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Learn the history of Ceroc

Why not try a Ceroc class in your area

How did it all begin? - a history of Ceroc

Before 1980, and the roots of Ceroc Partner dancing had been slowly disappearing in the UK, especially with the popularity of ‘non-touch’ dances like the Twist. The 60s and the hippie culture saw more and more people dancing alone and eventually a whole generation forgot how to partner dance. In contrast, France saw an evolution of partner dancing, a sort of casual Rock ‘n’ Roll with little footwork, passed on socially, by imitation, rather than in dance classes. This in turn had probably derived from the Jitterbug and originally brought to France by American G.I.s after the War. The Eighties, and the birth of Ceroc.

Early beginnings Several dance enthusiasts admired the French style so much that they were determined to bring it to Britain. This led to specialised clubs being set up and the development of the dance into something more complex, with hundreds of moves and a unique UK style. James Cronin and Christine Keeble were key figures, as was choreographer Michel Ange Lau, Roger Chin (who founded Cosmopolitan Jive) and Sylvia Coleman (who later became a Director of Ceroc).

Parallel organisations Ceroc, LeRoc, and Cosmopolitan Jive were the early London clubs promoting the new dance style based on French partner dancing. It is still often referred to as ‘Modern French Jive’ (though not particularly ‘French’) to distinguish it from older forms of jive and especially Ballroom Jive – a formal competition style of Jitterbug-based dance or ‘American Jive’ which is included in the Latin and American sections of competition ballroom dancing. Ceroc developed as a franchise whereas LeRoc grew as a loosely based Federation.

Ceroc Founder - James Cronin The man who powered what became the most successful jive organisation in terms of membership worldwide was James Cronin, grandson of the famous Scottish novelist A.J. Cronin (author of the Dr Finlay stories). Visits to his French grandmother involved him with French social life and James soon picked up the French style of dance at Normandy parties. Back at Exeter University, he was President of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Club, but as soon as he graduated he took his jive and business skills to London where, in 1980 and with other ‘Sloane Rangers’ he organised the first Ceroc gathering. One of their leading lights was the young Lady Diana Spenser (this was a year before she married the Prince of Wales) and many of the devotees were the swish set of Chelsea and Knightsbridge. In such an atmosphere, press coverage abounded, and Ceroc could be promoted as trendy, chic and jolly good fun. James worked as a DJ playing up to date sounds for Ceroccers and had taxi-dancers on hand to help beginners in lieu of formal teachers.

Ceroc becomes established To make Ceroc more widely known James, with some friends, formed a cabaret team to perform a synchronised dance in different London venues. The line up was James Cronin and Yum Yum Norman, Paul Aves and Janie Elton, Mark Derrington Bailey and Christine Keeble, and Richard & Katie Orr.

Initial choreography was by Kathy Burke and (in 1982) by Michel Ange Lau (who taught Rock ‘n’ Roll classes at Centre Charles Peguy in Leicester Square which James and Yum Yum attended). Michael worked with dance partner Christine Keeble to create and develop the new moves for the cabaret and so the First Move, Neck Break, Butterfly, Sway, Yo-yo and Ladyspin were born.

The 1982 “Gold Bug” routine, first performed at the Hammersmith Palais as a charity event, and the moves first recorded. Choreographer Michel Ange Lau is often credited as being the grandfather of Modern Jive which was fast developed into Ceroc and LeRoc. Harpers and Queen magazine gave the event a big spread and coined the strange phrase ‘Cerocabillies.’

Ceroc could not afford to pay Michel Ange Lau as a full time choreographer. Janie Elton (who would later marry James) took up the challenge, taking the cabaret team to clubs and events all over London. Michel returned to teaching with Christine and set up a ‘LeRoc’ Modern French Jive club. Christine Keeble, a competition winner in Brittany, pushed LeRoc forward but there was plenty of interaction between the two groups, neither of which were profit-making enterprises, and both of which popularised the new dance with cabarets.

In 1983 Ceroc moved to Pineapple Dance Studios and was teaching four classes a week. Sylvia Coleman (who had also trained under Michel and was a lawyer in the music industry) opened a weekly Ceroc night in a Central London nightclub in 1986. The year after that James and Sylvia formed a business partnership and developed the Ceroc formula of classes and freestyles. The Nineties – franchising takes off There was a need to spread the dance outside of London. Ceroc Enterprises Limited was founded to manage and coordinate the growth of Ceroc and soon set up a teacher training course. Christine made a video to increase popularity, but as the dance necessarily developed business structures, there was less interaction. Christine’s video ‘How to Jive’ is one of the landmarks that features many of the well-known dancers that are still active today. Christine Keeble partnered Simon de Lisle (principal dancer and choreographer for ‘Ceroc Australia Dance Company’); they were aided by Janie Cronin, Michel Ange Lau, Roger Chin, Simon Selmon, David and Lily Barker (then Lily Shaw), Mike Ellard (current Director of Ceroc UK) and Nicky Haslam (founder of the Australia’s ‘Ceroc and Modern Jive Dance Company’). Ceroc took off rapidly as franchises were established through Britain in the Nineties. It soon took up roots on the other side of the globe as well. Nicky Haslam emigrated to Sydney Australia in 1991, setting up the Ceroc Dance Company in Sydney with Mark Harding (later to split into ‘Ceroc and Modern Jive Dance Company’ and ‘Ceroc Australia’). Kiwi born Angelique Meyer attended Ceroc classes in the 80’s, returning to New Zealand and teaching in 1988, and finally setting up Ceroc New Zealand in 1990. In Scotland, Frenchman Franck Pauly opened the first franchise north of the border. 2000 onwards – adapting to modern trends By the new millennium, Ceroc had established regular national championships, as well as (2002) a Scottish Championship. It hard reached out and flowered in places as distant as Singapore and the U.S.A. The original founder passed the business side on (2003) to Mike Ellard, the main Central London franchisee and longest serving Ceroc teacher. Rival clubs, many of them sporting excellent teachers, also promoted the dance and the network of people dancing a Ceroc-style dance every week has grown to hundreds of thousands. To find out about Ceroc classes in the UK please cut and paste this email into your email account: thomasoflaherty@yahoo.com

Links to other sites on the Web www.ceroccentral.com

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