entrance on 4

• Beat 5 for follower same as in regular Shoulder push, by 6 follower is turned towards partner, allowing leader to duck under her L arm

• In beats 5-6, leader turns ccw by ducking under follower's L arm (Thread the Needle), this is accomplished by leader keeping L arm tucked up and behind his back (arrest position) and bringing the R/R hold under follower's L arm as he ducks; note that the transition from 6-7 is quick and involves the leader bringing the L/L hold from behind his back, out and up to the side generating the momentum for the quick spin that follows -- note the hand positions here are now the same as in the Elbow dip with L/L hold over R/R hold, and that a good L/L connection through the Thread the Needle part is essential

• Leader leads follower into the Elbow dip spin on beats 7-8 by keeping L/L hold high and R/R hold low and spinning follower 3/4 cw; note the spin ends in the position for the dip with follower perpendicular to and R side flush against leader,  follower's L hand behind neck & R hand wrapped in front to L hip, leader's L hand behind follower's neck/L shoulder area & R hand wrapped around tight on follower's L hip

• Dip in 12 (2 down, 2 up)

• Styling: follower look out to the side, L leg straight & L foot on floor

• Elbow dip exit

Sliding doors into Astaire

• 4x Sliding doors (x = 1,3,5...), 12 beats for Astaire, dip and exit

• From sliding doors with follower on leader's R side and in parallel position, lead Astaire entrance -- leader stops on beat 2, and with good R/L tension leads follower to a full turn ccw, leader's arm wrapping around her waist as she turns towards leader's R side on 4; note that the leader initiates the turn with a pull-push motion, and the follower should keep R arm up during turn & follower's L leg & foot should be flush parallel to leader's R leg & foot by 4

• Leader present L hand to follower's R and leads side lean in 8 (2 down, 2 up); dip is accomplished by leader leaning to his left, L leg bent & R leg straight, follower leans her whole body against leader with R leg sliding up L

• First-move exit on 12

Styling: Pauses/Breaks

Week 9

Basket dip-Follower's Thread the Needle-Backslide-Astaire

• 24 beats: 4 basket dip entrance, 2 dip down, 2 Follower's Thread the Needle, 4 Backslide, 4 Astaire, 2 lead down, 2 lean up, 4 exit

• Basket dip entrance in 4

• Dip in 6, follower leans forward and ducks head under leader's R arm as she moves backwards (Thread the Needle) in 8

• Backslide in 12, leader lifts L/L hold over his head and slides follower back to back to himself to his L side

• Astaire spin in 16, lean down in 18, up in 20

• Basket exit in 24

Short backhander

• 8 entrance, 4x for dip, 12 exit

• Backhander beats 1-6 same for follower

• Leader signals on 1; lunges forward, kneeling on L knee on 2 directly towards follower to do the regular hand transfer in 4, except he is kneeling down

• Leader leads the 1st full turn in 6 but keeping hands low

• Leader leads follower towards him and puts follower's R hand behind his neck in 8... this leads follower to move towards him and sit straddling on his R leg, and dip leaning back in 4x (follower takes as much time to safely dip and accentuate the music), leader supports follower with both hands on her waist/hip, follower has hands around leader's neck

• Follower up and moving back, hands trace down to leader's and pulling him up in 4, to basket entrance in 8  and exit in 12

Yoyo variation -- leader lunges forward

• 8 beats

• Yoyo entrance in 4

• Beats 5-8 same for follower; leader lunges forward, kneeling on L knee on 5, up on 6, leading Yoyo spin in 8

Styling: Grandes and Pauses

Week 10

Focus on Styling and Attitude: Good posture -- keep upper body relatively upright, not leaning forward on the rock step and sticking your backside out, and keep shoulders back not hunched forward.  Arm position -- followers can accentuate with arm flares and combs, leaders keep free hand at hip level.  Grandes and Salsa hip action on the rock steps for followers.

Ceroc/Swing: Kick-ball-heel-rock step

• Kick on 1; ball-heel on 2; rock step on 3-4

• I.e. for follower, kick forward w/ R foot, a quick change of weight from ball R foot to heel L foot, rock-step R to L, repeat

Ceroc/Salsa: Cross-body leads

• First-move entrance in 4

• Leader forward on 1, step 1/4 ccw and to the side on 2,  leaving room to lead follower across on 2-4, pivot 1/4 ccw on 4, forward on 5 and 6, repeat

• Follower step back on 1, forward on 2 and 3, forward and pivot 1/2 ccw on 4, back on 5 and 6, repeat

• Variation: Leader lead follower into a full turn ccw on beats 5-6

• Technique: Leader torque follower slightly in and out during her forward steps in beats 2-4 as in Shimis -- in towards leader on 2, out on 3, in on 4

*** Note the Variations comments are by Ros with her faulty memory, sitting on her chair while dancing with an invisible partner.  I am also prone to confusing L and R.  Please email :: ros [at] caltech.edu :: with corrections, additions, better descriptions etc.

SUMMER 2006 ADVANCE WORKSHOP with John Sweeney & Karen James

From the Advance Workshop. No description, just a list of the figures and the variations covered...

1st segment
1. Extended First-Move and Invitation
2. First-Move Led Seducer; Spin variation
3. Lean Away; Dip/Lift Spin (exit) variations

2nd segment
1. First-Move Ronde
2. Sway Kicks
3. Rotating Man's Ronde
4. Ballroom Drop w/ Step Over

3rd segment
1. Hard to Get; Lambada Kiss variation
2. Figure 8 to Squat
* Basket Caress Walk (shown but not covered)
* Sway Tuck Lift (shown but not covered)

4th segment
* First-Move Wrap to Spoons Dip (shown but not covered)
1. First-Move Jump to Arm; Kneel (exit) variation
2. First-Move to Promenade Drop
* Drape (shown but not covered)

5th segment
* Maria's Stretch (shown but not covered)
* Side-Kick (shown but not covered)
* Navel Gaze (shown but not covered)
1. Alina's Dream

SPRING 2004 DIPS & DROPS

From the Advance Workshop. No description, but just a reminder of what they were called, and what entrances and exits were covered...

• Layback; hesitation entrance, First-move exit

• Tango Drop; hesitation entrance, push-out or Manhattan exit

• Seducer & its variation, the Shoulder Drop; return, Basket or Pretzel entrance, First-move, free-spin or L/R spin-out exit

• Neck Drape Layback; 2-handed return entrance, First-move or Manhattan exit

• Swan Drop & the Swan Drop Carry/Spin; Figure 8 entrance, First-move exit