March 2026

Hi everyone,

The 2026 World Modern Jive Championships have just finished in Blackpool. Unfortunately, we were unable to attend this year but hope to be back there in 2027. This is a great event, even if you don’t want to compete, as dancing in the Tower Ballroom is an experience in itself.

On a similar note, the International Open Modern Jive Championships that have been held in Worthing for the last two years will not be going ahead in 2026. There were some venue complications which made it unviable to put on. However, they will be back at their home venue at Dorking Halls in 2027.

Our February freestyle was busy again, and had the same fantastic atmosphere as always. We still receive loads of great feedback about the venue, music and friendliness of our local dance community. There are more of my thoughts on the social aspects of dancing below.

We are continuing to partner with DiscoJive (Bob Ball) and had a great first night in Horam on 26th February. Due to our own scheduling challenges, we are unable to teach there in March as planned, but will be back in April.

We taught the ‘Glass of Wine’ line dance at their freestyle in Herstmonceux on Friday 6th March and will be back there on Good Friday 3rd April. Check out the socials for details.

Regular Beginners Classes

We finished the first 8 week cohort on February 25th and it was such a success, that the Leisure Centre have asked us to continue. So we started the next 8 week cohort on Wednesday 4th March.

I have re-ordered the beginners move for the Storrington sessions to make moves that are based on other moves (like the yo-yo, secret move and butterfly) follow more logically on from each other. Other than that, we are still getting new people coming along and it is great to see some of the first cohort coming along to Worthing lessons and maybe even a freestyle soon…?

As I said last month, we always need new dancers to come into Modern Jive, so please spread the word to friends and family in the area who might be interested. Places can be booked in advance on the Chanctonbury system, or just turn up on a Wednesday and pay on the door:

https://chanctonbury.ez-runner.com/CCE/ClassCalendar.aspx?group=2

Key Dates

Event	Date	Time
Monday Classes	2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th March	7:45pm - 10:30pm
March Freestyle Heene	Friday 20th March	7:45pm - 11:00pm
Beginner’s Classes, Storrington	Wednesday 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th March	8:00pm - 9:45pm

Quick heads up for April - No class on Monday 6th April as it’s a bank holiday.

Dancing and Socialising: More Than Just the Steps

One of the things that makes Modern Jive special is that it’s not just about learning moves, it’s about the people you meet along the way. Dance floors have a wonderful way of bringing together people who might never otherwise cross paths. Within a few songs you’re chatting, laughing, and sharing a dance with someone new. Over time those small interactions often grow into genuine friendships.

Many dancers say they originally came along just to try something different, but stayed because of the welcoming community. Dancing gives us a chance to switch off from the day, meet new people, and enjoy a shared experience. Whether it’s a quick chat between songs, encouraging a nervous beginner, or celebrating someone finally mastering a tricky move, those moments create the atmosphere that makes a dance night feel special.

So while we all enjoy learning new moves and improving our dancing, it’s the social side that often keeps people coming back. A friendly smile, asking someone new for a dance, or simply saying hello can make a big difference to someone’s evening. After all, great dancing is wonderful, but great company makes the whole night even better.

Newsletter and Socials

If you find this newsletter useful, then please take a moment to tell your friends in the dance community. They can subscribe on the Leroc Sussex website, on the Contact Us page: https://www.lerocsussex.com/contact/.

I’d also appreciate it if you would follow us, and share, the social links below.