|
Who Is John Sweeney?
|
|
Wedding Photos
John & Karen Sweeney are based in the UK and dance at Ceroc and other
Modern Jive clubs regularly.
John has been dancing since he was 16 (yes, that is quite a long time ago!).
John has been teaching various forms of dance for over 50 years.
He started doing Modern Jive in 1996 when Ceroc finally reached his
home town and often danced it two or three nights a week, at venues all
over the country - wherever his work took him.
Dancing has been a passion for Karen since she was inspired by the film "West Side Story".
She has danced ever since: Jive, West Coast Swing, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Ballroom, Salsa, Bachata, Urban/Street & Hip-Hop, Swing/Lindy and Blues.
Karen now dances her own style of Modern Jive using influences from all of these genres.
Karen has been demonstrating on workshops
with John since 2001 and loves travelling and meeting dancers who,
like her, are still looking for new styles and ideas.
John started teaching Modern Jive in 1999 and has taught for many different
organizations all over the UK, USA (including Hawaii!), Spain, France, Australia and New Zealand, his biggest classes
so far being Double Trouble workshops for over 400 dancers at big weekend events.
After attending some Double Trouble workshops in 1999, John started
studying, practicing and choreographing Double Trouble moves and principles with
anyone prepared to dance with him; he now teaches Double Trouble at all levels
for many organizations, focussing on the basic principles which make it easy to
lead and follow Double Trouble in freestyle, but also including many complex and
advanced moves.
John also teaches a wide range of other workshops covering areas such as
lifts (including social lifts, suitable for a crowded dance floor), close moves,
drops & seducers, lead & follow, style & technique, smooth jive and flashy freestyling.
Shades! (John, Frances Browning & Karen HiIlier)
won the Ceroc UK Double Trouble Championships (London) in 2001 and the UK Open Jive Double Trouble
Championships (Blackpool) in 2002; John got the Silver Medal
with Donna Van
Roose - the Pocket Rocket - in the 2002 UK Open Jive Air Steps competition (Blackpool).
John and Karen Sweeney were finalists in the 2004 Jive Masters competition.
John, Karen Sweeney and Linda Ford
won the Double Trouble at BritRoc 2004 - The British Open LeRoc Championships.
Karen Sweeney and Greg Davidson won the Dance With A Stranger at the Masked Ball of the East in 2006.
Some Workshops Taught by John Sweeney
John Sweeney is a freelance Modern Jive teacher.
If you would like him to teach as a guest teacher at your event,
or to teach at a weekend workshop for you then contact him on 07802 940 574 or
john@modernjive.com.
If you are not an organizer then either contact your local organizer and ask them
to contact John, or e-mail John with details
and he will contact them.
Some sample workshops are described below, but John is happy to tailor
the workshops to your requirements.
Definitive Drops
A variety of interesting Dips & Drops, Leans & Lunges, Lambadas & Seducers -
how to do them smoothly, safely and stylishly!
- Add that "Wow!" factor to your dancing by learning these great moves and
variations. The moves cover a wide selection of styles, and include a variety
of entrances and exits so that you can incorporate them smoothly into your dancing.
- The workshop includes detailed work on technique, basic principles,
links and how to make drops safe and stylish.
Drops & Lifts for Freestyle
Make your freestyle eye-catching by adding stylish drops and amazing lifts that are
safe to perform on the social dance-floor!
- Learn interesting drops which look superb and enhance your dancing.
- The lifts are all designed to look great, but still be safe to perform on a social dance floor.
- The workshop covers the leading and following techniques which make moves like
these possible to use in freestyle.
Hot Moves
Learn how to dance slowly and sensationally with some slinky, sexy moves. Look into
your partner’s eyes and move a little closer!
- Learn how to make your dancing look sexy; feel the music and get as hot and steamy as you want.
- This workshop focuses mainly on moves that you can do as a standard part
of your Modern Jive, and which can bring you and your partner into close
contact, plus a sprinkling of Blues for when the music slows down!
Flashy Freestyling
Expand your repertoire in new directions with a wide variety of stylish moves and
techniques. Learn to stand out on the dance floor!
- Lots of flashy moves and variations for you to add to your repertoire,
with style points to make you look great!
- Learn
- simple moves which you don't often see
- complex moves that challenge both partners
- some dips/drops/seducers/lambadas
- a couple of lifts to use in freestyle (with care!)
- some challenging spins for both partners
- a couple of nice moves with some footwork
- moves that make the ladies smile!
- There is detailed work on technique, basic principles,
spinning and making drops safe and stylish.
Modern Jive Toolbox
Lead & Follow - Style & Techniques to Improve Your Dancing - Tension &
Balance - Spinning - How to Make Your Partner Smile!
- This is your chance to learn all the things there isn't time for in a normal
lesson, and move your dancing up to the next level.
- Men, learn how to make your lead much more enjoyable for the ladies and enable
you to lead more interesting moves.
- Ladies, learn how to follow effortlessly and add the style that will make you
look even better.
- The techniques are all illustrated with great moves for you to practise and
add to your repertoire.
Double Trouble
1 Man dancing with 2 Ladies! Learn all the basics plus how to lead and follow a
wide range of moves including double seducers.
- Double Trouble is challenging for the men, but ladies also find lots
to learn: left-handed moves; working stylishly with another lady;
filling the gaps; new signals; choreographed moves; etc.
- The emphasis is on lead-and-follow so most of the moves can be used
easily in freestyle. No previous experience of Double Trouble is required,
but you should be able to dance Intermediate Modern Jive moves well.
- The workshop covers
- the basic principles
- lots of simple moves for freestyle
- some more challenging moves for you to work on.
Advanced Double Trouble
An extravaganza of show-stopping Double Trouble moves for those brave enough to try them.
Master these and add that "Wow!" factor to your dancing!
- Fixed triples only - come with your regular partners and learn a wide
variety of Double Trouble moves, some challenging, some complex, including
double lifts and drops.
- If you are experienced at Double Trouble already, but looking for that
special something to add some pizzazz to your performance then this is the workshop for you.
- Learn some of the moves, techniques and style points which helped John
Sweeney win three Double Trouble Championships!