Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Apr 29/02) - When Stan Hutchinson first tried ballroom dancing, he didn't exactly sail across the dance floor. "It wasn't easy for me," he says. "But I knew I wanted to do it."

So he kept at it, learning different styles of dance and eventually performing on television and at dance festivals.

Now he instructs the Iqaluit Dance Club -- a group he helped launch a year ago.

Two nights a week, in the Our Lady of Assumption Church's parish hall, his students waltz, swing, cha, two-step and fox trott the night away.

Assisting those who start out with two left feet is the biggest challenge.

"It takes a lot of practice. Some people take to it more naturally than others," he says. "You have to be careful that you don't just cruise along with the ones who are doing well."

Sometimes, students bring their own style to the group.

"Someone from the Philippines had a unique style of Cha. We did that all night," he recalls.

The club is popular. According to the door tally last year, 800 people flowed through the church for dance lessons,

Hutchinson thinks couples are attracted to the club because it's good exercise and something they can do together.

And single people like to kick up their heels.

Another benefit -- dancing requires no expensive equipment.

However, Hutchinson does own four sets of dancing shoes and a collection of spiffy old fashioned ties. His own goal is to master many different dances.

"I'm still working on it," he says. "If anyone in town knows how to do the salsa, I'd sure like to learn it."

A geomatics manager for the federal government by day, he also has a passion for antique cars and is learning Inuktitut.

Listening to him talk, it's clear he's hooked on dancing.

"It's just the feel of the music," he says.

"You can move, you're just flying. That's what I want to do -- move people from doing the basic steps to just really flying. That may sound funny in the article. But that's the way I think of it."