How would you change Ceroc if you were the Boss

[Ghost]

Ok bear in mind this is people's livelihood so play nice.....

But hey, you never know, some of the ideas might inspire the powers that be
Take care,
Christopher

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by Ghost

Ok bear in mind this is people's livelihood so play nice.....

But hey, you never know, some of the ideas might inspire the powers that be
Take care,
Christopher

Get rid of the semi-circle.

I can't understand why they haven't, since the current boss never taught it anyway.

[KatieR]

Originally Posted by ChrisA

Get rid of the semi-circle.

They canned it in Australia too.

[David Bailey]

Oh, what a good idea for a thread

OK, three suggestions:

1. Standardised dancer development
Recognise that there are a large core of intermediate-plus dancers, almost all created by the Ceroc business, who are poorly-catered for, or who go elsewhere to develop. Create a standardised strategy to provide products and resources aimed at these dancers; a "career path" for them in effect. De-emphasize learning all the moves, and provide more emphasis on technique, for regular venues.

2. Diversify to other forms
Use the proven success of the Ceroc teaching model (i.e. moving on, taxi dancers, standardisation, etc), with adjustments, branching out to teach other dance forms. In fact, I suspect this may happen soon anyway - nosequins was an early attempt at this.

3. Names
Get rid of silly move names. 'Coz they're dumb.

[Ghost]

Originally Posted by DavidJames

Oh, what a good idea for a thread

What can I say, I was inspired

Originally Posted by DavidJames

2. Diversify to other forms

And as if by magic....
http://www.ceroclondon.com/ballroom_latin.htm

How's that for a response from the powers that be?

Oh and to banning the semi-circle.

Take care,
Christopher

[TiggsTours]

I'd insist that everybody has to wear pink fluffy clothes, with silver sparkly shoes, and they all have to smile all the time. At the end of each class, I'd insist the everybody turned to the person on their right, kissed them on both cheeks and told them how fabulous they are. At the end of the night, everybody would have to stay for prayers, to thank the resident DJ (or god, as he would thereon be called) for a wonderful evening's entertainment.



What can I say, its Friday, and I' haven't been allowed to dance all week!



Funky Lush on Saturday!

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by Ghost

And as if by magic....
http://www.ceroclondon.com/ballroom_latin.htm

How's that for a response from the powers that be?

Indeed, and that's what I meant with my comment

Originally Posted by Me, just now

nosequins was an early attempt at this.

I'd love to see this continuing though, rather than just depending on one couple to run it. Surely there are more ballroom dancing teachers out there?

[fletch]

Originally Posted by TiggsTours

I'd insist that everybody has to wear pink fluffy clothes, with silver sparkly shoes, and they all have to smile all the time. At the end of each class, I'd insist the everybody turned to the person on their right, kissed them on both cheeks and told them how fabulous they are. At the end of the night, everybody would have to stay for prayers, to thank the resident DJ (or god, as he would thereon be called) for a wonderful evening's entertainment.



What can I say, its Friday, and I' haven't been allowed to dance all week!



Funky Lush on Saturday!

I'm quite happy to share mine, but can I just establish which cheeks before I play

[Ghost]

Originally Posted by DavidJames

Indeed, and that's what I meant with my comment

I'd love to see this continuing though, rather than just depending on one couple to run it. Surely there are more ballroom dancing teachers out there?

Opps, I read nosequins as one word like harlequins. Wondered what you were on about?

Sorry, good point.

Christopher

[Paul F]

Originally Posted by DavidJames

..... Surely there are more ballroom dancing teachers out there?

Loads but if they are anything like the ones I had they would refuse to teach such a big class. They didnt really like the idea of bulk tuition. I mentioned that I taught MJ to over 150 people every Wednesday. The first thing they said was
"how on earth can so many people learn in that environment"!
(then again, many of them didnt seem to like MJ)

I have found that with a fair number of ballroom teachers.

[Ghost]

Originally Posted by Paul F

Loads but if they are anything like the ones I had they would refuse to teach such a big class. They didnt really like the idea of bulk tuition.

I have found that with a fair number of ballroom teachers.

It depends
a) How exacting your art is
b) How protective of it you are

Some styles / teachers don't mind their students bouncing around, bashing each other, while ignoring the music . Others need to lie down in a quiet, darkened room at the mere suggestion .

Take care,
Christopher

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Ghost

Ok bear in mind this is people's livelihood so play nice.....

But hey, you never know, some of the ideas might inspire the powers that be
Take care,
Christopher

I assume you have some ideas as well, care to share them?

I will if you will

[Jenni]

Originally Posted by ChrisA

Get rid of the semi-circle.

And getting the no bouncing idea over early on

Jenni

[El Salsero Gringo]

Originally Posted by DavidJames

Recognise that there are a large core of intermediate-plus dancers, almost all created by the Ceroc business, who are poorly-catered for, or who go elsewhere to develop.

Is it really a large core, or is it just a small but very mouthy core most of whom are found on the Forum being so rude about Ceroc that there's really no incentive to do anything for them because they (at least sound like they) are too stuck-up to have anything to do with any orange-branded dance event?

By the way, did you notice that the Jive Bar on Wednesdays will have intermediate and advanced classes only from next year, and that Amir Giles was teaching for Ceroc at Fulham yesterday?

[Ghost]

Originally Posted by Lee

I assume you have some ideas as well, care to share them?

I will if you will

"The map is not the territory" applies heavily to my ideas. They're all really starting places which would then need to be evolved when they met reality.

While I'm all for people making a living, I do view teaching as one of the sacred paths so I get grouchy about people calling themselves teachers and then not teaching.

But....

Change the whole format of teaching, especially beginners. Ladies learn how to follow. Period (as the americans say). They don't learn specific moves. Guys learn how to lead specific moves. I have some ideas how to do this, but they'd need some serious experimenting to get them to actually work - it's probably best if I never become a Taxi

Make more sense of the beginners / intermediate / advanced levels.

Specific themed classes on dance concepts - see Franck's latest idea

Safety - see Gus' posts. In particular drastically reduce the number of drops / dips that are taught in intermediate classes. Have taxi dancers keep an eye out for dangerous / inconsiderate dancers and have specific ISO 5000 method of dealing with them

Fence off seperate areas for "beginners only" and "people who want to practice aerials etc only"

Put limits on the class sizes based on the amount of space you have so that people aren't jammed in.

Teachers and demos must dance with the students in freestyle. Happy to give them a commensurate raise.

Free iced water

Pay taxi dancers (there's a trend here which will upset the economists, oh well)

Rip out the bad habits embedded in the moves

Higher standards for teachers and annual re-evaluation & random spot checks

Not bad for a beginning...

So what are your ideas?

Christopher

[Bangers & Mash]

Take it to Europe as well.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Ghost

So what are your ideas?

Christopher

Offer more for beginners to encourage them to return, thus giving Ceroc their required sustained income rather than doing quick hit busking sessions when time are quieter.

Provide intermediates with more opportunity to learn, musicality, spatial awareness, style etc but not just by offering workshops at the weekend.

Advanced level classes where new intermediates & beginners don’t attend, oh they are starting this in Jan at Jive bar.

Hygiene & Safety reminders seem to have slipped away since I first started.

Put limits on the class sizes, yes I agree.

Free iced water – yes we’ve already debated this before.

I'll think about this a bit more.........

[Lee]

Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo

By the way, did you notice that the Jive Bar on Wednesdays will have intermediate and advanced classes only from next year?

Beat you to it

Wed 4th Jan 06 - New Advanced Night at the Jive Bar

[Lee]

Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo

By the way, did you notice that Amir Giles was teaching for Ceroc at Fulham yesterday?

Damm, if i'd known

Amir (in a non gay manner)

Lee

[TiggsTours]

Originally Posted by Bangers & Mash

Take it to Europe as well.

What, like France, Spain & Italy, you mean? Perhaps you'd think about going to the States after that?