Salsa has many different styles depending on where it originates from. They start on different beats, have different patterns and the look and feel can be quite different. You wouldn’t usually expect to dance in a different style without first taking some classes.
Ceroc however is a particular style of modern jive that was formulated and then franchised throughout the UK Australia and New Zealand. I’ve danced in various UK classes and in Sydney and Melbourne, always having the security of the same moves with the same names.
So I sort out a class when I was in Auckland. There Ceroc actually has its own studio (everywhere else I’ve been dancing in a night club or community centre). I didn’t arrive in time for the class and just waited for freestyle. (there are a couple of photos in the Auckland album). Eager to dance I noticed the class had a lot of drops but thought this might just be the theme for this evening. But sometime into my first couple of dances it dawned on me ‘they’re doing it wrong!’
One of my partners felt like he was just canoeing me from one drop to the next. Some of the drops I didn’t know and some I didn’t feel safe doing and so opted out. Another seemed to have no regard for the beat. I noticed the whole dance floor seemed to be moving a lot slower and, well, less! Less hips, less steps. I sat out for a while and confirmed my suspicions, its different here!
Deciding on a strategy of stating up front my British training I then had a few better dances. I chose guys whose style was similar to mine and, in turn, they adapted to me. Then I danced with the teacher, Pete who explained they were more laid back here. He was encouraging, gave me a few tips and taught me some new moves.
Together with the experiences I had later (which I’ll write up soon!) this got me thinking about the process of adaptation. From the desire for others to conform to my way of dancing, to some compromise, experimenting and learning. What is it that makes us want to adapt rather than staying with what we know? When is adapting a good idea and when is it not?
