Amina and Laurel

ABOUT AMINA:    

AMINA has been line dancing for 23 years.  In 1998 she started at a community centre in Richmond Hill, where she was living at the time. There she met Dale McNeil, who told her about Fred’s classes as well as some others. Soon after she decided to try Fred’s classes and continued until his retirement in 2020. She also danced with some other instructors, and a few years ago started dancing at the West-Way Dance Club.  At both the West-Way and Fred’s class she initially started assisting the instructors by leading or reviewing dances and then also started bringing new dances to the classes. 

Amina has also travelled to Dance Events, including Kitchener, Tampa, Las Vegas, and Wasaga, (as well as great local events in Toronto, organized by Vivienne – “Let the Good Times Roll” and “The Spring Workshop”) so she is well experienced and knowledgeable about line dancing and what dances are popular and would be enjoyed by the class.  During the pandemic she and Laurel, along with a small group of dancers, danced outside as much as they could.  Amina also took a number of ongoing online dance classes so once we could dance inside again she was ready. 

In 2018 Amina auditioned and was accepted for a Luminato dance event called Le Grand Continental. Along with more than 200 other dancers, she rehearsed for 12 weeks and gave four 30-minute performances over a 3-day period, at Nathan Phillips Square, outside. One of the performances was in the pouring rain and everyone got soaking wet. It was a very exciting and unforgettable experience for Amina.

Amina is very well organized.  She communicates regularly with the dancers in her class so there is continuity in what they are learning and Laurel adds links to step sheets and demos of the dances taught.   Amina is also an excellent instructor, clear and patient with a good sense of humour.   She wants all the dancers to feel a part of the class.  The Tuesday dancers are so appreciative of Amina taking over the class and all her efforts so that we can continue dancing. 

Amina wants to thank Vivienne and Fred for being such inspiring mentors.

 

 

ABOUT LAUREL:

LAUREL started line dancing almost 30 years ago.  She had always loved dancing and did some go-go dancing as a pre-teen and soul line dancing at high school during the late 60’s.   She was introduced to country line dancing in the early 90’s at Ajax Community Centre where she learned the Achy Breaky Heart and Boot Scootin’ Boogie.   A demanding job got in the way until she retired and then she was hooked!

It was early 2012 when she registered for a class taught by Emily Woo through the Pleasant View Community Association.   She remembers learning ‘Rock the House’ and absolutely loving it. Emily was a great teacher and beautiful dancer – she recommended that Laurel buy hip hop dance shoes.   Laurel even attended the dinner/dance party that Emily held for the Spring Workshop April 2013 and watched Vivienne and Fred, Ria Vos and Karl Harry dance.

Cynthia Skublak took over Emily’s class and Vivienne came to teach there one day.   She recommended that Laurel try out Fred’s class as well and the rest is history!  She became a passionate and dedicated member of the Tuesday class.   When Fred retired as the pandemic hit Laurel was determined to keep on dancing.  She and Amina, along with a small group of dancers, danced together outside as often as they could.  Laurel also took a number of online line dance classes throughout the pandemic.   When dancing was allowed back inside, Laurel was well set to assist Amina in both instruction and as the Tuesday Class DJ.  As DJ her knowledge of line dance music as well as her impressive technology skills are invaluable.  Laurel’s enthusiasm and zest for dancing is catching and is very much appreciated by the dancers.