In Calgary, Alberta and the Greater Vancouver Area.
WHY DANCE?
Are you looking for a new way to socialize? Exercise? Challenge yourself? Dance is one of the most effective ways of staying fit, meeting people, getting to know yourself, enjoying music, and most importantly, having fun! It could be Hiphop dance, House dance, Ballroom, Country or Latin dance. Latin dance can be further divided into Salsa, Cha cha, Samba, Rumba, or my personal favourite, the Argentine Tango. Ballroom can include Swing, Waltz, Foxtrot and many more…
As children, we automatically dance. It's as natural as smiling back to someone. When we hear a song, we inevitably move our bodies. We do so unconsciously, uninhibited and perhaps even confidently. This was before we even called it "dance". As adults however, we tend to suppress it. We may feel silly, uncoordinated, un-"talented", in a single word: "childish". That is until we're alone.
As a dance teacher with vast experience working in Calgary and the Greater Vancouver area, I can confidently say that dancing is a everyday quality of being human. It's universal. Don't ever let yourself wonder if you're a "dancer" or not. We all are. Especially if you're a music lover. It may however, be as subtle as bobbing your head or tapping your fingers on the steering wheel. Nevertheless, if you're alive: you dance.
When I share that fact to new students (particularly adults), it is almost immediately met with words like "I can't dance, trust me", or something to that effect. This is often the result of watching the dazzling performances of shows like "So You Think You Can Dance?", "Dancing with the Stars", and so on. In reply, I like to remind them that in my dozen years of intensive professional dance "teaching", I've never met someone who cannot dance. At the very least, I've never met someone who cannot dance following a few minutes of warming up. Like the Zimbabwe proverb says, "If you can walk you can dance." If you chew your food to a song, you can dance. If you can clap to the beat on the next song on the radio, you're almost there. If you say "I have no rhythm" and it happens to be true, clapping to the music may very well be our first exercise in the class.
The next common misconception about dance is the belief that it's "girly" or that it's not for "real guys". Everyone knows women love to dance. But who do women like to dance with? Fellas! Be that guy that knows what he's doing. Be the gentleman that looks and feels comfortable on the dance floor. Impress her and her friends. Interestingly enough, men all over the world already consider this obvious. Only in Canada, the States and Western Europe is there an unequal gender ratio in dance classes. Shows like "So You Think You Can Dance?" however, are changing all of that.
HOW/WHEN/WHERE
So where does one start? First of all, decide if you would like to learn an individual dance style such as Hiphop or House dance, or if you would like to learn "social dancing", which is any one of the many structured formal dance styles mentioned above. For individual dancing, you can get join a group class, involve a group of friends, or schedule a one-on-one private lesson. If transportation is an issue, your dance class (or classes) can take place wherever is most convenient, including your own home, with certain limitations.
If you would like to learn one of the mentioned "social" (partner) dances, there are several options. If you feel comfortable within a class setting, take another look at the various social dance styles, make a brief list of which kind you'd like to learn and feel free to contact me about any upcoming group classes. Prices for group classes are relatively low. If you have a group of willing friends already, it is only a matter of the "where" and "when". If however, you do not have a partner to begin "social" dancing with, you can either rely on myself as your partner or you can place yourself on a waiting list until the next available partner signs up. If you're still not sure what kind of dance style you would like learn, consider what kind of music you like to listen to. Keep it easy.
To put it simple, all we need to dance is our bodies, an hour of time, a plug-in for my stereo and a flat-surfaced floor. I can provide the space (for a small fee) and everything else. It's an extremely straightforward process but it all begins with that first class.
Generally, dance classes are often scheduled for weddings, birthday parties, workplace parties, corporate events, as gifts for a special someone a friend or family member, and of course, for fun!
I look forward to connecting with you (or anyone you may know). See you on the dance floor.
