Ceroc

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Ceroc is an international dance club and dance style with more than 200 venues in the UK and many franchises around the world. The name is said to come from the French phrase c’est le roc, meaning “it is rock.”

Origins and growth
Ceroc was founded in London by James Cronin in 1980. The first Ceroc event took place in January 1980 at Porchester Hall. By 1982, Ceroc had a cabaret team performing in London nightclubs. The group worked with choreographer Michel Ange Lau, whose classes Cronin and Sylvia Coleman had attended in 1980. The first video recording of a Ceroc event comes from the 1982 Ceroc Ball.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Cronin and Coleman set up Ceroc Enterprises, registered Ceroc as a trademark, and began selling Ceroc franchises across the country. In 1992, the Ceroc Teachers Association (CTA) was formed, introducing exams teachers had to pass to teach at Ceroc events. In 1994, taxi dancers—experienced dancers who help beginners—were added to venues.

The 2000s and beyond
In the early 2000s, Cronin and Coleman sold Ceroc Enterprises to Mike Ellard. By 2004, Ceroc Enterprises ran more than 100 venues with about 500,000 attendees. Ceroc began expanding into weekend events in 2006. In October 2019, Ceroc Enterprises was sold to The Dance Holiday Company, led by Robert Thompson, and the name Ceroc Enterprises was kept under the new ownership.

International presence and structure
Ceroc franchises operate in many countries beyond the UK, including Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, the UAE, Canada, the United States, and Hong Kong. Ceroc also has activity in Australia and New Zealand. However, Ceroc Enterprises is a separate company from Ceroc Australia and from Ceroc and Modern Jive Dance Company (CMJ) in Australia, and there is no ongoing legal connection to Ceroc New Zealand. In 2013, Ceroc Australia was brought back under CMJ to reunite the two groups after their split in 1998.

Dance styles and terminology
Besides Ceroc, the modern jive dance style is taught and danced in many independent venues under the name LeRoc. The two streams have diverged over 20 years, but dancers trained at Ceroc venues or independents can still dance together in freestyle because the underlying dance is the same. Ceroc venues often attract a younger crowd, partly due to branding and younger teachers. The term modern jive was coined by a former Ceroc franchisee, but Ceroc now emphasizes teaching dance in general rather than a single form.

Class formats and events
Most Ceroc venues offer weekly classes, usually Monday to Thursday, with sessions lasting three to four hours. The exact start time varies, typically between 7pm and 8pm, with Sunday classes often starting earlier. A common format includes a Beginner Progression class alongside an Intermediate or Intermediate/Advanced class. In Australia and New Zealand, formats emphasize technique, footwork, frame and connection, and intermediate skills.

In addition to regular classes, many franchises hold Freestyle events on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Sunday freestyles are often called tea dances and may be held in the afternoon. A typical Saturday night freestyle runs from 8 or 9pm until midnight or later and usually features two rooms: a Main Room with faster music and a Blues/Chillout room with slower music for softer dancing.

Workshops and competitions
Many teachers run daytime workshops on weekends, with four-hour sessions covering more moves than a single class. Workshops are usually graded by level (Beginners to Intermediate Plus) and can cover advanced topics such as dips, drops, aerials, partner swaps, and musicality. Some weekends also include freestyle dancing and special events at venues like Pontins holiday parks.

Ceroc runs a UK dance championship each year in London, with categories for beginners and more advanced dancers, including freestyle, all-stars, aerials, showcases, and team competitions. There are regional championships and a European Neo-Blues Championship as well. Ceroc also hosts weekend events, known as Ceroc Escape, at various locations and venues, including Pontins resorts and hotels.

Other notes
Ceroc has expanded its weekend offerings, acquiring Rebel Roc in 2005 and adding weekend events at Pontins. It has taken over weekend venues from other groups over the years and continues to run a wide range of classes and events for dancers of all levels.