Skip to content

Dance classes with a Latin twist

94885quesnelChristison-Curtis
Curtis Christison is offering salsa and merengue dance lessons.

Maple Park Alliance Church welcomed its new youth pastor, Curtis Christison, five months ago and with him, he brought a unique skill set.

Christison teaches Latin dancing. He’s offering classes in salsa and merengue dancing beginning with a free, try out class March 30 at the church.

His interest in Latin culture was first sparked as an undergraduate at UNBC where they offered a dance class. Christison jumped at the chance to learn Latin dancing. He followed this up with drop in classes and lessons while in Calgary but possibly the best classes for Christison were in Guatemala where he connected with a dance studio, learned more and then became a teacher.

Both Christison and his wife love to dance and he says its something they can do together.

At a recent youth dinner and dance, Christison and his wife stepped onto the dance floor and some of the youth were a little surprised.

However, the church elders, once they learned of his Latin dancing were intrigued.

Christison admitted previous congregations and church officials didn’t condone dancing, along with many other things but says that attitude is changing.

“Our generation have rethought the attitude towards all the don’ts expressed by the church,” he said.

“We’re more of a generation of what we do, more involved with helping people and  social justice like the issue of human trafficking. We’re not consumed by don’ts, we’re consumed with reaching out to people.”

The salsa and merengue classes are open to anyone in the community who wants to learn this type of Latin dancing.

Christison said its a community program rather than a church program.

“It’s a way to share my love of the Latin culture, specifically through dance,” he said.

“Dance is a wonderful way of teaching gender respect, of learning to work together through partnering.

“Its a way for women to feel beautiful and men to learn to gently lead. Men and women are different and dance helps them to get in tune with each other.”

Christison said he’s offering the first class free so people can come and see if this type of dancing appeals to them. You don’t need a partner but again, Christison said its a wonderful activity to share with your spouse or partner. The balance of the eight classes are just $50 total and classes run Wednesdays, 7 – 8:30 p.m. at Maple Park Alliance Church.

To find out more about the classes e-mail Christison at surf_n_salsa@hotmail.com.