Spotlight On: Jim Spellman, Dance Instructor

Have you always been a dancer? What drew you to dancing?

I have been dancing since age 14. As an adult, I was enrolled at UMass Boston when they added a dance program to the College of Physical Education. I needed to choose a major and fate made my decision for me. At the same time, the Massachusetts Amateur Ballroom Dance Association sponsored a ballroom dance team for the university. I became a member of the team and learnt Ballroom Dancing.

How long have you been teaching at CCAE?

I have been teaching at CCAE since about 1995.

How do you help people shed their nerves and feel comfortable on the dance floor?

I love to dance and to teach dance. That sincere emotion transfers to my students. I highlight what they can do and accomplish. I have a lot of patience and I am able to break down the movement into understandable segments.

Do you have a favorite kind of dance to teach or to do yourself?

I love all the styles of dance that I teach. I find Dance for a Romantic Occasion the most fun to teach because it is very social and user friendly.

What kind of music do you like to incorporate in your dance classes?

Some of the artists that I play for class are Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Natalie Cole. I also use traditional Ballroom and Latin music.

Do you do any other performing arts?

Not yet! But I do look forward to taking acting and singing classes here.