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dance I by Peggy Trendell-Jensen · The Life of a Danci Imagine t h e scene: y o u ' r e t h e only male in t h e r o o m , s u r r o u n d e d by scantily clad females. Music fills the air; the temperature n o t c h e s u p a level. D o e s it s o u n d like a guy's d r e a m c o m e true? rec centres or studios generally cater t o f e m a l e interests a n d abilities, leaving there's a d e m a n d f o r it," says M a r g o G r a m , Cultural Services C o o r d i n a t o r at Centennial Theatre. Her o w n son, now nine, spent a year d o i n g classes with the rec c o m m i s s i o n , t h e n m o v e d o n t o the V a n l e e n a studio. " T h e dance schools love If y o u answered "yes," t h e n you've never b e e n a y o u n g b o y suffering o n his o w n through an otherwise-female dance "It's a sad state o f affairs in o u r culture w h e n m e n are f r o w n e d o n for d a n c i n g , " says H e i m s o t h . "I'm n o t sure h o w t h a t h a p p e n e d . W h e n y o u look at t h e roots of all these dances, they are very M o r e male-oriented options are o p e n i n g u p at O n e d a n c e Creative Arts. Heimsoth a n d partner Candice Johnson have hired on a number of male teachers that boys," she notes. " T h e y treat t h e m very, very w e l l . " little r o o m f o r a curious lad t o i n d u l g e his creative movement skills in a boy-friendly atmosphere. class. W h i l e s o m e y o u n g m e n d o n ' t m i n d b e i n g t h e centre of attention (and, trust me, if you're t h e only fellow, y o u will be), most others don't appreciate being the sole representative o f t h e m a l e half o f t h e species. Susan Heimsoth, co-owner of North Vancouver's O n e d a n c e Creative masculine.... If y o u g o a r o u n d the w o r l d , m e n dance everywhere - except here." Heimsoth says are "very masculine, positive" Fortunately, small, but encouraging, role models. T h e y teach a diverse array of d a n c e forms, f r o m hip h o p t o Highland, a n d all stops in b e t w e e n . M a n y o f the classes w e l c o m e all ages as well as both sexes. In their largely male Capoeira class, for example, the y o u n g e s t boy is six a n d he d a n c e s a l o n g w i t h t h e adults, w h o also r a n g e in a g e a n d ability. C a p o e i r a is a Brazilian martial art, in which signs o f c h a n g e m a y be o n t h e h o r i z o n . W h i l e private studios are still not offering t o o m u c h specifically f o r t h e y o u n g e r boy, a n u m b e r o f t h e m are offering Arts Centre, agrees. "I have h a d a lot o f boys c o m e t o class. T h e n t h e y see t h a t there are only girls there, a n d they leave. We just need one boy to have the hip-hop classes f o r t e e n boys. A n d as o f now, the North Van Recreation c o u r a g e t o stay, a n d I t h i n k he w o u l d start a t r e n d . " C o m m i s s i o n will b e testing t h e w a t e r s w i t h a h i p hop/jazz class exclusively f o r But it's n o t surprising that most boys d o shy a w a y f r o m d a n c e in o u r culture, g i v e n t h a t o u r societal n o r m s d o not boys six t o n i n e years o l d . It is b e i n g o f f e r e d in t h e M c D o u g a l l Performing participants execute moves such as kicks, spins a n d h a n d stands t o t h e driving Arts Studio f r o m April 7 t h r o u g h t o June 2. rhythm o f percussion music. " H e is such a joyful p e r s o n t h a t h e m a k e s t h e classes e n c o u r a g e y o u r average g u y t o consider dance a valid recreational or fitness " W e will absolutely l o o k at s o m e t h i n g like that (boy-oriented classes) if w e think really f u n , " says H e i m s o t h o f instructor Julio Monteiro. "Its a very g o o d workout." o p t i o n . A s a result t h e classes o f f e r e d in O n e d a n c e also offers First Nations dance classes, w h i c h are o p e n t o all cultures and ages. " T h e warrior dances are extremely masculine," she says. " A n d there are lots o f c o m p e t i t i v e o p p o r t u n i t i e s . " "In the First N a t i o n s culture, all m e n d a n c e , " Heimsoth continues, s o m e w h a t wistfully. " T h e y are t a u g h t f r o m a n early a g e that that's w h a t they d o . " Perhaps w i t h a bit o f e n c o u r a g e m e n t a n d new, creative course offerings such as t h o s e m e n t i o n e d h e r e - m o r e North S h o r e boys will be c o m i n g s o o n t o a studio near y o u . 10 March I April