Instructors for Newcastle Island Dance Camp July 2006

Keith and Holly Foraie teach west coast swing, country 2-step, street hustle, nite club 2-step and other dances in the beautiful Comox Valley. They met in 1998 when Holly hired Keith as an instructor and have taught and shared their lives together ever since. Keith and Holly organize the annual Dance De Rock (September 16 to 18, 2006), the big swing event on Vancouver Island. At Newcastle K&H will introduce nite club 2-step - beginner smooth style and chase that with an intermediate nite club for our further improvement.

Christina Morrison is the leader of Salsa Caliente, the award-winning Vancouver salsa performance troupe, and is a veteran of previous camping expeditions to Newcastle Island. Her infectious enthusiasm will get everyone shakin' it and getting down with easy salsa, merengue and bachata moves.

Susan Peach started out with salsa and other Latin dances but has now become the leading instructor and performer of exotic pole dancing on Vancouver Island. From her tours in Latin America she brings us the rueda (Cuban wheel) which can break out at any time a salsa is played. Be ready to jump in when Susan calls the steps! Hola!

John de Pfyffer is widely known for his patient, positive and humourous approach to teaching. John is a Member of the Canadian Dance Teacher's Association in both Standard and Latin dancing. He formed and began teaching for the UVic Ballroom Dance Club in 1986 and, thanks to John, the dance club soon became the largest club on campus. John is also a key player in the social dance scene (West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Lindy, Salsa and Argentine Tango) and the Ballroom Dance community in Victoria.

Pamela Podmoroff is one of Vancouver's most popular instructors of west coast swing. Need we say more? Pamela's experience from many competitions, and her intrinsic warmth will charm the socks off anyone. She is a regular instructor of the more advanced level west coast swing classes at the Urban Beat Dance Co. in Vancouver and a variety of other venues.

Sara Raymond is Nanaimo's youngest dance instructor, teaching west coast swing, salsa and line dancing. In her youth, almost two years ago, she placed in the world's top ten competitors in line dance, and her passion for dancing has taken her to study with the best instructors in western Canada for west coast swing and salsa. She is also a veteran of workshops in the summer breezes at Newcastle Island. Sara will show us some popular line dance steps and attempt to get us all on the same foot all the time (she can do this!).

David Seath teaches jive and swing in Ladysmith and Nanaimo. David has been known to lift his partner and roll her across his back, apparently effortlessly, and can slide her along the floor and back just as easily. But for us he promises to keep feet on the floor, well, most of the time, and show us some cool moves that we can do on any dance floor. The swing workshop will be a good start for beginners plus something new for the more experienced.

Gwen Spinks teaches Argentine tango, west coast swing, cha cha and two-step in Nanaimo and Gabriola Island. Her island experience makes her a very sure-footed guide for dancing tango on the smooth rock beaches of Newcastle Island. Inside the Pavilion she can teach lead and follow in many dances, as well as solid fundamentals to make anyone a better dancer, and kicks up a terrific country two-step.

Nelson Wong teaches standard and Latin ballroom dances in Nanaimo. Nelson brings the ballroom dance world to Nanaimo at the Island Fantasy Ball, and has coached many brides and grooms to dance the waltz gracefully for the first time for their own fantasy ball. Beginners and advanced dancers alike will benefit from the waltz workshop with Nelson.