TONI EVANS
The capital is calling, and the teens from Motueka’s Inspire Dance are ready to answer -with their dancing shoes on.
Nine members of the 12-strong Inspire Dance troupe, taught by Tanja and Florian Pauls, are heading to the Modern Jive event SIMPLY from 23–25 October. The event attracts about 150 to 200 dancers and includes workshops, social dancing and performances.
Six of the Motueka dancers will take part in a choreographed team performance, while the group is also preparing for an Alice in Wonderland-themed ball.
Tanja chose SIMPLY from the various annual events throughout the country because it focuses on learning and performance rather than competition.
She is delighted that nine of the group's 12 students will be attending. She knows they will form friendships, be inspired by dance workshops and performances, and experience the fun of social dance parties.
The name Modern Jive is a little misleading - there are no flapping hands required here. Simple footwork provides the foundations, with improvisation and freestyle movement an essential component. Inspiration from West Coast Swing adds a smooth, grounded quality to the movement.
The dance style appeals across generations, working with music from a wide range of genres and decades and offering freedom of choice with dancewear. Leading and following roles are not gendered, encouraging inclusivity and participation. That flexibility extends through to championship level.
Florian and Tanja discovered Modern Jive through their daughter when she was 16. Tanja had long wanted to try partner dancing while Florian was initially reluctant, recalling teenage ballroom lessons as formal and awkward. Joining their daughter in the hope of enjoying a fun activity together revealed a different experience: parents and teenagers enjoying themselves together in a lively dance community, discovering that partner dancing can be relaxed, creative and a lot of fun.
The pair soon qualified as instructors and began teaching Inspire Dance's Motueka teen group 18 months ago.
Lessons include structured teaching followed by about half an hour of relaxed freestyle dancing.
Tanja admits that she initially wondered whether students would feel confident enough to take part.
She was delighted, and inspired herself, to see them relax and have fun dancing together.
She believes adolescence can be a time when young people feel awkward or uncomfortable in their bodies, and says dancing can help build confidence, encourage a positive body image and strengthen social connections.
Watching students become comfortable enough to express themselves is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching, she says.
Groups of friends often settle in quickly, giving newcomers familiar faces as they find their feet. Tanja and Florian are keen to welcome more friend groups, as well as individual teens interested in giving Modern Jive a go.
For more information, email abundantnz@yahoo.co.nz.
