- 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, and three.

Specializing in Latin and ballroom dance.

Dansani Dance Company is more than a place to learn the cha-cha or waltz.

Whether students are complete beginners or experienced dancers, they come for the rhythm, but stay for the sense of community.

I grew up in a culture - Where dance really is a part of life.

You know, we, we danced in school, we would dance if there was like a, a dignitary coming to your city or your town visiting or your village and they'll gather, you know, school children to come and dance.

So it really is a, a way to welcome people into your community.

So I've been dancing since childhood, really.

And in my earlier years I became a competitive ballroom dancer.

And so with ballroom dancing it really taught a lot.

I mean, it really contributed to my growth and development.

I learned a lot about myself through ballroom dancing and through doing competition I learned about, you know, human connection, how people connect, how people communicate, even without words.

Just in the, in the way that we interacted.

I grew community, I developed long lasting friendships through that.

I really wanted to continue sharing my passion for dance.

That's really what inspired me.

I just, I love dance so much and I'm so passionate and I just wanted to share that with people and help them experience that for themselves.

- For many, it has been years since they have danced or maybe they never have, but first timers are right at home here.

There is no pressure to be perfect, just a warm, welcoming space where people are free to try to stumble, to laugh and to move.

- If I had a dollar or a penny for every time someone said that to me, I mean, of course not everyone, but there are people who really come and said, I can't dance.

I have two left feet.

And my famous line is, you've come to the right place.

I got you, I got you.

But yes, no, I mean it's amazing how many people actually really believe they cannot dance.

And so, and I really love working with those people because my goal for the very first session when we come together is not for me.

Of course I reassure them, but it's not for me to convince them that they can do it.

I want them to experience it for themselves, right?

So I take them through the steps, just like step by step.

And by the end of the first session they be like, I did it.

Oh my goodness, I didn't believe I could do this.

And so this is my goal with every single new participant, new student, is just to convince them that they can do it.

- You know, there is this misconception about dancing that dancing is for, for specific kind of people.

But that is absolutely wrong.

Dance is for everyone.

Regardless of your body type, your body shape, your size, it's you.

It's all about movement, body movement.

It is not the way, it is not rocket science.

It's not the way people see it most times.

So it is when you get involved in it.

And most important in very importantly, in the right atmosphere, the right community, you have the good hands, good instructors that can put you on the right track and guide you.

So that is where you need that guidance from the very good instructors.

And that is what we do here - At Dansani, That guidance is everywhere.

Passion radiates from every corner of the studio.

You feel it in the way they demonstrate a move in the laughter between songs and in the small encouraging moments for first timers, especially that kind of teaching can make all the difference.

- We're getting married and we wanted to learn how to dance and put on a little bit of a show.

The first couple times I was a little, little apprehensive.

I was not very good.

Took me a little while to find my timing.

But after that I really enjoy it.

I look forward to it.

It's, it's a fun thing that we do together.

And yeah, we we're going on round four now, I think.

So we keep coming back 'cause we're honestly, I kind of want to continue afterward on our wedding too.

'cause I, I'd like to get better 'cause I really enjoy it.

- And for many students that joy becomes the most unexpected gift of all.

What begins as a new skill quickly becomes something deeper, something to look forward to, something that lifts the mood and moves the soul.

People often arrive carrying the weight of the day, but that changes as soon as the music begins.

- I really have learned more about communication and connection.

Watching people dance and communicate on the dance floor.

You know, you get the whole spectrum.

You get people coming in in different, at different stages of their relationships and you know, right from early on to later on all kinds of different life circumstances.

You know, people come in and they just feel heavy.

Life feels heavy for whatever reason.

I mean, that's part of life.

And some days that's more not sensible than others, but that sort of lightness of mood as they live through the class, as they do this, they feel lighter, they feel happier, they look happier.

They say, they express that just, oh my gosh, it feels great.

I love coming to dance class because when I live I just feel so amazing.

The smiles, they don't even have to say it.

You just see it in people's faces that they've had a wonderful time - For WPBS Weekly.

I'm Gail Paquette.

- To learn more about available classes, visit dansanidanceco.ca.