Rationale for New Format

As most of you would know we have been doing both Modern Jive and West Coast Swing on the one night rather than two seperate nights since returning from the Covid related break. This is not without challenges! That said there are advantages, including, keeping the social community together rather than splitting it, and reducing the demands on the team members who can now focus all their energy on one big night.

There are significant disadvantages too, particularly for those dancers only doing one style, either West Coast Swing or Modern Jive, rather than both. For example, Modern Jivers who choose not to do West Coast Classes have a wait period before the social dancing at the end of the night, (while we teach the West Coast Swing class/classes). Whilst some are fine with having a late dinner or having some social time and or a drink during that time, for others it isn't suitable, which we understand and empathise with. Additionally, those who only do West Coast Swing, for a period they weren't getting the higher level class and of course had to adapt to a later start.  Also, it is a big general adjustment for all of us who are used to something different.

An important part of teaching two styles is offering equity between styles. Last week we trialled the addition of a variations class for West Coast Swing to bring it more in line with Modern Jive. Unfortunately, what we found was we hit a threshold where it was too long for people, particularly

the Modern - Jive - only people, who had to wait for the social dancing part that comes after the second lot of classes. Most people love their social dancing and of course would prefer not to miss that!

We have reassessed various format options and have pivoted and are adapting. Below is the new format which addresses most key issues, maintains equity as much as possible, and offers extra support for beginners, which as another challenge we were facing with our two styles-one night.

We feel this new format strikes a very good balance, and aligns much more closely with a standard night for the one-style-only dancers.  We are confident it will be a successful system. We look forward to your ongoing support for this innovative format.

We are always learning and there is an element of trial and error as we find our feet, post covid. We continue to appreciate your patience and flexibility and rest assured we are committed to giving all dancers the best and most practical, balanced night possible within the limits we have.

On the lighter and brighter side, we have been experiencing full floors and great lead-follow ratios and lots of new dancers are enjoying their new founds skills. We look forward to many more fun nights of learning and social dancing ahead and look forward to seeing everyone in class.

New Format

6.15pm - Doors open 

6.15pm - 6.45pm Social Dancing Warm-up - Modern Jive - (Please take advantage of this if you can, we will assessing if we start music later or not).

6.30pm - 6.45pm Fundamentals Introduction for Beginners - Room 2

6.45pm - 7.30pm Modern Jive Beginners Class

7.30pm - 7.40pm Modern Jive Social Dancing

7.40pm - 8.00pm Modern Jive Intermediate Class 

7.40pm - 8.00pm Modern Jive Step-up Class - Room 2 

(Step-up is for beginners and progressing dancers)

8.00pm - 9.00pm Social Dancing. Standard mixed-style format so everyone can join in here.

(Please note the standard mixed-style format is a 4-song cycle based primarily on pace of song. There are three standard Modern Jive Songs, the last of which is slower in pace. The fourth song is a slow song that best suits West Coast Swing . Advanced Modern Jivers can also dance to most of these slow songs, although more challenging. West Coast Swing dancers can easily dance to the last two songs of the 4 song cycle but virtually all songs are danceable for the experienced West Coasters). In the end you choose what you and your partner would like to dance to each song.

8.00pm - 8.30pm West Coast Swing Beginners Class - Room 2

9.00pm - 9.45pm West Coast Swing Intermediate class 

9.00pm - 9.20pm West Coast Swing Step-up Class - Room 2

(Step-up is for beginner and progressing dancers)

9.45pm - 10.30pm Social Dancing - West Coast Swing