The Creston line dance club, Dance with Wolfs, run by Jenifer and Larry Wolf, hosted the first Creston Line Dance Jamboree on April 29 and 30 at the Creston and District Community Complex.
Dancers came from all over southern B.C. — Kelowna, Westbank, Rutland, Penticton, Princeton, Creston and Cranbrook, and as far away as Calgary and Brooks, Alta. Instructors Anne Heuser (Princeton), Judy Worth (Penticton), Pat Strachan (Westbank), Jenifer Wolf (Creston), Valerie Whitten (Rutland), Karen Tripp (Cranbrook) and Janis Winter were on the program to teach and review everything from country songs like “Cadillac Ranch” to current pop songs like “Uptown Funk”, with dancers of varying degrees of experience enjoying routines ranging from ultra beginner to high intermediate.
What’s all the fuss about? Line dancing has grown exponentially fast over the course of the past 20 years.
“It’s a unique dance form since partners are not required,” said Jenifer, who has been teaching dance for over 35 years. “Line dancing has evolved from ‘strictly county music’ to a variety of good music that includes rhythms such as rumba, salsa, tango, cha cha, West Coast swing, foxtrot, plus a lot of country.”
She and husband Larry hosted many large-scale events during their careers in Vancouver. Dancers have been known to fly across oceans to attend international events featuring well-known choreographers and instructors.
“Prior to events taking place, a list of dances is usually published in advance by the host so that dancers can learn the routines first,” said Tripp. “That way, the instructors of the jamboree can simply walk through the routines to refresh the dancers’ memories. The actual learning of the dance is done at the home club.”
This year, Dance With Wolfs club hosted its first jamboree in this area, and by all accounts, the event was hugely successful.
“The work to organize this event was well worth the effort when you see so many dancers enjoying themselves on the dance floor, visiting old and new friends made at the jamboree,” said Jenifer.
For more information, email dancewithwolfs@telus.net or visit www.dancewithwolfs.com.
—DANCE WITH WOLFS
