This blog is one of an occasional commentary on dance events I attend. I'm not affiliated in any way to the dance organisers,
I've been to all of the Southport weekenders since Ceroc took over the venue from Jive Addiction in August 2008, including Jive Addiction's last event. As I've commented before, it is interesting to see how patterns of behaviour have changed. More people arrive later in the day nowadays - partially because roads seems to be more congested and also because I think more people only leave after work rather than taking the day off. Similarly more people, it seems, leave on Sunday afternoon and early Sunday evening. I think the age of the participants is changing upwards and the expectation of the customers is changing too. Summer SP is normally pretty well gender balanced but this year that seemed to go awry and I was very aware that some of the best female dancers in the country were sitting out through lack of partners. It would be churlish of me to pick spots - I'm a very lucky man at these events - and to be asked to dance by someone I regard as the best creative dancer in this field was a reminder to me that our group is graced with some rare and precious talents.
The Venue
This time it was the venue owners, Pontins, who fell short in respect to the needs of the customers. It was clear that our chalet hadn't been cleaned properly and evidence all over in litter and smelly bins and drains - that the previous occupants hadn't been long gone. Our sofa bed had been replaced by a utilitarian guest bed - one mattress stored under the other. Great for getting six people into a chalet but less good if they're all stuck inside trying to socialise. I don't mind if I have a choice - but I don't like paying for one thing and getting another. Pontins are upping their game in some respects - though decorators at 8am on Monday morning is surely a provocative action. The conditions the staff work under were underlined by me on Friday afternoon as a sweaty supervisor let us all know he though someone was a 'lazy bastard'. The bar staff seemed more plentiful but grumpy and don't get me started on the chip shop which was shut every time I went past it.
What is worth pointing out was that when there was rain, Ceroc put their top man on it.
The Music
Southport is the one Ceroc weekender where freestyle dancing is available pretty much all day and this - not the classes - is a preoccupation for many of us. For those who prefer spending our time dancing and socialising the weekend takes on a very different pattern and our expectation of the music on offer becomes a focus.
I have to say I rather enjoyed the effects of annexing of the "Blues" sessions to a separate space - not because I don't enjoy slow dancing (I do - a lot) but because a) that provided a clear choice by venue rather than waiting for certain DJs to do their bit and b) it allowed for more space for everyone at what is usually the most crowded of events. It also provided me with an opportunity in the evenings to dance to music with more energy than the slow standards and exercise my imagination to it's variety. Where the SILC (Ceroc's new slower dance offering) vibe fell short sometimes was in offering extended blocks of music at pretty much the same tempo and flavour.
There are changes afoot in main room dancing habits it seems - this huge space is full at 10pm but much quieter after 2am. The older age group ("bed early we've got classes tomorrow") and appetite for dancing probably account for this. Long journeys to the event (roads were terrible) and dancing all day in the sun probably account for the lull. One DJ cleared the floor twice with deadly musical taste: once is an unfortunate misreading of the room but twice is wilful dereliction of duty!
The sun shone on us occasionally and the temperate was high even under cloud so there was lots of outdoor dancing - including at 4am as the sun rose. The pattern of daytime music has been pretty much fixed for some years now - there was a great deal to savour and both new and old music to explore. The two hour long sessions of Swing music are getting more and more popular - rightly so - this is where the deepest roots of Jive are to be found.
My visit to the "Blues" room was short-lived - a great idea in a great venue, filled with enthusiastic dancers but the music didn't match my expectation. I hear slow music ("blues" is shorthand) in local venues varies in variety of styles, intensity, sentiment and speed. At Ceroc weekenders I think there is an expectation amongst the loyal band of regulars for the tracks they have been dancing to for years, but that kind of musical environment isn't for me at the moment. Complaints that the room was too far away strike me vaguely ridiculous. It was 3 or 4 minutes walk: isn't a tailored venue worth the changing your dance shoes? That there are complaints probably show we are a picky lot - that it's this complaint shows how spoilt we have been.
The rest...
Floorcraft was in shortish measure everywhere as usual but there was also a good deal of hubris on the dance floor: aggressive use of space by show offs, backing onto the dance floor and extravagant use of hackneyed drops in confined spaces. There are ways and means round it but frankly some people just need to calm down and think of others. And at the other end are dancers who make big show of their teacher status or competition success who really don't cope well with social dancing and are rather exposed by their hubris too. Nemesis is waiting for both groups.
Parties small and large raged - always interesting to socialise and see who falls under the wheels of a social situation. People observing it turns out is easier with vodka soaked gummy bears. Nonetheless something very warming comes out of the most surreal experiences: for example Carl taught Becki how to throw a punch. It is all about variety.
Roll on September - this was a very good gig on the whole.
Postscriptum
A scientist I was talking to reminded me that one concern about the Blues room is that it is sited on the ground floor of a building which also houses a swimming pool....on it's first floor. The pool is above the dance floor and perhaps unsurprisingly the water from the former is leaking onto the later. Maybe this will add the variety I'm looking for...
I've been to all of the Southport weekenders since Ceroc took over the venue from Jive Addiction in August 2008, including Jive Addiction's last event. As I've commented before, it is interesting to see how patterns of behaviour have changed. More people arrive later in the day nowadays - partially because roads seems to be more congested and also because I think more people only leave after work rather than taking the day off. Similarly more people, it seems, leave on Sunday afternoon and early Sunday evening. I think the age of the participants is changing upwards and the expectation of the customers is changing too. Summer SP is normally pretty well gender balanced but this year that seemed to go awry and I was very aware that some of the best female dancers in the country were sitting out through lack of partners. It would be churlish of me to pick spots - I'm a very lucky man at these events - and to be asked to dance by someone I regard as the best creative dancer in this field was a reminder to me that our group is graced with some rare and precious talents.
The Venue
This time it was the venue owners, Pontins, who fell short in respect to the needs of the customers. It was clear that our chalet hadn't been cleaned properly and evidence all over in litter and smelly bins and drains - that the previous occupants hadn't been long gone. Our sofa bed had been replaced by a utilitarian guest bed - one mattress stored under the other. Great for getting six people into a chalet but less good if they're all stuck inside trying to socialise. I don't mind if I have a choice - but I don't like paying for one thing and getting another. Pontins are upping their game in some respects - though decorators at 8am on Monday morning is surely a provocative action. The conditions the staff work under were underlined by me on Friday afternoon as a sweaty supervisor let us all know he though someone was a 'lazy bastard'. The bar staff seemed more plentiful but grumpy and don't get me started on the chip shop which was shut every time I went past it.
What is worth pointing out was that when there was rain, Ceroc put their top man on it.
The Music
Southport is the one Ceroc weekender where freestyle dancing is available pretty much all day and this - not the classes - is a preoccupation for many of us. For those who prefer spending our time dancing and socialising the weekend takes on a very different pattern and our expectation of the music on offer becomes a focus.
I have to say I rather enjoyed the effects of annexing of the "Blues" sessions to a separate space - not because I don't enjoy slow dancing (I do - a lot) but because a) that provided a clear choice by venue rather than waiting for certain DJs to do their bit and b) it allowed for more space for everyone at what is usually the most crowded of events. It also provided me with an opportunity in the evenings to dance to music with more energy than the slow standards and exercise my imagination to it's variety. Where the SILC (Ceroc's new slower dance offering) vibe fell short sometimes was in offering extended blocks of music at pretty much the same tempo and flavour.
There are changes afoot in main room dancing habits it seems - this huge space is full at 10pm but much quieter after 2am. The older age group ("bed early we've got classes tomorrow") and appetite for dancing probably account for this. Long journeys to the event (roads were terrible) and dancing all day in the sun probably account for the lull. One DJ cleared the floor twice with deadly musical taste: once is an unfortunate misreading of the room but twice is wilful dereliction of duty!
The sun shone on us occasionally and the temperate was high even under cloud so there was lots of outdoor dancing - including at 4am as the sun rose. The pattern of daytime music has been pretty much fixed for some years now - there was a great deal to savour and both new and old music to explore. The two hour long sessions of Swing music are getting more and more popular - rightly so - this is where the deepest roots of Jive are to be found.
My visit to the "Blues" room was short-lived - a great idea in a great venue, filled with enthusiastic dancers but the music didn't match my expectation. I hear slow music ("blues" is shorthand) in local venues varies in variety of styles, intensity, sentiment and speed. At Ceroc weekenders I think there is an expectation amongst the loyal band of regulars for the tracks they have been dancing to for years, but that kind of musical environment isn't for me at the moment. Complaints that the room was too far away strike me vaguely ridiculous. It was 3 or 4 minutes walk: isn't a tailored venue worth the changing your dance shoes? That there are complaints probably show we are a picky lot - that it's this complaint shows how spoilt we have been.
The rest...
Floorcraft was in shortish measure everywhere as usual but there was also a good deal of hubris on the dance floor: aggressive use of space by show offs, backing onto the dance floor and extravagant use of hackneyed drops in confined spaces. There are ways and means round it but frankly some people just need to calm down and think of others. And at the other end are dancers who make big show of their teacher status or competition success who really don't cope well with social dancing and are rather exposed by their hubris too. Nemesis is waiting for both groups.
Parties small and large raged - always interesting to socialise and see who falls under the wheels of a social situation. People observing it turns out is easier with vodka soaked gummy bears. Nonetheless something very warming comes out of the most surreal experiences: for example Carl taught Becki how to throw a punch. It is all about variety.
Roll on September - this was a very good gig on the whole.
Postscriptum
A scientist I was talking to reminded me that one concern about the Blues room is that it is sited on the ground floor of a building which also houses a swimming pool....on it's first floor. The pool is above the dance floor and perhaps unsurprisingly the water from the former is leaking onto the later. Maybe this will add the variety I'm looking for...
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