Hessle Jive Club

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Rod — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:09:00 +0000

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Hessle Jive Club meets Rock 'n' Roll update....

Rod — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:04:38 +0000

We have now finalised the dates for our Rock 'n' Roll Jive Nights and booked the bands for all the available last Fridays of the month at The Armstrong Social Club in Beverley. These are some of the very best bands on the Rock 'n' Roll circuit! Here they are:-

Intermediate Class 10th March 2010. Kevin Hardy with Linda

Rod — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:42:59 +0000

Click here to view the video

The Friday Freestyle is this week (Friday 12th March)

Rod — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:48:44 +0000

This coming Friday is the second Friday of the month which means of course that it's time for another freestyle at The Vikings Hotel at Goole. If you have not been before you might like to look at this very short video of the venue which was shot just before the doors opened at the last freestyle we had there.

Click here to see the Vikings Venue (empty).

It's a lovely venue isn't it? And it's only half an hour from Hessle Town Hall and within easy reach of the M62.

Click here for more details.

It's another event where Hessle Members get it at a reduced rate: just £5 for dancing from 8 pm until midnight. (£8 for non-members.) This freestyle is a great way to get to know other members and dancers and to practice the skills you've learned in the classes.

If Friday is a bit of a rush for you, why not come early have your tea/dinner with other members in the bar? A number of us arrive from 6.30 pm onwards. We have a Hessle table booked, so just join us. The food is excellent quality and value and then you have a great dinner dance!

Hope to see you there.

Helen Zambas and Gus (of Coolcatz) giving a demonstration dance for us.

Rod — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:45:30 +0000

Helen and Gus used to be competition dancers together and came back together for one night especially for us at Hessle last night. Although they haven't danced together for over a year and only had a few minutes 'rehearsal' together (and the music was selected literally seconds before they came on), they did us really proud. Thank you Helen and Gus!

Enjoy the demo...

Click here to view the video

Helen Zambas comes to teach at Hessle.

Rod — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:05:20 +0000

We've a great class night lined up for you this Wednesday (3rd March). We have a special guest teacher making her first appearance at Hessle Modern Jive Club. She is Helen Zambass. Here is a picture and some background information about Helen:-

Helen was a shy wall hugger when she first plucked up courage to go along to a Blitz Jive class 13 years ago but just a few years later she had qualified as a teacher, become a director of the company “Blitz Jive”, regularly starred in competitions and was addicted to the partner dancing which, she says, changed her life.

The Blitz Jive was born in Sheffield in 1994 and has since spread all over the North, like other forms of partner dancing including salsa it takes the form of classes followed by a social dance. Helen says: "Jive started when the Americans came over here in World War Two, the French also liked it and we picked up on both styles. It's different to rock 'n' roll. 'Blitz Jive' (Modern Jive) is jive for the 21st century and allows you to twirl to everything from Britney Spears to Dean Martin and Motown, Classic Rock, Latin and now Hip Hop."

Helen loved the fact that many people join solo and women are encouraged to ask men for a dance. "I don't want it to sound like a lonely hearts night or anything because it isn't like that at all," says Helen. "It becomes second nature, though it takes courage at first. Lots of our members have since got married and others have built long-term friendships." She says: "I'd just split with my partner and I ended up being single and bored and a couch potato. I joined the class for something to do and ended up getting addicted. Most people do. Once you start, you become passionate about it. It makes you feel so good. I became a demonstrator and then a director of the company." She adds: "It was so friendly and non-threatening and a great place for anyone who loves music and dancing. You get to a point when the music comes on you just have to dance. It's like having the Red Shoes on and when you get home you're as high as a kite." Helen, a paediatric dietician, says her self-esteem rose and her figure became more toned after a few months of joining a Blitz Jive class.

"I was the person in the baggy jeans, worried about joining in and now I dress differently and I'm much more extrovert. I stand up in front of 150 people with a microphone on my head, showing them how to dance. I didn't think in a million years I could've done that. For me it's been life changing. It's such good aerobic exercise that men often change their shirt three times a night, they get so hot. If you haven't danced a step in your life, it's not a problem and you don't need to be fit to start as a beginner. You don't need to wear a ra ra skirt either. The only costume you need is a pair of smooth soled trainers for spinning and turning. It doesn't take long to learn the moves. I've seen people come through the door who are really nervous and think they can't dance. Within six weeks, they are whizzing round the dance floor. You only need to learn a few moves to look really good. It really does build confidence.”

Helen is no longer a director of Blitz – she prefers to leave the politics to the men! However she is still addicted to dance and loves to teach. She has been teaching all over the North, in Scotland and as far south as Brighton mostly with Gus (Our Gus of Coolcatz fame who is now engaged to our Lynsey). Helen and Gus were competition dance partners for one year and came 4th in the Advanced Section at Blackpool that year - no mean feet ('cuse the pun). Helen became a teacher really because she just want to get the world active. Helen says that if you do no physical activity then it's the same risk factor for a heart attack as if you smoked. Dancing is far better than joining any gym!!! Helen loves street dance and has trained as a youth dance leader in street dance but she says she's too shy to perform street dance on her own! She has taught kids and adults to shake their booty. She loves the Latin style and dances salsa especially R&B salsa. "Now that's cool..." she says.

Helen's class this Wednesday will have a Latin vibe and will treat the ladies to some good quality dance styling that they can try for themselves, learning to improvise, how to take the lead and communicate with a partner to hand the lead back. Helen promises us that it will be great fun and she is really excited about coming along to Hessle and I know that you will find her enthusiasm and addiction infectious! Please do come along and a great Hessle welcome to Helen, you'll have a great night I'm sure.

Next month's Rock 'n' Roll Jive Night at Armstrongs...

Rod — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:04:49 +0000

We're delighted that the Rock 'n' Roll Jive Nights are proving so popular. We've another great band in store for next months Rock 'n' Roll Jive Night; the band is called The Class of 58 and please don't be fooled by the boyish appearance of two of the band members - they are superb musicians, ney prodigies even! And the band is a very well known and respected band on the Rock 'n' Roll circuit and played at many major festivals and venues. This is going to be another fabulous night at Armstrongs, so make a note in your diary; the last Friday of March (26th March). The bar is CHEAP and you don't have to dance Rock 'n' Roll, any kind of dancing goes! No tickets required, just pay on the door. The poster for this night is below:-

Click here for location and directions to The Armstrong Social Club

Rock 'n' Roll Jive Nights are here to stay!

Rod — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:50:27 +0000

Last Friday we held another (actually our second) Rock 'n' Roll Jive Night. It was another great night out, just like our first Rock 'n' Roll Jive Night, so I think we can safely say that the Rock 'n' Roll Jive Nights are here to stay (or at least while they remain so popular with our members). The band were The Crown Top Kings and I have to say (being an ex-musician myself), that they were very professional, polished and highly talented musicians as well as great showmen and thoroughly nice blokes!

..here's what the press have said about them:-

"Wearing the crown of British Western Swing they are indisputably the coolest, smoothest red hot musicians around"

"Ten out of ten for showmanship! Their outfits must cost a fortune. Two fabulous sets, with three encores"

"A great act who were very popular with the crowd. This was my second viewing of the band and I can't wait to catch up with them again"

"Lead singer Chris gives the best triple harmonica version of Orange Blossom Special I've ever seen and his and the band's musical talents are just outstanding"

"Hot dawg! Their live show is tremendous as they swing across genres of music....catch this mind blowing show to see why so many are raving over The Crown Top Kings!"

"Just WOW! ..every time I see them.Truly a class Western Swing band with some Cash thrown in for good measure-soooo loving these guys. Pure talent and enthusiasm making them one of the festival highlights"

The band told us that they also had a great time playing for us and would be very please to be asked back again - so it will be done, as soon as we can fix a date when they are again available: watch this space...

Our next Rock ‘n’ Roll Jive Night is on the last Friday of the month again, on 26^th March. (See above)

Our thanks to Jatinder and Anna for a great class night...

Rod — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:56:22 +0000

Jatinder (with Anna) came along this week (Wednesday 11th November) to give a demonstration dance and take our classes. It was a fantastic night. Click here to see the demonstration dance that they gave, most of the moves of which were included in their Intermediate Class. The style and humour of Jatinder ably supported by the graceful Anna, made for a wonderful class night.

Jatinder is a specialist in teaching Modern Jive with a Latino feel. He manages Jive Latino in Sheffield; the name says it all...

Intermediate Class 11th November 2009. Jatinder with Anna

Rod — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:42:49 +0000

Click here to view the video

A big thanks to Leo and Becky...

Rod — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:33:00 +0000

Leo and Becky came along on Wednesday 28th October and treated us to a great demonstration dance, a beginners' class, an intermediate class and as a bonus for us, they also took an additional advanced class in the bar area.

We've had some very positive feedback from our members who were enthusiastic to see them return and the couple told us how much they enjoyed the evening and are looking forward to returning as soon as we have a space in our dance teacher schedule.

They run a company called Dance FX which holds dance classes and dance events around the Lincolnshire area. They are really nice people, superb young dancers, full of enthusiasm and we are looking forward to their return - watch this space...

Keith Davies with Bev in cabaret at Hessle on 14th October

Rod — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:49:06 +0100

Keith Davies and Bev (from Revolution Dance) in cabaret

On Wednesday (14th October), we were treated to a great night when KEITH DAVIES and Bev from Revolution Dance in Manchester came along to Hessle to teach both the Beginner and Intermediate classes. Keith is an excellent teacher and a fantastic professionally trained dancer. We have received many very positive comments about the challenging and superb classes that he delivered.

Keith and Bev then went on to give us an amazing cabaret.

Click here to view the video of their cabaret performance.

As usual with Keith and Bev, they came onto the dance floor after their classes and cabaret and danced their socks off with the many members who literally lined up to have a dance with them. A fantastic night and we thank the couple very much for making the evening such a success.

Watch Kevin Hardy dancing unrehearsed with 4 ladies to demonstrate lead/follow.

Rod — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:15:13 +0100

Click here to view

Many thanks to Laura Shepherd, Sam Knight, Tracy Lund and Tracy Oaks-Milner for volunteering. Well done girls!

Videos of Intermediate classes now available each week.

Rod — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:29:29 +0100

By popular demand, videos of Intermediate Classes will be posted each week from now on. Our members have asked for this because it helps them to remember the moves, maybe go over them again at home. How many times have we all learnt a good move and then promptly forgotten it again!

Each week before the Beginners' Class begins, you will be able to see a recording of the previous week's Intermediate Class over and over and practise the moves to music if you want to (the only way to remember a class is to dance it in Freestyle!).

There already exists a bank of Basic Class move videos (on the yellow folder on the left, 'Videos of previous classes'). There are only 20 basic moves and they are all covered by various dance teachers.

We hope you enjoy the videos and find them useful.

Janice Bywater comes to teach at Hessle Jive

Rod — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:02:10 +0100

We're pleased to announce that this week (on Wednesday 26th August), we have yet another new face taking the classes at Hessle. New to us that is, but not new to teaching.

Many of you will already know Janice Bywater who runs Northern Jive which has successful venues at Doncaster, Askern, Wakefield and Barnsley and has also recently opened a new venue at Hatfield Woodhouse.

Janice has been involved with Modern Jive for over 10 years now, starting out at Blitz Jive in Sheffield. She did her instructor training at Blitz and left Blitz in 2007 to open Northern Jive.

Janice's intermediate classes concentrate on delivering moves that are smooth, stylish and achievable in freestyle (i.e., without your partner having rehearsed the move with you and who may not have danced with you before...) That's what most of us want in an Intermediate class!

Hope to see you there this week and help us to give Janice a warm Hessle welcome!

Viv Bolton comes to Hessle

Rod — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:55:04 +0100

We are very pleased to announce that we have a new teacher coming along to Hessle this week (Wednesday 12th August). New to us, that is because Viv is actually a very experienced teacher.

Viv qualified as a modern jive instructor in November, 2005 and these days she teaches most weeks at the well respected SPINZ Jive at Pudsey (Run by Matt Judge who has guested as a Special Teacher at Hessle) where they had the recently held the successful 'Day of Jive' with fabulous cabarets.

Viv also makes regular appearances at Northern Jive which has several venues and is run by Janice Bywaters, who incidentally, is also coming along to Hessle to teach very soon (more of this in later newsletters).

You may remember Jatinder who has been a Special Guest Teacher for us a few times now and who runs Alive for Jive at Chesterfield, well Viv also teachers there on occasion as well. These are all great clubs and we delighted to be amongst them to have Viv come along to us as well now.

We think you'll really like Viv if you don't know her already; she has a smooth easy style and brings warm humour and a great sense of fun to her classes. She loves tango, cha cha and rhumba and often modifies routines to suit modern jivers.

If you are wanting to have private lessons to speed up your dancing progress, then don't be afraid to ask Viv about this on Wednesday because she comes highly recommended as a provider of private lessons and has in the past, choreographed 'that first dance' for newlyweds for example.

Viv also choreographs team cabaret routines and last year she ventured into the rather glamorous art of Burlesque, running workshops in Leeds, Sheffield, Lincolnshire and Cambridge; Viv says "It's not what you've got, it's the way that you use it!" Now there's a thought...

Hope to see you at Hessle this week and that you 'use it' as well!!

Viv Bolton and her demo Chris

Friday Freestyle at Goole "It just keeps getting better!"

Rod — Sat, 09 May 2009 15:53:13 +0100

After last Friday's Freestyle at Goole, two people told us, "It just keeps getting better." Thank you!

On the last Friday Freestyle (in April), the air-conditioning broke down during the evening and we also found that the floor was a bit sticky from a previous function where drinks had been spilt on it. So we made a special effort this time to get it back to how it should be and used to be...

We provided seven large fans and three industrial air-blowers and as it turned out, the air-con was working this time as well! So, needless to say, no one complained of being too hot... And the floor was thoroughly cleaned and buffed by Claire before anyone arrived - no complaints about the floor either this time.

A great time was had by all, so thank you all to those who came along and we're looking forward to the next Friday Freestyle which is on 10th July 2009 because the second Friday in June has already been booked by a private party.

For more of the Friday Freestyles details, including location and directions, click here

Jatinda returns...

Rod — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:29:18 +0100

This week (on Wednesday, April 8th) we are thrilled to have JATINDA returning to Hessle as our Special Guest Teacher. His warm personality, excellent teaching and original Latino dance style will make this a night not to be missed.

His last visit (see below on 11th June last year) was a phenomenal success and we have been asked repeatedly for him to return, so come along this week and enjoy putting a touch of Latin style into your dancing!

Hessle Jive has arrived on FACEBOOK.

Rod — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:39:57 +0000

We now have an official page on Facebook and if you are a Facebook user, do please apply to join the Hessle Modern Jive group where lots of members are now swapping messages and keeping in touch with what's happening at Hessle.

STOP PRESS! Video of Gus' Intermediate Class in now available.

Rod — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:13:07 +0100

Click here to see Gus demonstrating his Intermediate Class routine with Lynsey.

What a night! Thanks Gus.

Rod — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:48:05 +0100

Watch video of Gus dancing at Hessle Modern Jive Club

Hessle Freestyle on 27th June. A Night to Remember!

Rod — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 11:07:06 +0100

We would like to thank all of those who came along and supported our Freestyle on 27th June, it was a fantastic night out and a sell out.

Our thanks must also go to Carol of the Hase Pub who prepared the wonderful buffet and the staff behind the bar who worked hard all night serving us drinks, the Beverley Dancewear company who came along and put out a stunning array of discounted dance shoes with additional special 25% discount for our members who purchased that night.

Also our thanks to Peter of The Ski & Rock Co who brought along with his promotional videos and leaflets and finally to Tequila Sunrise the band who came all the way from Hessle to be there!

I dare anyone to say that they ever went to a better freestyle than we put on that night for £6! It's only because our members turn out in number each and every week that we have been able to provide such value, well done everyone and here's to the next event (watch this space...)

Also, please see the entry below regarding the charity raffle, well done everyone!

Thanks Jatinder!

Rod — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:37:33 +0100

Another coup for Hessle Jive...

Rod — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:41:00 +0100

Thanks to Matt and Sue Judge for two excellent workshops...

Rod — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:03:00 +0100

Our thanks to Matt and Sue Judge who came along to Hessle Town Hall last Sunday (8th June) and held two workshops for our members.

The beginners workshop last three hours at the end of which many of the participants expressed a renewed confidence in their dancing abilities. Matt was able to give individual attention to any student that required help with their techniques and style. The kind of groundwork that simply isn’t possible cover on at class night. If you missed the beginners workshop and would like to be included on the next one, please let us know as we will not be arranging another until there is sufficient demand from our members for one.

The Blues workshop was a very enjoyable 3 hours and again, style and technique was the order of the day and leaning new Blues moves was only part of the workshop. For those that took part in the workshop, a video of Matt and Sue dancing the moves taught is available from rod@hesslejive.co.uk.

Please let us know if there is any other type of workshop that you would like and if there is sufficient demand, we will arrange it. Some have already asked for a dips/drops/seducers workshop. Anyone second that?

Freestyle coming up in June...

Rod — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:02:51 +0100

Half a birthday!

Rod — Wed, 07 May 2008 23:51:47 +0100

Yet another, very Special Guest Teacher comes to Hessle...

Rod — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:25:37 +0100

The Jive Aces at Hessle Modern Jive on Saturday 19th April, 2008.

Rod — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:17:08 +0100

Thank you all! We’ve had so many wonderful messages congratulating us on arranging a fantastic freestyle, we’re really chuffed that our members and visitors had such a good time.

The tickets were a sell-out and we were delighted to see so many ‘faces’ – professional dancers, DJ’s, club owners, etc., from the dance world turn up to our freestyle at Hessle.

The hog roast meal, with coleslaw, salad and fruit/cream desert proved to be very popular and there were still plenty of seconds on offer.

The Jive Aces were roundly applauded after each number and Ken (the Bass Player) told me that the band were very impressed with the club, ‘one of the best Modern Jive Clubs we’ve ever played at’ and the band were very pleased with the warmth of the reception they received from everyone.

In the usual style, they played their socks off and staged lots of antics. They took two encores, they had the place jumpin’ – literally! After finishing their set they danced with our ladies and I have to say, they can dance well too!

Thank you Jive Aces for being such a professional and entertaining band. Fantastic musicians and really nice blokes as well! Shall we book them again? Let us know, yes?

The Jive Aces on stage at Hessle Modern Jive Club on Saturday 19^th April, 2008

The Jive Aces take to the dance floor!

200 dancers and still room to dance!

There are more pictures taken of this event on our photos section.

Members' Notice Board

Rod — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:44:35 +0000