Originally Posted by Smokeychan1:
“Favourite Ballroom: Can't choose between Tango or Quickstep (and am appreciating the Foxtrot (my parents' dance) more and more each year). For the purpose of Strictly only, I will go with Tango as it tends to be more amateur-friendly.
Favourite Latin: Samba when done well, Paso all other times.
Favourite non-10: Probably the Charleston for the same reason as the other two. Even mediocre dancers can have fun with it and make it entertaining for us at home (see Fern's Mary Poppins routine).
Favourite outside of Strictly: The Jive as I saw it danced as a child in the 60s. I think they called it 'Rock 'n' Roll' when they included it on Strictly one year, but certainly the Ballroom Jive hardly comes close to the dance our parents used to dance when we were children. But we knew it as the Jive.
Once a month, the social club my parents went to had a 'Family night' and watching the adults move with ease from ballroom to 'rock 'n' roll' dependant on the music being played is something I still envy to this day. It's almost as if everyone had dance lessons at regular school or something
Dad taught me the rudimentary steps of both the Jive and the Waltz, but they were never something I practised much - I was always happier watching him and Mum. The old boys in his 80s now, I may have to get him to have another go at teaching me, before it's too late for either of us
”
“Favourite Ballroom: Can't choose between Tango or Quickstep (and am appreciating the Foxtrot (my parents' dance) more and more each year). For the purpose of Strictly only, I will go with Tango as it tends to be more amateur-friendly.
Favourite Latin: Samba when done well, Paso all other times.
Favourite non-10: Probably the Charleston for the same reason as the other two. Even mediocre dancers can have fun with it and make it entertaining for us at home (see Fern's Mary Poppins routine).
Favourite outside of Strictly: The Jive as I saw it danced as a child in the 60s. I think they called it 'Rock 'n' Roll' when they included it on Strictly one year, but certainly the Ballroom Jive hardly comes close to the dance our parents used to dance when we were children. But we knew it as the Jive.
Once a month, the social club my parents went to had a 'Family night' and watching the adults move with ease from ballroom to 'rock 'n' roll' dependant on the music being played is something I still envy to this day. It's almost as if everyone had dance lessons at regular school or something
Dad taught me the rudimentary steps of both the Jive and the Waltz, but they were never something I practised much - I was always happier watching him and Mum. The old boys in his 80s now, I may have to get him to have another go at teaching me, before it's too late for either of us
”
What a nice post Smokeychan. I think with your dad you might regret him passing without you asking.
As to your experience of the jive; yes that was mine too. A 50's style jive with lifts and throws and a bit of crazy swing/charleston type moves. I remember going to a Labour social club event - mid/late 80's to celebrate the re-election of Jim Dowd, taken by my parents
- and I winessed a couple just throwing it about and shaking and contorting their limbs as though their lives depended on it to classic rock n roll. Now that was a jive to me then! Not the controlled and neat efforts we see on SCD, which I love when done well.
