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How a Competition is born: the White Rose view

These are the Northern Champions and the two halves of the North of England split by the Pennines have been the bitterest of rivals for many centuries, wars have been fought, often sublimated into cricket matches, accents mocked and football teams derided. So good then when co-operation - the hallmark of Northern dancing - breaks out.  

Not so many miles east of Manchester, Ceroc Yorkshire is going great guns under new management but with an impressive roll call of teachers, DJs and demos.  Their secret of a warm welcome and maintaining attendance is well-known.  The new freestyle venue, Left Bank, is the most impressive venue I've dance in as you can see below. It's great that Ceroc Addiction's venture includes Jon Gammon - a good friend and subject of this q and a.

Photo: Jon Gammon

SN: You are working at Ceroc Northern Champs as a freestyle DJ, but as the owner of the Ceroc Yorkshire franchise, what will having Ceroc Northern Champs do for dancing in Yorkshire?

JG: Dancing in Yorkshire is always growing and progressing to new levels but to see some of the newer dancers having a go at competing is a real breath of fresh air. The dancing scene is always changing and to watch dancers grow and start to compete to push there abilities is so rewarding as a teacher and as a franchisee. The Northern Champs makes competing even more accessible to Yorkshire dancers and although its not as big as some of the other competitions, it is the perfect place to start.

SN: You've competed in Blues competition and recently held successful Swing and blues workshops. Yorkshire dancers cover a lot of dance styles - how do you think that helps in competition?

JG: Being able to interpret the music and add your own unique style is so important to every competition. Its what makes you stand out from the rest. Being able to offer so many dance styles to our dancers gives them the opportunity to learn a new style and always increasing the abilities on the dance floor.

SN: What three tips would you offer new competitors?

JG:
  1. Its not always about the moves, you can do the most basic moves but if you hit the breaks and dance the styles appropriate to the music you will go far.
  2. Enjoy the rush and buzz of competing and don’t take it too seriously. 
  3. Smile, if you look like your having fun then the judges will have fun watching you dance. 

SN: You started dancing, like me, on the South Coast - we had loads of dancing opportunities down. Much the same now exists on the M62 corridor. How exciting or daunting is it being in that market?

JG: At first it was quite daunting, having to compete in the Northern Big leagues, but as a franchise I feel we hold our own. With the opening of a new leeds freestyle along with the variety of workshops and classes we offer to our dancers, we are always attracting new and existing dancers to our events. 

Jon and Chloe Photo: Lory Coulson, http://www.lorysphotography.com
SN: What would you like to say to the competitors from Yorkshire who are having a go at Northern Champs, and any message for those who are still undecided?

JG: For anyone competing, Enjoy the day and relax. We all started somewhere and most can remember their first competition so watch the floor and if you like something then use it.

For anyone undecided, Its an experience you can’t beat. I would say to any dancer you need to do it at least once. so why not on our home turf. The Northern Champs is the one to start with.

And finally Good Luck to everyone competing.

Smile and Enjoy the day.

Thanks Jon - I look forward to seeing Yorkshire's finest on the dance floor.

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