John & Karen Sweeney

John & Karen Sweeney live in Ashford, Kent in the UK and dance many different dance styles regularly: Contra, Ceilidh, Barn Dance, Ceroc/LeRoc (Modern Jive), Square Dancing, Salsa, Contra Waltz, West Coast Swing, Morris Dancing and more!

John has been dancing since he was 16 (yes, that is quite a long time ago!) and teaching various forms of dance since 1973.

Dancing has been a passion for Karen since she was inspired by the original "West Side Story" film. She has danced ever since, and now adapts the many influences gained from dancing Modern Jive, West Coast Swing, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Ballroom, Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, Urban/Street & Hip-Hop, Swing/Lindy, Blues and Tango into her dancing.

Karen and John have been dancing, demonstrating and teaching together since 2001 and love travelling and meeting dancers who, like them, are still looking for new styles and ideas.

You can read lots more about us, our calling and our workshops here.

John & Karen helped to get contra dancing going in Paris.

John & Karen Sweeney
Telephone: 01233 625 362 (+44-1233-625-362 from outside the UK).
E-mail: John Sweeney at john@modernjive.com.




John & Karen dancing Modern Jive in the Jive Masters Competition - we got through to the finals!


John dancing Modern Jive Double Trouble with Frances and a different Karen. We won the Ceroc Championships and various other competitions.


John, Karen and friends performing Modern Jive Triple Trouble!


Dancing In Kent - John & Karen's Ceilidh/Country/Contra/Folk/Square Dances.


John dancing Modern Jive Aerials with Donna. We came second in the Blackpool Championships.


John, Karen and Linda practicing Modern Jive Double Trouble for the Britroc LeRoc Modern Jive Championships - we won!


John and Karen: freestyle waltzing .


John, Karen and Lani dancing KJ's Birthday Waltz in Colorado.


John, Karen and Karen teaching Double Trouble - 26 videos!


John and Karen teaching Modern Jive Basics & Technique.


John and Karen teaching 50 Cool Moves - more Modern Jive!


John and Karen teaching Modern Jive Fun Moves plus Drops, Seducers and Lambadas in Australia.

One of Karen's other hobbies: Creative Floristry:

Exotic Flowers

Exotic Flowers

Exotic Flowers




John dancing and playing a Morris jig!


John and Karen teaching 20 Swing Variations for Country/Contra/Square/Ceilidh dancing - 8 videos!


John and Karen dancing Steps Back in Time: - a Solo Dance we wrote for those alone in Lockdown.


John dancing Sides Of Mutton - a Solo Dance John wrote for those alone in Lockdown.

One of John's other hobbies: Puzzles & Games:
I spent most of my spare times in the 1980s writing reviews of games for Atari magazines!

Pag 6 Magazine

John and Karen still plays lots of board games; they started the Ashford Board Games Club in 2008 and it is still going strong every Sunday evening.

Board Games

Board Games








Contrafusion