Due to unforeseen circumstances, the article I wrote for December will be posted here in February. In my November article, I wrote about my first dance teacher, who helped me to become the instructor I am today. Over the years, there have been several people who have acted as my “agents” to help me find different places that were looking for a line dance teacher. There are three women who stand out from all the others with their connections and guidance; I will chat about them in chronological order.
First is Donna, who has the distinction of being the original “biggest fan” in my line dance classes. I met Donna when she took a step aerobics class that I was teaching at the YMCA in Hermitage, PA. Donna was instrumental in helping me start teaching line dance for the City of Hermitage Parks and Recreation Program. That led to me teaching for the Sharon Lifelong Learning Council and also at the Penn State University campus in downtown Sharon, PA. Here is one of Donna’s favorite line dances:
Who’s Your Daddy
My next agent, Diana, was originally the mother of a young girl who was in my dance classes when I taught at Dance Center Studios. Diana was one of the sweetest “stage mothers” and throughout the years was supportive with my endeavors as director/choreographer of Sharpsville elementary school talent shows. Diana suggested me to the Director of the Buhl Club in Sharon, PA when he was looking for a new dance teacher there. That led to many more dance recitals and also the beginning of line dance classes at their facility. Unfortunately, Diana recently lost her courageous battle with cancer; I will forever be indebted to her.
Last is Elane, who took my line dance classes at the Buhl Club and opened the door for me to teach in the bar scene. Elane referred me to the owners of The Other Side, a bar in downtown Sharon where I started to develop my teaching skills outside of my usual dance studio/gym. Then Elane heard that Bootleggers in Yankee Lake, Ohio, was looking for a new line dance teacher and the rest, as they say, is history. That led to many years at several other bars in various towns spanning eastern Ohio and western PA. To this day, if there is a “looking for line dance teacher” posting on social media, somehow Elane will see it and tag me in it!
Thank you to these three agents and any other people throughout the years who have helped me!
Dori Yez teaches Country Line Dancing at these Ohio SCOPE Centers: Howland Hon Monday evenings (Beginners) and Wednesday evenings (Seasoned Beginners & Intermediate) plus the same level in Cortland on Friday afternoons. Due to room size and attendance, Dori can no longer accept new students in either of her Howland classes. There is a waiting list for a new “true beginner” class. She is accepting additional dancers in the Cortland class.
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