The Wondrous World of Social Dancing in Canada: Come Dance Ballroom, Salsa, Square-Dance and Argentine...

— —

Yuen

The Wondrous World of Social Dancing in Canada

Come Dance Ballroom, Salsa, Square-Dance and Argentine Tango with Me!

Yuen

$31.95 $28.91

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Library and Archives Canada
10 August 2021

Health & Self-Help; Travel & Lifestyle

"Dance instructor and journalist John Yuen details for the first time how Canadians who dance for social reasons have made a phenomenon of our times: a fun activity, exceptional exercise, spiritual awakening, and a therapeutic medium. The Wondrous World of Social Dancing in Canada: Come Dance Ballroom, Salsa, Square-Dance and Argentine Tango with Me! takes a deep dive into the social dance subculture to show the true nature of Canadians' interplay with four popular dance styles that are sweeping the world.

The book is an easy read containing chapters on the history of social dancing in Canada. As a starter. it pulls back the curtain to trace the beginning of social dancing from 1605 when the first colony of New France was established by the French, and subsequently by the British and other European settlers. It is made clear that social dancing actually began centuries earlier with the Indigenous people. Good descriptions of why Indigenous peoples danced (and still do) for reasons beyond ""social"". The first chapter explains how they dance historically for religious and ceremonial reasons as well. On the other hand, readers will learn that the successive waves of colonists danced socially--to forget how they have to toil to survive the wilderness that has been Canada for many, many generations. The chapter concludes with the effects on dancers and dance schools with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The second chapter covers the emotional and physical reactions of dancers as participants in ballroom/Latin; salsa, square-dancing and Argentine tango. They tell stories about how and why they started dancing; their perception of the

ways their teachers instruct; their ""best practices"" in practicing their steps outside the classroom; and what were the best experiences they have had on the social dance floor.

Chapter three examines the role of dancing by persons with Parkinson's disease (PD) in relieving their physical symptoms and reducing physical isolation. Several interest groups such as the National Ballet of Canada have stepped up to the

plate to help. Partnering with one another, the groups have particularly focused on Argentine tango as the main delivery mechanism to help persons with PD. There is a section that features two Nova Scotian couples who have enjoyed

a certain degree of success in curbing the discomforts associated with PD.

The last chapter offers a detailed look at the social dancing industry: the background of studio and club owners and their instructors in the four dance genres. A notable aspect of the dance academies is that the instructors reflect

the diversity of the Canadian multi-cultural population.

Competitive dancing which is a representation of social dancing receives kudos from Canadians across the country in a special column called ""39 Opinions."" For example, a male social dancer from Nova Scotia wrote """"I've enjoyed seeing amateur dancers of limited skill improve in their ability, often to a level that looks quite polished. Such improvements are usually the result of determination, coaching and practice."" One female dancer in Ontario, Canada's most populous province, remarked: ""I love watching it. It's a combination of things. So, it's beautiful in terms of the mood and their

bodies, especially some of the Latin stuff. Just phenomenal. I love the costumes, the theatricality of it."""

By: Yuen
Imprint: Library and Archives Canada
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 12mm
Weight: 318g
ISBN: 9781777714604
ISBN 10: 1777714605
Pages: 234
Publication Date: 10 August 2021
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

John Yuen is an itinerant ballroom/Latin dance instructor and a journalist. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from three Canadian universities.

Reviews for The Wondrous World of Social Dancing in Canada: Come Dance Ballroom, Salsa, Square-Dance and Argentine Tango with Me!

Richard J. Thibault, Adjudicator, World DanceSport Federation, Toronto: Your book will become a valuable asset to the dance community. Mandy Epprecht, Owner, Mandy's Dance, and former Canadian professional finalist, Mississauga, ON: I've read your book, loved it, and highly recommend it. There is plenty of valuable information for dancers at all levels and for non-dancers, the history and development of dance in Canada is fascinating. Francesco Pugliese, social dancer, Toronto: The factual opinions of a whole slew of dancers, from all walks of life, are valuable and inspiring. They bring out fascinating and reassuring facts about an art that knows no boundaries.