Where do you MJ?

[David Bailey]

I usually go to Berkhamsted on Sunday evenings (cerocchilterns.co.uk). I can recommend it.

Apart from that, I don't do much MJ-ing anymore - the occasional place in London once a month or so.

How about you?

[elisedance]

can't say I've ever done it - MJ that is - and its unlikely that I will make it to Berkhamsted this weekend

What differentiates modern  jive from the good ole' elvis presley kind?

[David Bailey]

can't say I've ever done it - MJ that is - and its unlikely that I will make it to Berkhamsted this weekend

Pity, it has 2 rooms, with a blues room, and we have a Tango Practica session beforehand.

What differentiates modern  jive from the good ole' elvis presley kind?

Cor... there's a question...

Hmmm. Probably another thread I reckon 

[QPO]

Would it be body position, I notice if I go to a rocknroll/Jivel event I see people dancing quite bent through the middle and I don't see it being very attractive. Would that be the biggest difference?

[elisedance]

hey, I looked for the other thread but nothing yet

[David Bailey]

hey, I looked for the other thread but nothing yet

I was waiting for the first official moderator thread split 

[David Bailey]

Would it be body position, I notice if I go to a rocknroll/Jivel event I see people dancing quite bent through the middle and I don't see it being very attractive. Would that be the biggest difference?

No, it's more in tempo. Briefly, it's done to 4/4 time, stepping on the downbeat, typically to music around 130-140BPM (ish)

[Rugby]

can't say I've ever done it - MJ that is - and its unlikely that I will make it to Berkhamsted this weekend

What differentiates modern  jive from the good ole' elvis presley kind?

Perhaps the costume and karate belt?

[albanaich]

Well, I usually do Leroc at the Normandy on Monday's but have been a regular at Kilmarnock. I did MJ (Ceroc) at St Stephens and the Masonic in Lieth Walk for over a year. I was at the last Ceroc do in the Corn Exchange on 27th.

Most people from the USA who do MJ tell me its a very close relative to the Hustle, its also somewhat like Discofox. It does not take a lot of skill. In the UK (like Discofox in Germany) its the 'beginners' dance where a lot of people start out dancing, so its simple and easy to learn.

The bent posture is Lindy is primarily to absorb the momentum of your partner, if you had an upright posture you would topple over. MJ is gnerally danced upright as you don't do Swing-out and Whips as you do in Swing.

[phoenix13]

I'm really not familiar with many places in the States where modern jive is popular.   To be honest,it's kinda hard to even describe  what the dance is.  I can see hint of Lindy swingouts, but the music is much more mellow and laid back.  You can definitely see that it's a swing-derived dance, though.

[elisedance]

I don't think I've ever seen it, let alone tried it

[phoenix13]

My impression is that it's more popular in Europe than anywhere else.
 
I'll dig up some videos later today. All I could find last night were high level comp final videos in which the dance bears no resemblance to the basic vernacular dance that people do in pubs and clubs.  But I'll find some examples and post them.