Gwen Spinks
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It all started with grade 10 dance class - I don't remember what the teacher taught - but I knew I wanted more. Within a week I was taking ballroom and Latin dance lessons at Don Picard School of Ballroom Dance in Vancouver, BC. All my money (I was working as a waitress) went into lessons and dresses. For just over 2 years I danced, performed and competed. Then I turned 18, moved out on my own and discos became more important than dance lessons. It was 17 years before I got back into ballroom dancing and I was amazed to discover that Don Picard was still alive and teaching (he was very old when I was 16 - he is much younger now). When I was 18 he had asked me to teach for him - I said no at that time but when he asked me again I said yes. It has turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made! That was in 1989 and I've been teaching dance ever since and loving it!! With Don's great instruction I started teaching Social Ballroom and Latin. When West Coast Swing became popular (again) I learned to dance and teach it; as Country got popular I took up the 2-Step (it's a very easy and fun dance) and then came Argentine Tango (not so easy!). In March of 2010 I started training as a Feldenkrais (Awareness through Movement) practitioner. I have been to Buenos Aires 5 times with a 6th trip already
planned. Three time I have taken students with me so they could experience
the birthplace of Tango first hand. I had the good fortune of meeting
Manuel Ortiz (the Black Panther I have also developed 2 programs - One I teach in local schools, I developed it about 7 years ago - "Listen to the Rhythm" - the kids learn 12 dances in 8 weeks - for more information on this program check this link. The other "Transforming thru Tango" I have been working on for as long as I have been teaching; however, it has only been since 2008 that I have given it a name. Thanks to Phil Winkelmans, Ph.D. and Louise Nichol I have separated it out from my regular class and focused on the issues & fears that come up for people when they start to learn to dance - check this link for more detail. |
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My philosophy – I believe that through dance we gain a greater understanding of ourselves and how we relate to others. It is through this understanding that we become great dancers. The Argentine Tango is the ultimate challenge, because of the embrace, the many patterns and the music we are thrown off our axis and come face to face with our fears. ... and through our fear we find a joy that is beyond our wildest dreams. Mission Statement: To provide a safe and supportive environment for adults and children to
learn and grow.
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