Your line-up of judges for 2012
What can we say about the lovely Mel….
Well she started dancing at the ripe old age of 4 with Disco and Rock N Roll where she entered many competitions throughout the UK and we're not surprised that she won most of them. Mel moved away from Disco and Rock N Roll when she found Ballet; after showing a commitment to the discipline she was awarded a scholarship with the Scottish Ballet School where she trained tirelessly for many years and engaged in performances throughout the UK.
With constant progression in mind Mel trained, performed and competed in the following disciplines - West Coast Swing, Modern Jive, Jazz, Contemporary and tap.
With such a vast amount of experience it was only time before Mel’s ambitions pushed her to audition for Strictly Dance Fever where she got to work with some of the world’s top dance choreographers.
Mel currently teaches WCS and partners some of the world’s best dancers when they are in the UK. She still has urges to perform and compete and is well recognised as a leading figure around the world in WCS
With all the styles incorporated within Modern Jive, Mel is more than capable of conducting the role of Judge and will call upon her vast experience to do so. Sorry Mel, i love this photo ;-)
Well she started dancing at the ripe old age of 4 with Disco and Rock N Roll where she entered many competitions throughout the UK and we're not surprised that she won most of them. Mel moved away from Disco and Rock N Roll when she found Ballet; after showing a commitment to the discipline she was awarded a scholarship with the Scottish Ballet School where she trained tirelessly for many years and engaged in performances throughout the UK.
With constant progression in mind Mel trained, performed and competed in the following disciplines - West Coast Swing, Modern Jive, Jazz, Contemporary and tap.
With such a vast amount of experience it was only time before Mel’s ambitions pushed her to audition for Strictly Dance Fever where she got to work with some of the world’s top dance choreographers.
Mel currently teaches WCS and partners some of the world’s best dancers when they are in the UK. She still has urges to perform and compete and is well recognised as a leading figure around the world in WCS
With all the styles incorporated within Modern Jive, Mel is more than capable of conducting the role of Judge and will call upon her vast experience to do so. Sorry Mel, i love this photo ;-)
Mandy started dancing at the age of 10 and later trained at the Bush Davies Theatre School from 16-18. She danced and choreographed professionally throughout the world for 10 years; including Europe, the Far East and Scandinavia as well as Summer Seasons and Pantomimes in the UK.
She discovered MJ in 1990 and was enthralled to find a whole new world of dance in which she could express herself, plus it was sociable and fun at the same time! Mandy started teaching, choreographing and performing at “Jive Time” Camber Sands weekenders in 2000 and has been teaching across the UK and abroad for all the major MJ organisations ever since.
She teaches solo Jazz, Ladies Styling, Musicality, Argentine Tango, Salsa and West Coast Swing as well as performing her routines in cabaret. In 2010 she choreographed a team routine and entered the UK WCS Champs in Weston-Super-Mare. Mandy’s many years of experience of teaching and performing has given her a keen eye for detail and musicality: “I love every minute of rehearsals and putting a routine together as well as the buzz of performing. I will be looking for that special connection between the dancers, the music and the audience and my advice to all the competitors is to enjoy every second and then those qualities will shine through!”
She discovered MJ in 1990 and was enthralled to find a whole new world of dance in which she could express herself, plus it was sociable and fun at the same time! Mandy started teaching, choreographing and performing at “Jive Time” Camber Sands weekenders in 2000 and has been teaching across the UK and abroad for all the major MJ organisations ever since.
She teaches solo Jazz, Ladies Styling, Musicality, Argentine Tango, Salsa and West Coast Swing as well as performing her routines in cabaret. In 2010 she choreographed a team routine and entered the UK WCS Champs in Weston-Super-Mare. Mandy’s many years of experience of teaching and performing has given her a keen eye for detail and musicality: “I love every minute of rehearsals and putting a routine together as well as the buzz of performing. I will be looking for that special connection between the dancers, the music and the audience and my advice to all the competitors is to enjoy every second and then those qualities will shine through!”
Simon has played a major part in Modern jive for several years running Jive Nation but never felt the need to promote himself, he would much rather develop quality dancers and let them have the limelight when they enter and win competitions.Simon will be classed as our international judge (being from Australia), he taught Modern Jive for many years under the Ceroc brand before moving to the UK in 2005 to teach in London for a year, still with Ceroc. While in Australia Simon was recognised a as one of the best teachers of Modern Jive and became a presence in most competitions, including master of Ceremonies in Melbourne.Shortly after his move to the UK Simon was a sought after teacher and instantly selected as a judge for many UK competitions.His enthusiasm for Modern Jive has pushed him towards assisting others in setting up Jive venues and companies across the globe under his own brand name (Jive Nation). His passion has reached Canada where he helped set up teams and train teachers and recently Poland where he has assisted with the setup of jive Nation Poland, who have themselves just launched the European Modern Jive Championship also backed by Blackpool MJ Champs.
To date Simon and Jive nation have held over 500 events in London alone and each one of his event are sold out in no time, a true testament to the class that Simon and Jive nation bring to Modern Jive.
To date Simon and Jive nation have held over 500 events in London alone and each one of his event are sold out in no time, a true testament to the class that Simon and Jive nation bring to Modern Jive.
2nd & 3rd of March 2012
Over 10 hours of freestyle between rounds & in the evening
Over 10 hours of freestyle between rounds & in the evening
Sue started dancing at the tender age of 7 with Tap & Ballet, she did this for many years climbing up the ranks in many competitions and performing in pantomimes local to Manchester.
She found Modern Jive while on holiday with friends in 1998 and on return to the UK was asked to attend teacher training with Ceroc, 3 months later Sue was one of just a few trained Modern Jive teachers in the UK.
In 2006 Sue’s life changed when she gave birth to her one and only child (although some do class me as her second child). Sue decided to spend all her time being a mother and left teaching Modern Jive. Modern Jive has been called an addiction and with Sue this is true, she started teaching again for Jive+ and loves it.
Sue is well known for being the longest serving Modern Jive judge in the world and I can’t see the passion for that disappearing.
Sue believes it’s a privilege to watch competitors perform in front of you and be a part of their dance journey.
She found Modern Jive while on holiday with friends in 1998 and on return to the UK was asked to attend teacher training with Ceroc, 3 months later Sue was one of just a few trained Modern Jive teachers in the UK.
In 2006 Sue’s life changed when she gave birth to her one and only child (although some do class me as her second child). Sue decided to spend all her time being a mother and left teaching Modern Jive. Modern Jive has been called an addiction and with Sue this is true, she started teaching again for Jive+ and loves it.
Sue is well known for being the longest serving Modern Jive judge in the world and I can’t see the passion for that disappearing.
Sue believes it’s a privilege to watch competitors perform in front of you and be a part of their dance journey.
Director of “ijig Funky Modern Dance”.
After one of Micks friends (viktor Andeke) introduced him to Modern Jive back in 1994, like so many people he was hooked. It became a huge part of Micks life and he soon began to enter competitions; While competing Mick won many trophies but his most impressive titles include Double Trouble with Viktor & Lydia at the Empire, Leicester Square in 1999 and 2nd place in the Masters in 2003, very respectable.
Through passion, hard work, skill and commitment; Mick is now one of the most respected and sought after Modern Jive Teachers on the Modern Jive Circuit. With 15 years teaching under his belt and the success of ijig (his own Jive company), Mick has sat on several judging panels to date and has proved himself to be more than capable of taking on the job of judge at the biggest Modern Jive Competition in the world.
Ultimately Mick has a keen eye for style, musicality and fusions of partner dancing.
After one of Micks friends (viktor Andeke) introduced him to Modern Jive back in 1994, like so many people he was hooked. It became a huge part of Micks life and he soon began to enter competitions; While competing Mick won many trophies but his most impressive titles include Double Trouble with Viktor & Lydia at the Empire, Leicester Square in 1999 and 2nd place in the Masters in 2003, very respectable.
Through passion, hard work, skill and commitment; Mick is now one of the most respected and sought after Modern Jive Teachers on the Modern Jive Circuit. With 15 years teaching under his belt and the success of ijig (his own Jive company), Mick has sat on several judging panels to date and has proved himself to be more than capable of taking on the job of judge at the biggest Modern Jive Competition in the world.
Ultimately Mick has a keen eye for style, musicality and fusions of partner dancing.
Director of “ijig Funky Modern Dance”.
Jo started dancing and performing through Gymnastics at the age of 4. She was the youngest member of the Great Britain National Squad at the age of 10, winning various competition titles throughout the UK.
As a teenage & young adult, Jo was teaching children to perform through Street Dance classes which led to creating numerous team cabarets & performances. She has a real passion for adding personality & character to all routines.
In her early twenties, Jo found modern jive and instantly became hooked to partner dancing in various forms. In the last six years, Jo became one of the founders of ijig and regularly teaches and performs throughout the UK and abroad with her partner.
Jo started dancing and performing through Gymnastics at the age of 4. She was the youngest member of the Great Britain National Squad at the age of 10, winning various competition titles throughout the UK.
As a teenage & young adult, Jo was teaching children to perform through Street Dance classes which led to creating numerous team cabarets & performances. She has a real passion for adding personality & character to all routines.
In her early twenties, Jo found modern jive and instantly became hooked to partner dancing in various forms. In the last six years, Jo became one of the founders of ijig and regularly teaches and performs throughout the UK and abroad with her partner.
Without a doubt one of our most talented judges.
James started dancing 17 years ago and has since mastered several styles of dance and competed in 20 competition dance styles. To date James has won over 30 titles from all over the world, not forgetting 4 of those titles are world titles
James currently trains 40 students across the UK in many forms of dance and they are all showing promise in many competitions, at his last world championships his students brought home 11 titles.
James has a passion to take dance to communities and individuals that currently have no access to dance, for example youth groups, people living with addictions and both physical and mental disabilities.
We asked James why he is looking forward to being back on the Blackpool judging panel; he replied “it’s the only competition that lets the judges judge, it’s so fair and open and it’s a true competition”.
Who are we to argue!!
James started dancing 17 years ago and has since mastered several styles of dance and competed in 20 competition dance styles. To date James has won over 30 titles from all over the world, not forgetting 4 of those titles are world titles
James currently trains 40 students across the UK in many forms of dance and they are all showing promise in many competitions, at his last world championships his students brought home 11 titles.
James has a passion to take dance to communities and individuals that currently have no access to dance, for example youth groups, people living with addictions and both physical and mental disabilities.
We asked James why he is looking forward to being back on the Blackpool judging panel; he replied “it’s the only competition that lets the judges judge, it’s so fair and open and it’s a true competition”.
Who are we to argue!!
Philip Webb is without a doubt the most accomplished competition dancer in Modern Jive - here’s Phil’s history.
Philip started dancing at the tender age of 7 where he concentrated on Ballroom and Latin until the age of 16. During this time he became the Junior Champion in Open Section at the Blackpool Tower plus loads of other titles. While dancing ballroom and Latin, Phil and his partner represented England and Won - No surprise there.
Phil then stopped dancing for 25 years; until he came across Ceroc 10 years ago. Phil travelled the Uk to get to as many classed as possible and soon became the Modern Jive dancer we have all grown to love
.
As It says above, Phil is accomplished, he has won every major title in Modern jive that there is. Since retiring from competitions, Phil has become one of the most popular judges on the circuit, he is a stickler for sticking to the criteria given to him and makes notes on everything ready for giving feedback to all competitors.
Philip started dancing at the tender age of 7 where he concentrated on Ballroom and Latin until the age of 16. During this time he became the Junior Champion in Open Section at the Blackpool Tower plus loads of other titles. While dancing ballroom and Latin, Phil and his partner represented England and Won - No surprise there.
Phil then stopped dancing for 25 years; until he came across Ceroc 10 years ago. Phil travelled the Uk to get to as many classed as possible and soon became the Modern Jive dancer we have all grown to love
.
As It says above, Phil is accomplished, he has won every major title in Modern jive that there is. Since retiring from competitions, Phil has become one of the most popular judges on the circuit, he is a stickler for sticking to the criteria given to him and makes notes on everything ready for giving feedback to all competitors.
Christine Keeble is one of the pioneers of Modern Jive as we know it today. She has been dancing MJ in many forms since 1979 and won her first title in France that year. Christine produced the first ever video programme on the dance and was the first to use the term 'modern jive' when announcing on the programme what she was about to teach.
Christine was one of the original founders of LeRoc in the early 80’s. She worked tirelessly to promote the dance to the UKA who now endorse the LeRoc style of Modern Jive. LeRoc currently have the only Modern Jive Syllabus recognised by Dance Teaching Establishment for both training teachers and teachers delivering to students.
Christine knowledge and passion of the dance has erupted into the lecture theatre. She has lectured on Modern Jive at congress both for the IDTA and the UKA.
Christine has told us, “To be a judge at Blackpool will be such an honour”.
Christine was one of the original founders of LeRoc in the early 80’s. She worked tirelessly to promote the dance to the UKA who now endorse the LeRoc style of Modern Jive. LeRoc currently have the only Modern Jive Syllabus recognised by Dance Teaching Establishment for both training teachers and teachers delivering to students.
Christine knowledge and passion of the dance has erupted into the lecture theatre. She has lectured on Modern Jive at congress both for the IDTA and the UKA.
Christine has told us, “To be a judge at Blackpool will be such an honour”.