Residents move from rumba to swing
Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Feb 16/01) - The gym walls at Aurora College echoed with some unusual sounds Saturday evening.
Instead of the thump of basketballs hitting the floor and nets, or volleyballs flying high, the air was filled with the swish and click of dancers.
Music could also be heard, spurring on the dancing couples. Big band sounds from a bygone era floated to the ceiling.
Saturday's swing and jive session was just one of a series of dance lessons at the college over the weekend. Also covered were the social foxtrot, samba, rumba, waltz and cha-cha.
The instructor was Bob MacKenzie of Whitehorse. He has taught dancing for about seven years, though this was the first time he had held lessons here.
"So far it's been very, very good. There's been a lot of interest," MacKenzie said.
"I just start out with the basics, and once people are comfortable with it, we try to put in a variation to make it a little bit more interesting," he said.
"People have picked up rather well."
MacKenzie said dancing is a great way to meet people.
"It's just a wonderful feeling to be able to move around the floor that way. It's very social. You can go out and have a good time without any great expense, really," the instructor said.
"When I was growing up this was a popular type or style of dancing to be doing, and I just got into it. Then as years have gone by, I just got more and more interested in it," he said.
"There is a big revival all throughout the world at the moment. (Ballroom dance is) very, very popular. Down south it's really big.
"It is going to possibly be a sport in the Olympics, which has helped to add to the attraction."
MacKenzie said he might return to conduct future lessons, depending on what the college decides.
