We meet Cambridge University's rockin' acrobats
DANCING ON AIR
Words by Mark Percy, photos by Claude Schneider

Forget the Cambridge Footlights and the Boat Race.   Cambridge University has another claim to fame… as home to Britain’s top acrobatic rock’n’roll dancers.

Acrobatic rock'n'roll Every Tuesday night the university’s historic colleges and cloisters throb to the r'n'r beat of the 1950s as the Cambridge dancers get into their stride.

But this is no ordinary juke box jive.   The emphasis is on seemingly death defying aerial moves, with female dancers sent into sputnik-like orbit over the dance floor.

"Any moves where you are upside down are a whole lot of fun!" says regular dancer Michelle Pesci.   "My favourite acrobatic move is possibly the ‘Italian’ - where you are on the guy’s arm doing an assisted somersault, or the Hula where you spin round the guy’s waist.   But the best thing about it is it looks so much harder than it really is!   Any age and any ability can do it.   There's rock’n’roll acrobatics for everyone.   Unlike other dances, you can dance rock'n'roll anywhere…   Disco, wedding, nightclub, parties, and it can be easily led and followed."

Despite its popularity at some universities, the acrobatic style of r’n’r stands apart from the traditional 50s jive danced at rock’n’roll clubs.   For a start, the outfits worn by the jiving acrobats look like something out of Star Trek.   The moves are closer to European-style boogie woogie, and shunned by many on the UK rockin’ scene, according to Cambridge acro afficianado Steve Romans.

"There is a strong resistance to European r’n’r by a small but significant minority of true authentic 50s r’n’r dancers.   European r’n’r (9 step kick basic + acro) is a relatively new sport and is still in development.   It is only around 30 years old."

Impressive

So how did this European style of dancing take root in the improbable setting of Britain’s oldest and most august university?   The Cambridge Dancers Club was started in the 1950s by a small group of students and has become a Cambridge institution.   The organisation has grown steadily, hitting a peak membership of 2,400 in the 2004/5 academic year.   Membership is not confined to students.

Acrobatic rock'n'roll Steve, 23, says people who see the acrobatic style of dancing are often hooked immediately.   "The initial hit is when you see a couple perform for the first time.   The response is amazement at how it is possible to perform such acrobatic feats.   They are so impressive and look very skilful given the appearance of a high level of danger.   This is why people get interested.   Then there is ambition and drive to be able to do this yourself.   You surprise yourself at how easy it is to get started with the basics, and by how obviously sociable learning becomes.

"Finally, the magic comes from performing your learned routine to an audience, particularly for the first time.   You see the same looks of amazement that you had when you first watched a couple perform and can’t help but give the audience a huge smile as a result."

Steve has taken part in no fewer than 18 competitions in two and a half years.   He won 15, came second twice and third once.   "My partner and I were the top couple for the three years we competed and we won the national student champs twice,” he says proudly.

Choreography

Acrobatic rock'n'roll Annual student acrobatic competitions take place in Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham and Leicester.   Cambridge has dominated the field, winning 24 out of the last 26 competitions it has entered.

But Steve says acro dancers can get bored after a year or two because of a lack competitive opportunities beyond the student circuit.   The lack of interest in schools is also holding back acrobatic jive.

"Until very recently non-traditional dancing was very rarely taught in schools, in contrast to many European countries.   The lack of youth development significantly hampers the development of this sport.   Dance teaching organisations in the UK do not have a syllabus for European r’n’r and its acrobatic variations.

"There are no official qualifications and few registered dance teachers who have the abilities to properly teach this dance style.   Those who are qualified will teach more traditional 50s r’n’r with a step, tap or low flick basic.   There is little and usually no teaching of acrobatics and very little development of choreography skills.

"I am working with the World Rock’n’Roll Confederation and the English Amateur DanceSport Association to tackle several of these problems, including developing a syllabus."



Dancing on a legal minefield

How do you teach potentially dangerous dance moves in a litigation-crazy age?

Michelle learns a new move Safety conscious dance teachers at Cambridge University Acrobatic Rock'n'Roll first give a demonstration of the aerial move and explain it in full.   The risks are highlighted with an emphasis on where moves can go wrong.

Those learning new moves are flanked by spotters who have learnt the dangers of acrobatic figures and how to minimise injury.

Students are warned that they undertake moves at their own risk.   Coaches are also insured.   To qualify for insurance they must have an ‘official’ teaching qualification, even though the relevant qualifications in the UK have no resemblance to the actual style of dance being taught.

Steve Romans says: "We have had one significant incident with a female team member suffering bilateral wrist fractures.   On analysing the incident, it was clear that there were many failures along the line and that correcting any one of these would have prevented the accident (not knowing full risks of move, not informing the coaches, not using appropriate safety equipment, not stopping when it was clear the move was too advanced, not agreeing the action of the move with the spotters, spotters not knowing the move and not intervening quickly enough etc) Each of these areas was targeted for future practice to minimise the risk of further incidents."

Michelle Pesci says: "Questions are asked and answered and we always look out for each other.   Moves are always done slowly at first too.   Of course there have been some injuries as there always are but this - and wild horses - wouldn't keep me away!   Accidents aren't always serious either...   For instance I once stuck my finger up my partner's nose.   Tracksuit bottoms have been known to expose more of the person than intended - and many more unfortunate mishaps!   This is a litigation crazy time but you must personally take some responsibility for being fit in the first place as you would for any sports class these days.   There are no more special requirements for this type of dancing than any other."

For more information see www.cambridgerockandroll.co.uk

Country cousins

Crown Top Kings Three musicians who claimed they were "forced out" of the Swing Commanders have started their own band.

Drummer Pat Fitzsimons, double bass player Graham Brand and guitarist Jesse Winter fell out with Swing Commanders founder Pete O'Reilly last summer.   Now they've teamed up with multi instrumentalist "Dusty" to launch the Crown Top Kings.

Pat says: "The band's influences include 'old school' rock'n'roll/country artists such as Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Tex Williams, Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys, Pee Wee King, Tennessee Ernie Ford and Speedy West.   We also dig Louis Jordan, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Bill Haley, Johnny Burnette and Gene Vincent.   We play American roots music: Western swing, rockabilly, rock'n'roll, rhythm'n'blues, jump jive, swing, Tex Mex, cajun, latin and blues. Cowboy Jazz if you like… It all has a rock'n'roll and Western feel.

"Swing Commanders fans needn't worry as we do plenty of familiar favourites in our set along with plenty of new songs with Chris and Graham sharing lead vocals and featuring Jesse's infamous steel guitar stylings.   We want to have crossover appeal from the country scene over to the rock'n'roll/40s swing jive scene.   That's why we mix styles and arrangements up.   If we get the tempos to our songs right then people can bop, jive, lindy hop, Charleston and stroll…. whatever they like!

"We're keen to give audiences something cool to look at on stage so we'll be playing our vintage guitars/drums and wearing our finery.   Jesse's been adding to his hat collection and Pat's RAF uniform will be making the odd appearance too!"



If it jumps, jives, bops or strolls we want to know about it.   or call 07833 703189.