October 2026

Autumn has well and truly arrived, the evenings are drawing in, and that can only mean one thing… Halloween is nearly here!

Thank you to everyone who came along to our September Freestyle. It was a lovely night with plenty of smiles on the floor, and it was especially great to see some new faces who first joined us at the Summer Sizzler coming back for more. That’s exactly what we hope for: people come for the theme, and come back for the atmosphere, the music and the friendly crowd.

October is a double-header for us, with two freestyles in the diary. Our regular Friday Freestyle is on the 16th with a returning guest DJ, and then on Saturday 31st we’re throwing our biggest night of the year, the Halloween Freestyle, on Halloween night itself. Read on for all the details.

Upcoming Dates for Your Diary

Event	Date	Time
Class Nights	Monday 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th October	7:45pm – 10:30pm
October Freestyle with guest DJ John Holder, Heene	Friday 16th October	7:45pm – 11:00pm
Halloween Freestyle, Heene	Saturday 31st October	7:45pm – 11:00pm
Christmas Dance, Heene	Friday 18th December	Details to follow

New to Leroc Sussex? No partner needed, no experience needed, and no complicated footwork. Just turn up on a Monday. Doors 7:45pm · Beginners Class 8pm · Intermediate Class 9pm · Freestyle 9:30–10:30pm. Any questions? Call Mark on 07716 100229.

Two New Ways to Stay in Touch

A fresh new website. We’ve given lerocsussex.com a makeover to make it cleaner and easier to use. Whether you’re thinking about coming along for the first time or you just want to check the next freestyle date, everything you need is now easier to find. Take a look: https://www.lerocsussex.com

Join our WhatsApp Community. We’ve set up a WhatsApp Community for announcements, so you’ll get any last-minute news straight to your phone: event reminders, schedule changes, and the occasional Halloween teaser. It’s announcements only, so no endless group chatter!

👉 [Tap here to join the Leroc Sussex WhatsApp Community] https://chat.whatsapp.com/LnNjUMnOmXCHOzXTNPkAUB

Saturday 31st October: The Halloween Freestyle

Our legendary Halloween Freestyle is back, and this year it falls on Halloween night itself, on a Saturday, so there’s no excuse not to make a proper night of it!

Last year’s Halloween night was one of the best we’ve ever had, with witches, skeletons, vampires and a very impressive mummy all sharing the floor. We’d love to beat that this year. Expect a packed floor, a spooky-but-danceable mix of music alongside all your favourite modern jive floor-fillers, and the air con keeping things cool however hard you’re working in that costume.

Fancy dress is completely optional… but very highly encouraged! Whether you go all out or just add a pair of devil horns, come along, dance, and help make it a night to remember. Tell your dancing friends, put it in the diary, and dust off the cape.

Friday 16th October: October Freestyle

Before the big night, our regular Friday Freestyle is back on the 16th. We’re delighted to welcome back guest DJ John Holder! John went down a storm at our July freestyle, and so many of you asked when he’d be back, that we didn’t need asking twice. Expect a fresh mix of tracks and a great night on the floor.

Mark’s Thoughts: Dressing Up Without Dressing Down Your Dancing

I love seeing the effort everyone puts into their costumes, and the photos from last year still make me smile. But a costume that looks amazing standing still can feel very different halfway through a spin, so here are a few tips to help you look the part and dance all night:

Do a test dance at home. Put the music on and try a few turns in your outfit. If anything catches, tangles or slips, you’ll find out in the living room rather than on the dance floor.

Watch the length and the loose bits. Long capes, trailing skirts, ribbons and tails are brilliant for the look but easy for you, or your partner, to step on. Pin them up, shorten them, or keep them for the photos.

Think about your partner’s hands. Spikes, studs, sequins and sticky fake blood are less fun when someone’s trying to lead you into a turn. Keep arms, hands and shoulders smooth and grip-friendly.

Keep your vision clear. Masks and big hats can cut out more of your view than you’d think, which isn’t great on a busy floor. Push the mask up while you’re dancing and pop it back on between tracks.

Props are for posing. The broomsticks, pitchforks and scythes look fantastic, but please park them at your table once the music starts.

Mind the face paint. A good setting spray helps keep your make-up on your face, rather than on your partner’s shirt!

And as always, sensible shoes. Your costume might call for stilettos or big boots, but your ankles will thank you for something you can actually turn in.

The bottom line: dress up as much or as little as you like. The best costume of the night is the one you can still dance in at 11 o’clock!

Looking Ahead

Friday 18th December - Christmas Dance. Our festive celebration is in the diary, with full details in next month’s newsletter.

2027 Themed Events. We’ve been busy planning next year’s calendar, with a themed event every two months. Watch this space, we’ll be revealing more very soon!