Previous: Dance Styles Contents Next: Modern Jive— Double Trouble

Modern Jive Moves

As already noted, there is no definitive Modern Jive technique, the steps and styles here are suggestions — although some plausible explanations are provided. For example, there are a number of reasons why the man moves forwards before leading turns (and then steps back):

Stepping forwards helps to ensure that the hands can be raised high enough above the lady's head — which is more difficult if partners are stepped apart.
Similarly, stepping in helps the man keep an upright posture, rather than having to lean forwards to compensate.
The man stepping forwards helps in case the lady travels unintentionally — similarly, it's good practice if the man does lead a travelling turn, or a comb, etc.
Stepping in (and out) can help keep a count and it also keeps the man moving (and hopefully dancing) rather than just standing on the spot.
As a style point, if the man steps in and out it helps when both partners mirror each other as they both step back.

Note: I did try to write the moves as leader and follower — but the text became too convoluted as there were no suitable possessive pronouns, and became confusing as to who was doing what to whom.

For simplicity, it's assumed that a man will act as the leader, and the lady will act as the follower — this is simply a convention for convenience and shouldn't imply any particular assumptions — it's always useful to switch leader and follower roles to get a better appreciation of the other partner's skills.

Leads are generally given at least one musical beat (or half a Modern Jive count) before the next step — hence, in the move descriptions, the lead for the “next” step is indicated as part of the previous step, to show the linkage between the steps.

Diagrammatic Conventions

The diagrams follow a number of conventions that should be understood before dancing:

The diagrams are stylised, for example, the arms are drawn without crossing either of the graphics representing the man or lady, and so all overhead handholds are shown slightly displaced.
Although steps are shown in isolation, they are typically combined to form a complete “smooth” move. For example, most of the turns in this document are typically shown as a single turning step, followed by a step where one or either partner steps backwards — in practice, most Modern Jivers combine turning and stepping back — this blurs the distinction between the steps, whereas a separate turn and step backwards will be a snappier style.
I prefer to dance a more “compressed” slotted style, with the man moving out of the lady's slot as she moves within it, rather than stepping out of the slot in the previous step.
The main leading style shown in the diagrams is a “slow slotted” one, where the lady moves in a slot, with the man moving out of their way on the previous step. This style was chosen since it is simpler to lead and the man's and lady's movements are easier to describe
There are other styles of Modern Jive where the man stays more in-place, and the lady moves diagonally, but these are more complicated to lead and describe. For example, there are several ways partners can go from facing directly in front of each other, to a side by side position. For example:
- The man can move forwards and lead the lady to move diagonally forwards-left, so that she ends at his right side.
- The man can move diagonally forwards-left and lead the lady diagonally forwards-left, so that she ends at his right side.
- The man can move left (off of the lady's line) and lead the lady forwards, so that she ends at his right side.
The first two options (and especially the first) make the lady “run around” the man.
The last step shown is used to depict the ending position, but doesn't normally form part of the move.
Moves with spins can be caught left or right handed (or even some double handed combination), and hence moves in this section are shown being caught in either the left or right hand.
Note in this guide the Return is considered as a separate move — and hence the move descriptions don't include the “traditional” Return ending.

Some organisations attempt to classify moves into a variety of levels and categories For example, beginners' moves are categorised as follows;

Move	[Learn To Dance Modern Jive]	Ceroc Scotland 2003 / Ceroc Surrey 2004	Ceroc Scotland 2004	Ceroc 2005
American Spin	•
Armjive	•	•	•	•
Armjive Pushspin		•	•	•
Armjive Swizzle			•	•
Backpass				•
Basket		•	•	•
Catapult		•	•	•
Cerocspin (aka Ladiespin)	•	•	•	•
Comb	•	•	•	•
Comb (Left Handed)	•
Comb Lean			•
First Move	•	•	•	•
First Move Pushspin		•	•	•
Half Catapult	•
Half Windmill		•
Hatchback		•
In And Out			•	•
Manspin	•	•	•	•
Manspin (Right Handed)			•
Octopus		•	•	•
Pushspin	•	•
Pushspin (Right Handed)		(Ceroc Surrey 2004)
Short Comb		•
Shoulder Drop				•
Shoulderslide	•	•	•	•
Side To Side Shoulders		•	•	•
Side To Side Shoulders (Let Go)		•	•
Slo Comb	•		•	•
Step Across		•	•	•
Sway			•
Wurlitzer		•
Yoyo	•	•
Yoyo (new version)			•	•
Yoyo Pushspin		•

However, complicated categorisation of moves can be somewhat arbitrary — some moves do require a knack, but just try them (safely).

Move	Counts
Accordion	9
Reverse Accordion	9
American Spin	4
Archie Spin	3
Cronin Spin	3
Archie Double Spin	5
Archie Lady Double Spin	4
Arm Jive	6
Arm Jive Flamenco (Step Under)	11
Arm Jive, Push Spin	6
Arm Jive Swizzle	6
Backhander	5
Backhander Catapult	6
Chopped Backhander	3
Chopped Backhander With Attitude	3
Slow Backhander	6
Backhandle	4
Backpass	3
Slow Backpass	4
Back To Back	8
Basket	6
“Classic” Basket	6
Basket Fling	8
Flip Flop	7
Basket Lean Away	9
Basket Spin	5
Walking Basket	6
Basket Whip	5
Bendspinner	4
Bibbledy bop	8
Boomerang	6
Butterfly	6
Reverse Butterfly	6
Short Butterfly	6
Cajun Window	5
Catapult	6
Bouncy Catapult	8
Continuous Catapult	6
Crazy Catapult	9
Double-Handed Catapult	5
Half Catapult	5
Catapult Towel	11
Change Of Places	3
Change Of Places With Attitude	3
Chicago Spin	3
Cleaver	7
Comb	3
Double Comb Unwrap	7
Lady Comb	3
Lady's Left-Handed Comb	3
Left-Handed Comb	3
Push Comb	3
Slow Comb	6
Windscreen Wipers	5
Corkscrew	4
Cuddles	5
Drop Kick	6
Figure Of Eight	4
Left-Handed Figure Of Eight	4
Reverse Figure Of Eight	4
First Move	6
First Move (Dance Hold)	6
First Move Barrier	6
Checked First Move	6
First Move — Checked	8
First Move (Lady) Elbow Spin	7
First Move Jump	6
Latin First Move	7
First Move Locked	6
Open First Move	6
First Move Push	5
First Move, Push Spin	6
First Move Salsa	8
First Move Sway	6
First Move Sway — Interruption	7
Flip, Step Under	3
Gearstick	8
Glide	7
Blocked Glide	5
Glider	5
Grinder	7
Guitar Stroll	8
Half Nelson	4
Full Nelson	7
Hatchback	4
Hatchback Combo'	11
Confident Hatchback	7
Double-Handed Hatchback	5
Left-Handed Hatchback	4
Stop & Go Hatchback	8
Wrap In Hatchback	4
In & Out	5
John's Move	3
Lady Spin	4
Loophole	5
Miami Special	5
Neckbreak	6
Neckbreak Butterfly	9
False Neckbreak	4
Neckbreak — Interruption	9
Open Neckbreak	5
Neckbreak Waltz	8
Nigel Clicks	5
Nigel's Move	5
Overhead Change	3
Pretzel	7
“Classic” False Pretzel	5
Zany Pretzel	11
Push Spin	4
Push Spin (Right Handed)	4
Ralph's Move	7
Resistor	4
Return	3
Return Comb	4
Latin Return	4
Travelling Return	3
Blocked Travelling Return	5
Screwdriver	4
Secret Move	5
Seducer	8
She Goes, He Goes	3
Shoulder Bumps	5
Shoulder Drop	8
Shoulder Slide	3
Side To Side	5
Slidebreak	5
Spinning Top	4
Spot Turn	4
Spring Lock	3
Step Under	3
Sugar Push	3
Sway	5
Broken Sway	3
Sway Butterfly	9
Lasso Sway	6
Swizzlestick	4
Double-Handed Swizzlestick	4
Symon's move	10
Teapot	6
Towel	8
Locked Towel	10
Low Towel	8
Train	7
Tunnel	4
Vest	6
Walk Around	9
Monkee Walks	10
Windmill	6
Half Windmill	3
Wing	7
Reverse Wing	7
Wurlitzer	5
Flingy Flung	7
Open Wurlitzer	5
“Classic” Yo-yo	6
Yo-yo	6
“Classic” Yo-yo Lasso Sway	8
“Classic” Yo-yo Push Spin	6
“Classic” Yo-yo Swizzlestick	5

Previous: Dance Styles Contents Next: Modern Jive— Double Trouble