Learning how to one, two step

By Daisy Hunt

hunt0421@algonquincollege.com

The school year has kicked off and the dusty pile of homework in the corner of students’ rooms is getting bigger and bigger.

They may find themselves drawn to stress-relieving techniques: Clubbing, partying, but more specifically, the art of dance.

“People of all ages can learn to dance at any time in their life,” said 25-year-old dance teacher Valerie Emond. Emond is a dance instructor at the dance studio Let’s Dance located on Colonnade Rd. N, near the college.

Let’s Dance specializes in teaching couples, private one-on-one lessons, wedding parties, and basically anyone who wishes to learn the basics, or more complicated forms of dance.

“Students come in usually in small groups or in pairs. Anyone from the age of 10 to 80 can come here to learn,” Emond said. “Currently there is a couple who come here to practice all the time. They are going to compete in a dance competition in Hull.”

Some forms of dance that are taught at Let’s Dance are latin, international style, rumba, samba, jive, paso double, standard, waltz, foxtrot and two-step. According to Emond, these dances can all be learned step by step by anyone, beginner or dance pro.

Although Let’s Dance teaches many classic dances, according to dance student of 10 years, and second-year Algonquin student Mallory McLachlan the latest dance craze is contemporary.

“It’s probably because of So You Think You Can Dance, everyone wants to learn contemporary,” McLachlan noted.

Although students probably won’t be going to clubs where contemporary dance is necessary to know, dance in general is an excellent way to burn off some steam and have a good time.