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Positivity and connection through the power of dance
College of the Rockies People: Their Courage, Curiosity, and Contributions
Renowned dancer and choreographer Agnes De Mille once said, “To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful… This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking.” College of the Rockies’ Executive Assistant to the President and Board of Governors, Susan Woods, couldn’t agree more.
From the first time she was introduced to clogging, back in 1988, she fell in love with the percussive style of folk dance.
“It’s really an amalgamation of tap, jazz, hip hop, Canadian step dancing, and flat footing,” she said. “It incorporates some Irish dance and some English, but contrary to some misconceptions, it does not involve wooden shoes.”
Woods also finds many mental and physical health benefits come with moving her body through dance.
“I love the exercise, and the movement,” she said. “I love that dance is one of the top things that can reduce the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s, and I love the social aspect of it. I have friends all over the world that I’ve met through dance.”
Her love of clogging was so immediate, she began teaching after only six months.
“I lived in Victoria at the time. It was quite new in the region and there was only one instructor for a large population,” Woods said. “She was teaching adults so I started a class for kids. I’ve been teaching ever since.”
After the death of her mother in 1992, Woods moved to Cranbrook to help support her father. Not willing to give up her passion for clogging, she started the Rocky Mountain Cloggers, a group that remains strong today.
“Right now I have about 12 students in about three different levels of dance,” she said. “I mostly teach adults but I’ve had dancers as young as four and as old as 78. Right now I think my youngest is 16 and my oldest is 62. No matter the age or the level, we all dance together.”
Teaching brings Woods a tremendous amount of joy and she finds rewards in watching her students grow and develop.
“I’ve always gravitated toward helping other people learn,” she said. “I love watching that light go on as people progress and master a new step, or discover a new favourite song, or develop a network of friendships. The dance studio is just a really positive, happy place. Nobody comes to dance class to be miserable.”
“I have been in Susan’s clogging class for 15 years,” said Kathy Nelson, clogging student and College of the Rockies Child, Youth and Family Studies instructor. “My daughter Mackenzie has been in the class for 13 years, and my son Fisher for seven. We love that she continues to challenge us. She’s a strong teacher and a great choreographer and we look forward to going to class every Thursday.”
Over the years, Woods’ involvement in clogging has provided her with remarkable opportunities. She coordinated two full-length shows at Key City Theatre, complete with actors and dancers. With her typical dedication and determination, she took on the choreography, sound, lighting, and costume design herself.
A second highlight of her dance career saw her group representing Canada at the Austrian Alps Performing Arts Festival. Over 10 days, they danced in six different venues in Austria and on the border with Germany, getting the opportunity to watch and interact with hundreds of performers from different countries.
A grandmother of two, Woods appears to have an unending supply of energy. In addition to her full-time job at the college and work with the Rocky Mountain Cloggers, she takes part in such diverse hobbies as motor biking, camping, crocheting, snowmobiling, hunting, shooting, and water sports.
She is the Chair of the College’s Social Committee, Communications Officer for the Moyie Snowmobile and ATV club, Secretary/Treasurer for the Kimberley Trap and Skeet Club, and an active member of the Moyie Community Events Committee.
“I love being active,” she said. “I like to be involved and feel it is important to give back to the community and to the activities I take part in by taking an active role.”
Obviously not one to shy away from challenging herself, Woods encourages others to not be afraid to try something new – like clogging.
“You don’t have to have any dance experience, you don’t even have to have rhythm. I’ve taught a lot of people in my 30 years of teaching and I don’t think there’s anyone who can’t learn if they just be kind to themselves and try.”
Lead image: Susan Woods, centre, and Rocky Mountain Clogger members perform at Sam Steele Days. Photos courtesy College of the Rockies
College of the Rockies