Ontario Dance Instructors - Karen & Randy Parent

Who are Karen & Randy Parent...

We are a law enforcement officer and a high school teacher with five adult children and five grandchildren. Although our respective careers and family life are rewarding we have decided to teach dance in our spare time to provide us with the opportunity to pass our enthusiasm and passion for dance on to others.

We have been dancing fifteen years, for the last five years we have been apprentice teaching under the watchful eyes of Gloria and Cy Penny, owners and instructors of Opal Studio. We have traveled to Windsor and taken instruction from various instructors at the Windsor International Ballroom Club. We also receive instruction from Elena Semenov. Elena and her husband Eugene Eginzbur were Russian Latin Champions and World Competitors.

Twice a year we try to travel to the countries where the individual dances originated to receive instruction and get a feel for the original culture of the dance. We believe this gives us a better feeling for the origins of the particular dance, therefore providing us with a more expressive style. This experience, outside of our usual learning, has taught us that dancing is not a group of rigid routines and steps but a chance to feel and move to music. We focus on Social Ballroom Dance. It’s the type of dancing you will do at most parties, nightclubs, weddings etc. , it’s not competitive and it’s not choreographed.
The only goal is to have fun!

We teach you the technique and styling to go out in the world and dance. You will gain the know-how to enter social situations and dance with virtually anyone.

Dance is "conversation"

We believe dance is much more than just a series of "moves." Instead, we like to think of dance as a “conversation” between two people. To have a conversation in any language, you must learn its vocabulary and grammar.

We have been taking lessons for fifteen years. About eight years ago, when we were in our “early” forties, we came to a crossroads in our dance experience and had to make a choice. Our teachers offered to instruct us to achieve medals and compete at the amateur level. This would have meant taking on the structure of the international rules of dance. We needed to reflect on why we started dancing and what we hoped to attain.
The answer was clear. We wanted to enjoy our experience, look good and be comfortable dancing our steps to all kinds of music, on all types of floors, whether crowded or open.

Although we have knowledge of and have received training in the techniques and international rules of dance and strict time music, we have decided that our own personal expression is our strength. Our experience has shown us that 95% of dancers wanting instruction do not want to compete or achieve medals. They want what we wanted...to “look good” and be comfortable and confident on the dance floor, while “enjoying themselves”.
If achieving medals or competing is what you want, we can introduce you to professional teachers who have come up through the ranks and can assist you in achieving your goals. We are more than willing to discuss this with you and point you in the proper direction at no charge. After all, that’s what your dance experience is all about isn’t it? What you want to achieve, not what your teachers want for you.

There is a “Right Way” to ballroom dance socially and that way is with ease and passion and we promise to pass that on to you.

Request More Info

Request More Info

Karen & Randy PARENT
31 Norway Maple Drive
Chatham, ON N7L5C8
phone: 519-351-7789
www.rhythmofthenight.ca

Listen to Ballroom Music