Feedback email to Ceroc HQ - Peter Mayes
Author: Peter Mayes
Date: 4th April 2025
Categories: Dance
Read this very unexpected and heart warming email we received at Ceroc HQ, all about the positive effect Ceroc has had on Peter's life.
Greetings Ceroc Team
As all good establishments do, you regularly ask for feedback on the offerings you have provided. I would like to pen something a little more ‘wholesome’ than I normally would as testament to the positive impact Ceroc has had on me.
After a long downward spiral in the latter years of a near 30 year relationship, in February 2022 I received my Decree Absolute (on Valentines day of all days; go figure). I was a wreck, a shell of a person; too fearful to step into a pub, had few friends but knew I needed help. I was a year or so into talking therapy and had signed up to online dating; as one does, which wasn’t going that well. It was a conversation with a lady online who introduced Ceroc and the local venue in Bradford on Avon; so I took the plunge.
I went on the agreed Monday with an extreme level of anxiety, but I had committed to going. Talk about out of my comfort zone; moves to learn and make an embarrassing hash of and to top it all physical contact with women; grief I was mortified. All that said I believed Ceroc could be good for me so signed up to a six-lesson introduction.
Two weeks in a recently re-injured left knee got the better of me. Surgery in April meant no dancing for another three months. I did manage to complete the six sessions during the summer, every time consciously battling against excuses not to go. I attended a beginners day and had a few private lessons. I was determined to make a go of it but was still seriously out of my comfort zone. My first freestyle was embarrassing; I felt so fearful of making mistakes or not being good enough that I did very little dancing and left after the tea and cake.
By the autumn of 2022 my house needed some serious DIY so had to duck out of dancing again, which again I found all too easy. I missed out on New Years Eve freestyle but signed up to the Big Bath Bash in early 2023.
The BBB was my first ‘event’ and whilst still very nervous and fearful I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was this event that enlightened me of the bigger family that is the Ceroc community. I also got introduced to weekenders and holidays; the next one in the calendar was the Canary Islands cruise. So, in disbelief of myself I signed up for it.
The 2023 Cruise was the first holiday I had had to organise in decades; my X2 was an outstanding organiser so I left her to do that sort of thing. However I proved to myself I could do it too. At the end of April, with a new passport and wardrobe, I boarded the ship; my first ever cruise and Ceroc holiday. It wasn’t cheap as I’d paid extra for single occupancy; but well worth it for the physical and emotional space it offered. Apprehensive was the overwhelming emotion but within hours of boarding I’d started to meet fellow Ceroc’rs who would become precious members of my new dance family. I still felt nervous about dancing in freestyles; being a bit of a perfectionist I was still very
concerned about my lack of experience and get very embarrassed when I do things wrong. That said the holiday was brilliant, the best ever.
Back in the UK I explored the Weekenders and was fortunate to do two Cambers and two Southport’s before their demise. I thoroughly enjoyed the classes but still felt nervous about ‘letting go’ on the freestyle dance floor. I did begin to notice an easing of anxiety towards the end of the year significantly helped on by attending MedFest.
I started 2024 with Blaze and MedFest booked along with half a dozen weekenders. Folkstone in February inducted me into Blues; what a revelation (and amorous experience) that was. MedFest 2024 was outstanding and best holiday ever (since 2023 cruise ). It stands testament to how far I’d come from a confidence standpoint; Sparty and my fancy dress outfit evidence of what Ceroc friends had rebuked me about for saying that I was ‘shy and retiring’; well not anymore.
This year has started on a high. Big Bath Bash was better than ever and Folkstone was excellent. I have three holidays I am getting excited about; Blaze Pathos, Danube Cruise and MedFest again. And I’m also booked for the Caribbean cruise in early 2026; oh how I love being asked to gender balance.
Whilst I am nearly five years into the talking therapies, it is Ceroc that has provided me with the opportunities to embark on a journey of self-discovery; to become the new me; someone the old me would not recognise and indeed would be envious of. Significantly, I have been able to correct the negative learnt behaviours that I readily resorted too through lack of self-esteem, genuinely encouraged and supported by members of my Ceroc family.
Four years ago, a could not bring myself to walk into a pub. Now I’ve been on wonderful holidays and more to come, started learning Ballroom, SILC, Blues and Argentinian Tango, met and hang out with fabulous people who have become good friends and am able to dance with strangers and not worry about (even get complimented for) ‘the variations’ that are prevalent in my dance style . The talking therapies gave me permission to enjoy; it is Ceroc that has provided so many joyous opportunities.
Thank you.
Peter
PS; I have intentionally not mentioned any names as it would have been disingenuous on anyone that I didn’t mention.
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