WELCOME TO CEROC

Ceroc is an abbreviation for the French phrase c'est Rock. Our organisation has been introducing people to the world of partner dancing for over 15 years. We teach the stylish form of Modern Jive which is a fusion of Salsa and Jive that is easy and fun to learn. Going to a Ceroc evening is a great way to meet people, have fun and keep fit all whilst learning to dance. It can be done most forms of modern dance music in nightclubs, at formals, balls, restaurants or even cafes.

Guys and girls have different roles. Guys usually do almost all the leading, and the girls get most of the impressive-looking spins, dips and acrobatic moves. Sometimes the guys get to look good, but mostly they concentrate on leading the girls into interesting moves.

Footwork is minimal but where it does appear it is generally more important for the girls. For guys, learning to give a strong lead and balancing correctly for the dips and drops is more important for style and safety reasons

Ceroc tends to look very good, very quickly. Even after a few lessons you will find that you will be receiving many comments from your friends as to how good you look.

THE MUSIC

The music at Ceroc is a great mix. Usually the latest music is played with a few latin and some old favourites thrown in.
If you have any recommendations for Ceroc music being played at classes or dance parties, please click here to send us an email with those recommendations

ABOUT CEROC AND ITS HISTORY

UK

Ceroc started out with a group of friends in London and has developed into a worldwide phenomenon of partner dancing.
James Cronin, was the leader of these friends and with his French ancestry and love of the french style coupled with a rock and roll background got the group together in London's inner west.
So popular was the launch and take up, Ceroc hit the headlines and even made the hallowed pages of the 'Sloane Rangers Handbook', probably 'the' book for the trendsetters of the early 80's in London.

Ceroc itself continues to trade as the most successful modern Jive dance company now under the guidance and ownership of Mike Ellard, one of the coolest and most experienced Ceroc teachers who took over the reigns when James decided to follow a different path.
You only have to look at the Ceroc website to see just how far Ceroc has come since the early and heady days of the 80's. www.ceroc.com

Australia

In Australia it was up to a Brisbane surgeon, David Gotley, an import from London who founded Ceroc in Australia. That first class researched by many, including the Australian media, who contacted David Gotley directly. The class was held in the Dance Hall at the corner of Vulture Street and Stephens Road, South Brisbane on Thursday 7th February 1991. This class continues as Ceroc Club Brisbane.

Later on in 1991 Ceroc Dance Company was formed in Sydney. Mark and 'Ceroc Australia Dance Company' continue to trade from the address of the original company. Ceroc Australia Dance Company is now formally linked to the original Ceroc organisation in the UK. Our teachers have direct access to the intranet training that is available including the vast database of moves.

Ceroc Australia Dance Company teaches Modern Jive classes throughout the Sydney Metropolitan area, Central Coast and Newcastle. We also teach in Perth (Western Australia) and have strong links with other Modern Jive organisations across Australia and New Zealand.

David Gotley at the Ceroc Club Brisbane
15th Birthday celebration

Mark Harding is the owner and director of Ceroc Australia Dance Company.

Raised on the northern beaches of Sydney, Mark started teaching Modern Jive 16 years ago and gave up his accountancy career with Price Waterhouse in 1991 to pursue the development of Modern Jive full time. He is now the first person to run a Ceroc dance company on both the east and west coasts of Australia.

Ceroc Australia Dance Company has venues in New South Wales (Sydney, Central Coast) and Queensland (Brisbane). Up to 1200 people regularly attend a Ceroc class each week at one of the many venues throughout Sydney. Ceroc Australia Dance Company is also the first and only company in the southern hemisphere to have achieved full affiliation to the original and biggest Ceroc developers worldwide, Ceroc UK.

Ceroc Australia Dance Company currently has 143 staff.

Ceroc Australia Dance Company was first to introduce many new initiatives to the Pacific including the Aussie Masters event, full length choreographed routines for customers, theatre staged gala shows such as ‘Sizzle 2001/2003’, marathon jive events raising $35000 for charities and Mark’s dancers were the largest adult group of participants at the Olympic Games in the opening and closing ceremonies in 2000 and performed in the World Cup Rugby opening ceremony in October 2003.

Mark married his dance partner, Simone, in February 2003 and later the same year won the Advanced Australian (Open) Modern Jive title in Queensland. Mark and Simone have choreographed many routines such as Sex Bomb, Kylie (On a Night Like This), Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps, Am I Sexy and most recently Mark co-choreographed a routine for the 2005 Ball to “History Repeating” .

Continuing their successful partnership they had a baby, young Ethan Alexander, 9 October 2005.

Here is a list of their wins to date:
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Simone 2006
1st Masters - 2006 Queensland Open Modern Jive Championships

Simone 2004
Advanced Australasian lucky dip winner

Mark & Simone 2003
1st Advanced - 2003 Australian Open Modern Jive Championships

2002
1st Advanced Freestyle
1st Triples
1st Team
1st Advanced