Mentoring with exuberance

Amalshan GUNERATHNE

Sharing his wisdom on Latin American and Ballroom dance, he has mentored many to polish their skills and transform themselves into vibrant dancers with great skill and charisma. Grooming his young apprentices with great meticulous expertise, he excels at harnessing their skills and taking full-use of their true potential. "Dancing is more than just an art. It is a confidence builder and it helps you to grow as a strong individual," he says.

Lengthy career

A dancer turned mentor, the popular Latin American and Ballroom Dance tutor Antonio Fernandez is celebrating 25 years of teaching this June. Antonio or Toni as he is known among his adored colleagues was instrumental in popularizing Latin and Ballroom dancing among local community. During his heyday, he was among the first to represent Sri Lanka at international dance events. One of the few highly qualified dance teachers in the island, Toni set up his own dance school, Antonio's Dance Circle in 1995.

With the glamour, rhythm and exhilarating pace that are associated with Latin American dancing, it has become very popular among urban local community. However according to Toni, there is more to it than just glossy glamour and riveting moves. "It is not just shaking your body and doing your moves. You have to have an in-depth understanding of the character of the dance. You have to give attention choreography, alignment and feel the dance," he says.

From a lively leisure time activity, it has now evolved in to a competitive sport. Toni has also been involved in transforming many young individuals in to professional dancers with great promise. However, he feels that when compared to international performers, Sri Lankan dancers are still very much lagging behind. "I wouldn't recommend dancers to go to the top-level unless I am satisfied that they are up for it. They get temporary glory at local competitions, but when they go international competitions they get knocked out. At lower categories we do well. But when they move in to upper-categories, unless they are technically perfect, they often struggle."

Teaching the art

The growing popularity of Latin American dancing also means that it has become a highly marketable business. Tutors who do not even hold proper qualifications have set-up institutes everywhere to teach the art. Toni feels that necessary legislations have to be put forward to stop bogus instructors from ruining the art. When quarried on the issue, Toni commented, "I am against people teaching without having a proper understanding of what they are teaching. These days it has become a business and they have classes everywhere. Sometimes students from these classes come to competitions and make fool of themselves. They are appalling; they are technically incorrect and don't know a thing about timing or rhythm. Once they learn the wrong thing, it is very hard to unlearn"

However, despite the popularity, Latin American and Ballroom dancing is still very much restricted to certain segments of society. Toni feels that cost factor plays a major role in impeding the growth of dance as a professional sport. "We suffer a lot when we send competitors for international competitions. The competitors need to spend money for costumes, shoes, hall-charges and entry fees. Even at local level it is hard," he explained.

Stress reliever

Still the cost factor should not come in the way of practicing dancing as a leisure time activity. According to Toni, social dancing is a form of exercise and a great stress reliever. "When you dance, even without your knowledge you are engaging yourself on full-body exercise and it practically burns your calories. Instead of going to a gym, you can start giving a full work out to your body by doing something that you actually like," he noted.

Toni also had these thoughts to share with us when quarried on how to approach beginners who are willing to get in to the art. "When a beginner walks in, you shouldn't burden him with all the technical aspects of it. You should encourage him; simplify the dancing so that he or she can follow classes, only when they get in to it that you should start talking about technical stuff."

Even at the age of fifty, he still possesses the same flair and flamboyance of an exuberant dance performer. And his adored fans could expect to witness few of his riveting performances at the special dinner-dance which is organized to celebrate Toni's 25 years of teaching in the local dance-scene. The event is set to get underway on June second at the Golden Rose banquet hall Boralasgamuwa.