Last Thursday evening, loud, catchy music and the familiar sounds of physical exercise could be heard at St. Paul’s Silhouette Dance School.
In the school’s studio space, ballet and jazz teacher Raven White leads a group of participants in exercises. White, who currently lives in Edmonton, and who has taught dancing in Bonnyville, Wainwright and Drayton Valley, says Jazzercise classes reduce stress, and participants feel good when they leave.
“We stretch everything out, and you’ll have a good workout, and you’ll have fun doing it,” says White, adding that Jazzercise is a mix between an exercise class and a jazz dance class. “We do some traditional exercises like push-ups and cardio, and strength training and dance moves for fun.
“Physical activity just makes you feel better, giving you more energy for life and day to day living,” she says. “It’s a positive time; we have fun and we laugh a lot.”
According to Dianne Belanger, president of the Silhouette Dance School Society and also a class participant, the school added Jazzercise and Pilates class for two reasons - one of them being that St. Paul needed some exercise classes for adults.
“It also gives (the dance instructors) additional income,” explains Belanger, adding that the community’s interest in both exercise classes has been “pretty good” since there aren’t many adult exercise classes offered in the area.
Belanger also went on to say that participants range in age from their 20s to 60s, and that they come from all kinds of fitness levels.
The school will do intake for its next classes in September, she says, while explaining that the classes will go for only three months at a time because it’s hard for people to commit to any longer due to their busy schedules.
“I would recommend it to anybody and everybody to come and try a class.”
