What It Was Like To Try Jive Dancing
22nd February 2024 - New Experience Number 1.
My mission to try fifty-two new things in 2024 took a while to get started, until I decided to try jive dancing towards the end of February.
Having previously given Morris Dancing and K-Pop Dancing a go, I was looking forward to learning some new moves.
I left my first ever jive class feeling slightly dizzy and with my cheeks aching from smiling so much. The dancing had been fairly easy to pick up and good fun, but the highlight of the night was without a doubt the characters I met.
Booking My Spot To Try Jive Dancing
Tickets weren’t needed to book a space, this was a session I could have just gone along to, but I rang up as a courtesy and to find out a bit more.
The call had confirmed the dance was happening, and I couldn’t wait to meet the chap at the end of the phone. Neal’s friendly tones told me all I needed to know, which included the fact he’d learnt how to jive back in 1956, and despite having a bad knee and waiting for it to be operated on, he would still be able to teach! He sounded incredible!
Nostalgic Welcome
Entering the club that I had past by numerous times but never been into before, was a little bit like stepping back in time to a warm nostalgic welcoming hub.
Entering a club that my Grandma would have been at home in, there was a feeling of retro familiarity and I loved it.
A friendly receptionist took my £5 fee, and then invited me through to the bar.
The dancing took place upstairs in the social room.
With chairs at the back and a wooden dance floor at the front, some other newcomers were already on the boards as I arrived.
Learning The Basics
Taking a seat so as not to interrupt, I watched intently as Neal taught the newcomers the basics. It looked fairly straight forward. Partners danced facing each other hooking their hands together rather than holding them. In a sort of pendulum motion, they swayed their arms backwards and forwards, and then the man turned his lady.
Once Neal had run through the steps with all of the other first timers, he called me up to the floor to dance the basics with him.
A gentle lift of my right foot as my right arm pulled back, then a gentle lift of the left leg as my left arm went back. Then came the spin, turning under Neal’s arm one way and then back, to return and repeat the swinging rhythm.
That was the basics, and that’s what would we were going to practice throughout the night.
Getting To Grips With The Moves
For women, it’s fairly easy. We just hold the mans hands and follow the gentle nudges he make as he lead us into various spins.
The man however has to take the lead. It’s up to him to guide his partner to initiate the turns and the directions, so he needs a bit more confidence in order to for the couple to jive on the dancefloor.
What It Was Like To Try Jive Dancing - Getting Into The Groove
Once the introductory practice was over, we were off!
There were no further instructions for teaching the steps, it was just a case of giving it a go, putting it into practice and learning as we went.
Thursday regulars arrived, there were some Monday afternoon dancers who had also come along, and a handful of newbies and we all danced together throughout the evening.
Our feet lightly skipped across the wooden dance floor to tracks from Fleetwood Mac, Johnny Cash, Chris Rea, The Fratellis and Christina Aguilera. It was such an eclectic mix of music which I really enjoyed.
Practicing With Partners
Partners were not a pre-requisite for the night, which is good as there is no way I could have coerced the Other Half to come to this with me.
The ratio of men to women was around 1:3.
This was nothing like the school disco of sitting on the sidelines waiting patiently to hopefully be picked for a dance before the end of the night. Everyone got several dances.
The men were happy to dance all night, changing partners after each song. This worked out perfectly as everyone got the opportunity to dance plenty of times, and the women were happy to take a breather between dances to get a drink and give our heads a moment to stop spinning.
Every partner had their own subtle differences in style and they were all upmost gentlemen. Whilst they each had nuances to the moves they would add, they were very patient with me as I turned in the wrong direction (on several occasions) and missed their hand as we went back to the swing. We laughed it off and continued and by the end of the night it felt as though there were more right moves than wrong ones.
A Legendary Teacher - What It Was Like To Try Jive Dancing
Neal took turns dancing with different partners too in between offering individual advice on techniques to everyone. At one point, I caught sight of him dancing with a regular who he pulled from behind between his legs. He’s in his eighties! If jive keeps you this fit and mobile then I can see the appeal!
Newspaper cuttings were proudly displayed in the hallway which shone a light on our incredible teacher. Neal organised his first dance back in 1961. He then successfully opened his first club at a fixed premises in 1962, until moving into an old pub in 1975 where he has run the Guppy Enterprise Club ever since.
Guppy’s is home to a whole host of different community enterprises including a classical CD concert group, wargames clubs, chess clubs, kung fu, ballroom dancing and life drawing, so I suspect I may well be back there to try something else new!
Why You Should Try Jive Dancing
A lot of it will be down to your teacher and the music that is played, however it should be fairly easy to pick up the basics and find yourself swinging and jiving your way across the dance floor in no time.
I had such a good night. The dancing had been great fun, but it really was the people who made the place. With different friendly characters, and of course the legendary Neal with his super steps, terrific teaching and enthusiastic encouragement.
Want To Try It Yourself?
If you’re local to York, take a look at the Guppy’s Enterprise Club website for the most up to date details about the sessions. In February 2024, there were sessions on Monday afternoons and Thursday evenings.
- There is a UK Jive directory where you can find modern jive events and classes all across the country.
Take a look on eventbrite to see if there are any classes coming up near you.
Cost Of Experience
My experience at Guppy’s Enterprise Club cost just £5 which is exceptional value when you think it lasts for two and a half hours.
- Prices will depend on the class you attend.
Recommendations
As there is a lot of spinning and turning involved, even for the men, Neal had recommended wearing footwear with less grip, and it was definitely a good call!
It will depend on the class you go to, but for this one there was no dress code. It was simply a case of wearing whatever we felt comfortable in and could move about in.
Take some water. Whilst there was a bar at the venue where I tried jive dancing, it will depend on where you are taking part. It is hot work so it’s a good idea to take some fluid.
- Don’t worry if you are not feeling confident, other dancers will want to help you to learn the steps and they’ll remember what it was like to be a beginner too.
- Don’t forget to capture some pictures! Although hopefully yours will be less blurry than mine!
Wow, this sounds so much fun! I’m so pleased you took the plunge on this class. I’ve never tried Jive dancing myself, but you’ve inspired me to be braver and sign up for a new class. ❤️
Ah thank you so much Lucie! I really did enjoy it. That’s awesome! I’d love to know what you sign up for too. :o)