Modern Jive: Solo Dance feat. Simon Rich & Nicole Beckey

[cerocgolgo]

I have just started to attend their class....I can honestly say that Simon & Nicole are THE best teachers I have come across....beautiful dancers / pure class!!!

[susancarnett]

Hi I think this is fantastic, wish I could dance like this.

[HowToJive]

You are right Crystal and I am sorry if you have been distressed by these views being dissilmilar to your own. You are certainly correct in the link with Beckmann and I feel deeply honoured that "How To Jive" DVD will have a chance to rub shoulders with such a talented pair (who were picked above all other choices by Beckmann and the production team for this new project). I am sure you will join us, in wishing Simon and Nicole well after all their hard work.

[crystaljonesable]

both you & h2j are attacking me for being prejudice for some reason & you disagree with my opinion, & that's all i'm doing in reply to you! h2j has direct links with beckman the company promoting the dvd & you are such an obvious advocate for them that it means that neither of you are giving balanced feedback. and why does a routine have to be complicated for it to be choregraphed? it's common sense to practise something no matter how simple if it's going to remain as a permanent record on a dvd

[alinp22]

@crystaljonesable

although it's probably a pedantic point, my impression of your posting is that you say the piece IS choreographed. Now it may well be that you mean to say that to you it looks choreographed, which is a different thing entirely. It is also worth remembering that they have danced together as a pair for a number of years and it would therefore be quite reasonable to assume they have a very high level of understanding.

I personally don't agree with you.

Happy Dancing :)

[mercurialdance]

@alinp22 and i personally don't agree with you.

[HowToJive]

For amateurs of Modern Jive I believe these DVDs will help them move on to the next stage - and hopefully bring them some very happy dancing!  For professionals the technique sections are a treasure trove.

[HowToJive]

Amateurs are entitled to voice their prejudices and - in some cases - their mean streaks. Experts and professionals with a proven track record need to be a little more responsible and circumspect about criticising colleagues - lest they damage the entire image of their chosen field. I take it then that you are an amateur.

[crystaljonesable]

@HowToJive i just don't rate them as dancers, that's my opinion and obviously the opinion of a number of judges at some of the competitions where the standard was higher that they didn't do well at. quite why you have to go on about it being prejudicial or politically motivated I don't know? we disagree, so get over it! and i think you'll find that most teachers are amatuers in mj in that they have day jobs too and i'm sure that includes s&n

[mercurialdance]

I don't actually know anything about Ceroc? So, why is that relevant?

[alinp22]

@mercurialdance

presumably you know little about Modern Jive then?

[mercurialdance]

If you go onto their website you can see facts, so I don't know what you're referring to? Or do you consider a sliver, a bronze and a 4th place the same as being a National champion? As regards people logging on recently presumably you're referring to patallen3 and saturniandancer? The reason why I'm posting on it is because it's vety average, and as I've said, the promotions company is lying about their achievements.

[alinp22]

if you guys are gonna quote history, then suggest you actually go and check your facts!!! Oh, and it's soooooo interesting to note that you seem to have created Youtube profiles within in the last few days and your only activity seems to be to post derogatory comments about this video!! I'm sure the world can make it's own mind up why you've done that!!!

[mercurialdance]

Thanks for the history Crystal, I knew nothing of them apart from this link that come up from watching another video, but I guessed it was something like that. It's also funny that some of the positive responses, like HowToJive, have come from people linked to the company promoting the video! So the rest would probably be their family and friends they've roped in to say nice things about them! Now that is sad.

[crystaljonesable]

sorry, but it is a bit boring! and far be it from me to point out that the champs details are a little bit misleading. the leroc champs, as everyone knows, is a bit of a joke & britrock is hardly a National competition. the uk nationals have been going down in attendance & quality for sometime now and despite trying for over 7 years simon & nicole have never won the main ceroc champs in either the freestyle or showcase sections. if you're given credentials at least make them ones worth having!

[HowToJive]

@crystaljonesable

A cerocer like yourself might be keen to fly your flag - I was in the first Ceroc cabaret team and have very fond memories - but please do try and see the bigger picture. Are your comments likely to attract a non dancer into the world of dance? A newcomer to modern jive - would they think that you must be a really nice person to know and would they be prompted by your comments to come along to a Ceroc evening? If Ceroc PR is your intention -. stand back and listen!

[crystaljonesable]

@HowToJive i actually started dancing at leroc in bristol and still dance as much at independents as I do at ceroc these days - why is it that because someone has a different opinion to you do you assume that it must be politically motivated?

[crystaljonesable]

@HowToJive i've just never rated them. they're not an equal dance partnership as nicole is a better dancer than simon and they don't really freestyle in competitions as you can see that they just dance sequences of choreography. that's probably why they've never won a ceroc title and why they only got into the jivemasters final on a default of the winners in their heat dropping out - and then didn't get down to the last 6 from 18 couples.

[alinp22]

@crystaljonesable

Earlier in these comments, Simon has said this is a freestyle piece and I think you ought to respect and accept this.

[HowToJive]

@alinp22 I think you have this right alinp22. When lead and follow technique is perfected to the level of Simon and Nicole - you can dance with anyone to any music (witness the number of 'Dance With a Stranger' titles Simon has - he just swept the board). So its understandable that well executed freestyle can be so seamless that it looks like choreography. Easy mistake to make.

[crystaljonesable]

@alinp22 anyone can see that's not freestyle! but you seem so blinkered by your own view of them that you won't accept that, but i don't have to. they're trying to sell a dvd and the routine has a few mistakes and it's not terribly well performed so of course simon wants to make an excuse now that someone has highlighted that. best thing you can do if you don't want people to post their honest opinions is not put it on a public website!

[alinp22]

@crystaljonesable so not content with making disparaging remarks about the video, you now seem to want to attack those who do not agree with you!! Hmmm!!

As for the routine - in itself it's fairly uncomplicated and with the probable exception of the double neck drop, I'd be happy to think I could lead everything else. And isn't that what we all want?? If it were full of tricks and unleadable moves, then I'd agree about the choreography, but it's not!!!

[robd69]

@crystaljonesable

Not an equal partnership? So what? How many MJ couples are? The follower is almost always a better dancer than the leader.

[patallen3]

How sensual is that! Wow. What I love about this sequence is that it takes moves that we can all access to a whole new level. Really exciting but in no way intimidating. This fresh, new interpretation is truly inspiring and I just can't wait to get out there again. Time to dust off my dancing shoes!

[marynicholson]

Absolutely gorgeous - inspirational!

[frichestheatreurbain]

This is a beautiful sequence - very sensual. The couple have a strong intimacy which comes through so well. I found it really inspiring. I'll show this DVD to friends and family - sure to get us all back onto the dance floor !

[HowToJive]

Denigrating comments posted here will be from rivals. I experienced this first hand with my own DVD 'How To Jive' (the first DVD and still a best seller) BUT I say, unequivocally, these new DVDs will become classics due to pure excellence of teaching. Dancers learn complex moves with surprising ease and they show teachers how to teach well. Typical of Simon & Nicole's magic, a great legacy for their dedication - they set new levels. An honour. BEST NEWS FOR THE DANCE and I wish them luck.

[mercurialdance]

If these two 'leave other competitors so far behind' then the competition standards must be extraordinarily low - in fact, that guy's not dancing at all!

[alinp22]

I've removed my comments as I don't see the point in argueing pedantics!!

[mercurialdance]

Their website says 10 jive championships, their advert says 10 times UK champions, there's a massive difference - one's true, one's a lie.

[saturniandancer]

@mercurialdance sounds like you lost to them too! they are actually being modest as they could claim many more titles than that.

[mercurialdance]

That's a choreographed piece, it's not freestyle and the the edits are the bits when you go from long shot to close ups. And point of fact, I've just been on your website and you haven't won 10 UK championships as described in your 'advert' you won the gold medal in 2009 at the UK Nationals in Masters and Advanced but have not won any other UK National championships.

[saturniandancer]

@mercurialdance maybe you did not scroll down. their titles don't fit on one page!

[simonrich1904]

this was a freestyle piece, no edits to show how to put the elements of basic modern jive together.

br simon

[mercurialdance]

If these two are 10 times UK champions it has to make you wonder who they were competing against. For a choreographed, flimed and edited piece it's not very well danced, the guy hardly moves and it's devoid of all emotion.

[saturniandancer]

@mercurialdance obviously they were competing against you - and you lost - for you to have such sour grapes. they leave other competitors so far behind - why not just accept it?