If this summer showed us anything, it's that dancing is alive on Bowen Island. Steamship Days, the Dock Dance, and this weekend's Bowfest we're up on our feet or at least tapping our toes.
If you'd like to overcome dance-floor shyness before next summer's events, join us (alone or with a partner) and learn some real dance moves in a relaxed and comfortable setting a new session of dance classes is starting up soon. Dance styles this time around are East Coast Swing and salsa. If you've thought of signing up in the past but weren't sure what you'd be getting yourself into, here are some quick answers to put your mind at rest.
Q. What kind of dancing are we talking about here?
A. It's all partner dancing and totally non-competitive. Followers try to follow and leaders try to lead and most of the time it works out. The goal is to laugh and have fun while learning a few dance steps that we can use in social settings.
Q. What if I'm not good at it?
A. You'll still end up a better dancer than you are now guaranteed! And our classes really are mostly about having fun.
Q. What dance styles have been taught so far?
A. We started with salsa and that's an ongoing favourite. Then we tried out East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, and Country Two-Step, but we didn't stop there. In the Latin styles, we tackled cha-cha-cha and a very tame form of bachata, as well as the ever-popular salsa. This coming session, we'll be learning East Coast Swing for beginners, and salsa for intermediates.
Q. I only want to dance with the person I sign up with. Do I have to partner with others too?
A. You don't HAVE to, but you'll want to. Every couple of minutes, the teacher yells "rotate" and we all change partners. If you prefer to stick together as a couple, you can do so, but you'll miss out on much of the fun. You learn so much when you dance with people of different abilities and styles, and by the time you meet up again with your original partner, you'll have a new appreciation for his of her dance foibles.
Q. I don't have a partner to bring. Does it work out when singles sign up?
A. As our teacher likes to say, "No partner? No problem." Ideally, the number of leaders matches the number of followers, but that never happens. Our teacher fills in as leader or follower, whichever is needed. If that's still not enough to even things out, the extra dancers practise the steps we're covering on their own until the next "rotate" they're never dancing alone for more than one quick tune at a time.
Q. What if I can't remember the steps from one class to the next?
A. There's always a review at the beginning of each class and that's generally enough. But if you want even more dancing or just the occasional memory nudge, we have a drop-in at Collins Hall most Fridays while dance classes are on. That's where we try to remember what we've learned while we shuffle around the dance floor.
And there you have it: dance classes on Bowen Island. This session's classes run on Mondays from September 24 to October 29 (no class on October 8), East Coast Swing from 6:30 to 7:30 and Salsa at 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Classes are held at the Gallery at Artisan Square. For more information, please call the community recreation office at 604-947-2216. Registration starts August 27.
Norma McCarthy
