dance, dance, dance

Off-beat bop. Wild shoulder shake. Index-finger-point with hip-shake. Y-M-C-A. Lawnmower. Sadly, that's about  the extent of my dance moves. But I love dancing and take every opportunity to bust this short repertoire...in the privacy of my own home, of course. I'm sure my cat thinks I'm nuts. So, readers, you can imagine how much I love watching great dancers perform. I become mesmerized by their grace, style and flawless ability to move their bodies like they're part of the music. I start dreaming of the day, where after years of living room shimmying and shaking, I confidently declare "no one puts Shannon in a corner," rush onstage, and wow the audience with my jaw-dropping talent. If only...

This past weekend, I watched my friend, Ali, along with many other talented U of T dancers in the Only Human Dance Collective, showcase their stuff in "Pieces: A Collection of Choreographic Works" at the Winchester Street Theatre. I was impressed with the range of dance styles - like hip-hop, modern, ballet and jazz - that the dancers fused together to pull off creative, energizing and passionate performances. But, most of all, I was inspired by the obvious love of dancing that came through with each step by every dancer on stage. Regardless of their level, experience and technical ability, it was clear that these dancers were having a great time. The Only Human Dance Collective (OHDC) has "a unique all-inclusive mandate, which is to welcome all dancers regardless of experience and draw on all members of the university community - students, staff, faculty, and alumni."  This means all dancers - from living-room hip-shakers like me to seasoned experts -are welcome to take part in classes and work towards a professional dance performance that the group puts on every year. Initially, I was a bit surprised when Ali told me she was going to be in a dance show. I never would have described her as a "dancer," just "someone who loved to dance." Now, after seeing her talent and flair on stage, I'd say she's a "Dancing Queen!" Watching the range of skill levels that "Pieces" showcased made me wonder how many of us lovers of dance hold back from getting more involved out of fear of that we aren't quite the "dancers" we see on stage, in movies or in music videos. But chatting with Ali made me realize how important it is to keep doing the activities we love to do, especially when our busy lives as students can cause us much stress and anxiety. She got involved with OHDC after seeing a poster advertising the club at Hart House in September, which emphasized that, "dancers of all levels were welcome to join." Since Ali loves to dance and thinks it's important to have a healthy, active lifestyle, she went to an information session where choreographers led demonstrations of what their classes would be like. After sampling her options, she signed up for a weekly contemporary/jazz class aimed at intermediate-level dancers. This experience gave her the opportunity to meet new people, and forced her to take a break from her busy student life each week to do an activity she enjoyed. If you're someone who loves to dance, Hart House offers registered dance classes like contemporary, street jazz and ballroom dance so that beginner to experienced dancers can stay fit and healthy while doing something they love. Readers, have you made an effort to get involved with a physical activity you've loved this year? What was it? Please send me your stories so that I can keep getting inspired to take my bopping, shimmying and shaking out of my living room! Or maybe, you'll introduce me to a new passion altogether! -Shannon