Westside Youth Team Dance Club
21 Year Old Instructor Promises Kids Fun at New Dance Club
Central Okanagan children aged 8 and over have a new recreational option in the form of a youth square dance club with other dance styles as well. To try it out, the club is offering three free introductory sessions. Furthermore, the instructor will be 21-year-old Okanagan College student Dustin McGifford of West Kelowna. “His age makes him most able to relate to the needs and wants of pre-teens and teens when it comes to dance,” says club co-ordinator Brian Elmer, also of West Kelowna.
McGifford says "my plan is to make the dancing as much fun as possible. It will include music to which the kids relate, such as tunes by Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson and others. For the youngest dancers, I have Gummi Bear and Hampster Dance.” Elmer points out “it’s an activity choice for children that blends music, movement, fun and laughter with a valuable fitness component.” They plan to have theme-nights in celebration of Halloween, Christmas, Valentines, etc.
Called the Westside Youth Team Dance Club, the non-profit group is being revitalized after an original run from 2003 through 2007 after which it went on hiatus when the instructor moved on. The new sessions will run Tuesdays between 6:00 and 7:30 p.m. starting October 2nd at the hall in the Westbank United Church, 3672 Brown Rd.
The three free lessons will serve as an introduction for children and their parents who are unfamiliar with the recreation. They are welcome to attend any or all of the sessions on October 2, 9 or 16 after which the lessons will continue by registration.
Regarding the “team dance” term, organizers say the square dance is all about teamwork, either in pairs or groups of eight. They say it will be a high energy version of the square dance but they’ll also be introducing other team-oriented dances like simple circle dances and round dancing, which is choreographed ballroom. The suggested age of 8 and over was selected relative to attention span. They find that younger children don’t generally have the endurance for a 90-minute session, although it varies child-to-child.
Elmer says of the West Kelowna location: “apart from the fact that our earlier incarnation of the group was started on the Westside and the name selected, it’s largely about finding halls.” He encourages parents in Kelowna to bring their children, explaining “it’s only a 15 minute drive from the bridge to Westbank then perhaps add another 10 to 15 minutes for many parts of Kelowna. If they wish, Mom or Dad can learn to dance too --they don’t have to just be chauffeurs.” He enthuses: “It will be worth the trip!”
In actual fact, many elementary level students throughout the Central Okanagan have discovered today's style of square dancing at in-class school sessions. Elmer has been conducting a school program for several years and some schools have had every student learn the dance form, K to grade 6.
Of his experience, McGifford relates: "During my years as a teen square dancer, I entered into competitions at the annual Pacific Northwest Teen Square Dance Festival, both as a dancer and a caller. I'll be sure to tell the pre-teens and teens at the new club about how great that experience was. It gave me a valuable perspective on what they can accomplish and how much fun it is to be a youth square dancer."
He continued "once I got the urge to take up calling, I sought the mentoring of semi-professional square dance callers in Penticton and White Rock.” He finds himself in demand at Festivals and Conventions.
The new club would appreciate hearing from parents planning to bring their children. Contact: Brian Elmer/Rosalyn Garnett – 250-768-2694 – e-mail: teamdancing@hotmail.com – web site: www.WestsideYouth.squaredance.bc.ca
Elmer suggests that a great example of the fun had by youth square dancers is a recent flash mob in the Seattle area that can be found online at: www.YouTube.com/LandryVideo
Teens on the square dance floor at the 61st National Square Dance Convention last June in Spokane, Washington. Their dance style is high energy and so it will be at the new Westside Youth Team Dance Club, offering free sessions on the first three Tuesdays in October.
Dustin McGifford, caller for the new youth dance club, exudes a fun spirit blessed with an excellent singing voice. He plans to feature “music to which the kids relate, such as tunes by Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson and others.”
21-year-old Dustin McGifford plays the part at a Mexican Fiesta theme dance last Spring in Williams Lake. About his role at the new Westside Youth Team Dance Club starting October 2nd, he says “my plan is to make the dancing as much fun as possible… you have to be an entertainer, first and foremost!”
Something particularly appealing to kids enjoying square dancing and its related dance forms is “badge dances.” Novelty badges can be earned for dancing in unusual places or under different circumstances. Here, they’ve wrapped caller-teacher Dustin McGifford in tissue to earn the “Mummy Badge.” Other badge examples are the “Troll Badge” for dancing under a bridge, “Kool Kat” for dancing on ice or “Aquaducks” for dancing in water (pool or at a swimming beach).
