Nunavut's little dancing bear
Breakdancer preaches value in focusing on child development
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, July 6, 2015
IQALUIT
Everybody knows her in Iqaluit - the endlessly energetic, breakdancing, yoga-teaching and appropriately nicknamed Christine "Lil Bear" Lamothe.
Christine "Lil Bear" Lamothe led a Zumbini workshop during the Alianait festival in Iqaluit last week. She's well known in the city and passionate about children's development. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo |
She came to Nunavut almost a decade ago to teach breakdancing. She stayed because she thought this was the best place she could be of service in the world.
"I've always been amazed with aboriginal culture," said Lamothe, founder of Saimavik Studio, fresh after teaching a Zumbini workshop during Alianait.
"I didn't know much about Inuit culture, but it fascinated me, to be so close to nature, depend on nature and know that nature is the boss. I wanted to learn to be self-reliant and develop other aspects of myself. That was a big drive for me."
Zumbini is a version of Zumba for young children. Lamothe led an enthusiastic group of parents and toddlers in an hour of singing, drumming and shaking rattles in the Nakasuk library last week.
"It's really so that kids start to develop musically and with movement," said Lamothe, adding that the regular program runs for several weeks.
She's passionate about child development.
"It's really important for kids to explore stuff, to try different things and not to force the children to learn it, because they learn at their own pace and you will be amazed to see what they're drawn to," she said.
"It is good to encourage them with role modeling. Kids learn from their parents. If the parents are enthusiastic about something, the kids will be enthusiastic. It's really important to expose children to a lot of things so that they're more resilient, they're less fearful of trying new things, they're less shy and they can succeed more in life at whatever they choose to do."
Lamothe, a dancer and yoga instructor as well, had a number of her talents on display during the hour-long workshop: singing, conflict resolution, inclusion. The latter was evident when she joined a previously shy boy in a Ninja Turtles chant that he started at the end of the workshop.
"I love the family stuff," she said.
"It's a good bonding experience for them. There's so much going on in that little class. It's magical."
She's also part of dance group Kaiva, who performed at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, among other events.
Lamothe is juggling a number of projects and the future holds some big aspirations, possibly even a clothing line.
