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Anyone who’s watched Dancing With the Stars and dreamt of floating round the dance floor has the chance to have a go themselves next month, when two champion dancers bring their expertise to Warkworth.
Peter and Rachell van der Veek are eight-time national NZ Latin and ballroom champions who have travelled the world as pro-dancers, competition judges and expert instructors for more than 30 years.
Now living in Orewa, they are starting a series of novice adult dance classes at Warkworth Performing Arts (WPA) in the Grange, starting on August 3. As well as traditional ballroom and Latin sessions, Peter and Rachell will also run adult street dance and fitness classes.
They say all ages and abilities are welcome to come along and try new ways of having fun to music.
“In 1997, we opened our dance studio in The Netherlands, where we taught ballroom, Latin American, street dance, KidSwing, Argentine tango, show dance, fitness and Zumba. It was a successful business that we cherished until eventually we decided it was time for a new challenge, and we moved back to New Zealand in 2021,” Rachell said.
Now that the worst of the pandemic has passed and they are settled on the Hibiscus Coast, they’re keen to get back into passing on their lifelong passion for dancing to a new audience.
“Now we wish to continue offering the joy of dance to all levels of the community,” she said.
Following several successful trial workshops at WPA recently, the couple has scheduled two five-week ‘seasons’ on consecutive Thursday evenings in August and November.
Adult street dance with Rachell and adult fitness with Peter will run from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, followed by ballroom and Latin with both of them from 7.45pm to 8.45pm. Each five-week season costs $80 per person, which works out at $14 per lesson plus a $10 administration fee.
Rachell and Peter can also provide private lessons and teaching for wedding dances by arrangement.
Info: Go to www.wpa.co.nz/recharge-non-performance or email admin@wpa.co.nz
Cha-cha-challenging, but great fun –
Mahurangi Matters journalist Sally Marden takes to the floor
For many years, I’ve watched, fascinated, as non-dancers transform from shambling amateurs to polished pros on TV dance shows. It’s not just the steps and skills they acquire, it’s the change in their souls – they fall in love with dance; it brings them palpable joy.
So, while the full immersion training those dancing stars experience might be unattainable, I still wanted to give it a go and see if some of the magic could possibly rub off on this old wannabe.
Enter Peter and Rachell van der Veek, international champions, who have settled locally and are now keen to share their skills with novice hoofers like me. With husband in tow, I attended two trial workshops at Warkworth Performing Arts’ new studio in the Grange for an intensive introduction to ballroom and Latin.
First thing to report – it’s not easy! Persuading feet that merely walk to remember complex new patterns and steps (while travelling backwards, to boot) is quite a challenge to mind and body. But I can honestly say don’t let that put you off – it’s also great fun, rewarding and incredibly satisfying when you get it right, even if only for a few steps at a time.
We stumbled, tripped and trod on each other’s toes, but we also laughed, connected and enjoyed a good workout. Oh, and we somehow acquired the basics of waltz, quickstep, rumba and cha-cha-cha in the process!
Peter and Rachell are great teachers – they explain and demonstrate things simply and clearly, and most importantly, overflow with essential patience, tolerance and humour.
Like the best of leisure pursuits, learning to dance is completely absorbing, gets you out of your comfort zone and makes you forget your everyday concerns for a few hours. We will certainly be returning to have another go next month.
