OWNER/ORGANIZER:
» Jason Warner

OWNER/MANAGER:
» Crystal Warner

» Chase Warner

DJ's:
» DJ Alan Cheung
» DJ Jose Manzano

INSTRUCTORS:
» Nicola Armamimi
» Sara Nakonechny
» Dean Reimer
» Afonso Silveira
» Zac Sluys
» Kerry Ward
» Julia Ens

STAFF:
» Esther Balzer
» Vanessa Becker
» Bryce Bushe
» Kevin Castillo
» Kyle Darvasi
» Brenda Haid
» Kristen Hutchings
» Janice Long
» Robin McCormick
» Kate Robinson
» Rudy Schroeder
» Joe Skillen
» Kevin Stewart

I have always loved music, dance, film, and acting ever since I was young. I must have inherited it from my mother who was a dancer and a dance instructor before she was married and started a family. My very first artistic talents first emerged in school where I played trumpet for 6 years, was a member of the high school choir, and had acting roles in two major school plays. I used to put on small performances in front of the school, trying to portray important messages to the younger kids. During my final year of high school I began taking hip hop lessons and I discovered that my true passion was dance. After graduation I travelled and lived abroad. During those travels I found a passion for Latin and swing music in particular (i.e., salsa, merengue, bachata and blues), as well as a few other international flavours of music.

Upon coming back to Vancouver to complete my business degree in Marketing, I became the Marketing/Promotions Director on the Executive Board for the SFU Salsa Club for several semesters. I danced regularly with club members and continued to learn from others. Besides salsa, I also became active in the swing dancing scene in Vancouver, regularly spending my weekends (and many weeknights) switching between swing and Latin dancing.

During my time with the SFU Salsa Club, a friend and I started up a Latin and Swing dance night at a local dance studio in White Rock. Once a month, we would put on this event and play a variety of Latin and Swing music while providing lessons beforehand. After that experience we were asked to teach swing and salsa dancing to local high school students in Surrey and White Rock. I found it extremely enjoyable to see the joy and passion of dancing shine through the kids that I taught.

I also started dancing at a Swing dance place called Suburban Swing in Abbotsford, BC, Canada. After dancing there for a couple years on a regular basis I became one of the volunteers and ambassadors of Suburban Swing that has been a part of the Abbotsford community for over 10 years. I’ve volunteered there for approximately two years now and continue to enjoy volunteering my time to help spread the passion for dance across the lower mainland.

In the past couple of years, I and a few close dance friends have found a love for blues dancing and often meet at a downtown Vancouver venue. For extra fun and practice, we put on our own blues parties and dance all night passing out from exhaustion. Most recently I participated in a blues competition at Swing Summit (a swing dance camp in the lower mainland) followed by a lead blues dancing role in Sara Lynn’s music video for her new song “The Shape I’m In”. Blues dancing has now become one of my number one dance passions. As a student I was unable to afford formal dance lessons, so I learned by watching other people dance on either YouTube or at dance venues, picking up new and different things. Now, I dance mainly at Suburban Swing in Abbotsford and Blues in the City in downtown Vancouver. When I need my Latin fix I can be seen heating up the floor at the Red Room on Friday nights in Vancouver, and even occasionally at other clubs in the lower mainland.

It’s not just that I love the actual dancing but that I’m part of the dance community and the social environment that goes with it. I’ve made great friends through the dancing scene; valuing them, their individual character, and the fun we’ve all had spending time together socializing. I enjoy meeting new people, dancing with them, and learning from them. Everyone has their own style and personality when they dance and it’s great to take some of the positives from that and add my own flare and style on top of it. When we were getting ready to shoot Sara’s music video, she asked me about other music artists that inspire me to dance. There are a few popular Latin artists like Aventura, Daddy Yankee, Pitbull, Don Omar, Chino & Nacho and Wisin Y Yandel as well as some Blues artists like Citizens Cope, Michael Buble, David Keogh, Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz, Colbie Caillat, John Mayer, Maroon 5, Bob Marley and Michael Jackson. I also enjoy a variety of old and new hip hop and R&B music artists.

Dancing can give you a sense of freedom and joy—a way to de-stress and escape from everything else. When I dance, I focus on nothing else but listening and feeling the music—being in the moment to be free and creative. It’s my chance to escape and forget the troubles and concerns of the world for a little while. When I’m dancing to Latin music, I imagine that I’m in Cuba dancing salsa; in Puerto Rico dancing reggaeton; or a soldier back in time to the Second World War swing dancing the night away with friends. I let go even if it’s only for one song, one hour, or one night. My mind wonders to imagine whatever and where ever I want to be in the world at anytime.

If you love music and are interested in being part of a vibrant social dance community, swing and blues dancing venues are set up to make it easy for people to meet each other and socialize. The music isn’t as crazy loud as in the clubs making it more relaxing and fun to hold conversations. There is no pressure. It’s very relaxed, casual, and a great place to meet people, have fun dancing, and socialize.