Frequently Asked Questions

I've been teaching Ceroc for over 10 years and other forms of dance for over 16 years, so feel experienced enough to answer some of the many questions that regularly get asked at Ceroc.

 Mike Ellard

1. How long does it take to become a good dancer?

Everyone is capable of becoming a good dancer; it just takes longer for some than others. 

Everyone’s learning curve is different, but typically to be proficient in the beginner’s class it usually takes about 6 lessons, although doing a workshop really speeds up the process as workshops bump start your dancing. 

Unfortunately like most things in life, the only way to become a really good dancer is practice and therefore there is no substitute for dancing in the freestyle. 

2. I’ve been dancing for several months now, and although I think I’m quite good, I feel like my dancing has leveled off and I want to know how to move up to the next level. What do I need to do?

Dancing as well as a great form of exercise, is also an art form, and like most forms of art, there are techniques and skills above just the pure physical aspects. 

Really good dancers have an appreciation for the important physical aspects of dance: technique, frame, style, and execution, therefore there’s far more to being a really good dancer than just knowing hundreds of moves. Too often people think that learning drops and throws and lots of complicated moves is going to make them great dancers, unfortunately it doesn’t. 

We can all become better dancers without having to work this hard, in fact you can’t become a great dancer without having an appreciation of what experienced dance teachers call ‘dancecraft’. This is the intellectual aspects of dancing, for example, your interaction with your partner and the music, your understanding of the size and quality of the floor, and the other couples on it. 

Having taught dance for over 16 years I think I can say with some qualification that men like to dance with Ladies that look like they’re enjoying the dance, and ladies prefer to dance with men that dance in time and with rhythm. This last point may seem quite obvious, but I see time and time again men who spend hours trying to perfect some complicated move thinking this will really improve their dancing. The truth is if men were to dance as a woman, they would know that a lot of complicated moves are actually very dull from the woman’s perspective. 

If you find yourself in the position where your dancing doesn’t feel like it’s improving, I would suggest doing a style workshop. 

If you do want to know how else to improve your dancing, then send me an email, and I will arrange to meet with you at the Casbah and take a look at your dancing style and technique. Although I won’t give you a written MOT, I will hopefully be able to give you some useful pointers. 

3.      What is this thing called style?

The single most important thing that will make your dancing look stylish is dancing to the music. Sounds simple enough, but people that really interpret the music are in the minority (harsh but true).  Is the song bouncy, smooth, upbeat, fast, slinky, or down and dirty? Your dancing should not only reflect the mood of the record, but it should also follow the record. If the record stops, you stop, if the record picks up or has a rhythm change so should your dancing. This isn’t always easy if you’re learning or if you don’t know the record, but ultimately dance is an expression, and the music gives you the inspiration.

This is what is often referred to as ‘musical interpretation’. As we all like different things and we’re all built differently, it therefore follows that everyone’s interpretation will be different as will their delivery. It’s for this reason that there isn’t a right or wrong style, or one is better than another, it’s all a question of which you prefer.

4.      Why don’t you teach footwork?

A number of dances have very specific footwork, and certain steps are right or wrong. Ceroc is a more universal and expressive dance where there is no right or wrong.

Ceroc also tries to position itself between a partner dancing where you require regimented footwork, and solo dancing where no rules apply. Consequently Ceroc is a framework, from which you can put in your own style and dance influences, hence why some couples can have a very noticeable say Latin, Swing or Hip Hop influence.

Just because we don’t teach footwork it would be silly to say there isn’t any, the footwork is really no different to any other form of dance, it’s all about changing your weight from one foot to another. Again, this might sound obvious, but it’s almost true to say that your weight should be changing from one foot to another almost with every beat of the music, accepting of course some moves don’t follow this pattern.

If you watch any intermediate dancers, you will see that they are constantly on the move, and although there isn’t any complicated footwork, there is movement on almost every beat of the music. 

5. Do we do private lessons?

Yes we do, but the reality is you would be better off doing a workshop as you will get sufficient private attention to correct anything seriously wrong. It’s very important that you learn to dance by dancing with a variety of partners as only this way can you really appreciate the differences between partners, and experience different styles.  However, if you feel you would like private lessons tailored to suit your specific requirements then we can offer this option. Please contact us (by email only) for further details and availability.

6.      “I’ve been dancing for about 6 months, what should I now be thinking about to improve my dancing?”

FOR MEN

Don’t try and remember entire routines, only remember the moves you like.

Always start a dance with a new partner with something easy and then progress into more difficult moves when you’ve got a better idea of your partner’s experience.

Avoid drops with someone unless you are totally confident that they are a relatively experienced dancer, if in doubt ask, is my suggestion.

FOR WOMEN

If you don’t like drops, tell your partner.

Practice is so important and therefore don’t just sit there waiting to be asked to dance, men are just as nervous about asking women, so take the lead.

Women sitting together in big groups are less likely to get asked to dance, I don’t know why but it’s true. 

FOR BOTH

Warming up before you dance is very important physically, the beginner’s class is an excellent way to warm up. So even if you’re an experienced dancer, try and make the beginner’s class.

Try not to dance with the same people every week.

Ask people to dance who are better than you, remember they were beginners once. 

7.      How can I become a really bad dancer?

Not a serious question, but I had to get in somewhere this article called How to Become a Lousy Dancer by Kelly Gellette published in ‘Country Dance Lines’, May 1992. Although this was written for Country & Western dancing, all these points apply to Ceroc.

·  Learn 100 turns/moves before perfecting the basics.

·  Dance with the same partner all the time.

·  Never attend a class.

·  Never do the basic moves.

·  Don't bother to learn the basics well.

·  Be oblivious to your partner.

·  Forget that confidence and assurance come with knowledge and practice.

·  Never practice.

·  Be sure to tell everyone how wonderful you are.

7.      What is a freestyle event?

A freestyle event is, as the name suggests, an event where the main emphasis is on freestyle and not classes.
A standard Ceroc event consists of a beginners class, followed by an intermediate class and then a period of freestyle in which to practise the moves you have learnt in the classes.
A freestyle will normally, but not always, start with a short intermediate fun class to get the event going, but the majority of the event time will be dedicated to freestyle.
If you have any queries about what events are freestyles please call the organiser for clarification.