Dance with Us! – Dance with Us Ottawa Studio
An Interview with Oksana and Yuri Shelkov
People come to Dance with Us Ottawa with different dreams: to step confidently onto the dance floor, find a shared hobby with their partner, prepare a wedding dance, or introduce their child to the world of dance.
The studio's founders, Yuri and Oksana Shelkov, are Canadian professional ballroom dance champions, participants in world championships, and certified adjudicators. They have more than fifteen years of teaching experience. We met with Yuri and Oksana to talk about how to take that first step into a dance class and why dancing can become an important part of your life.
– How did dancing become part of your lives?
Yuri: My mother brought me to dance classes when I was eight years old. A classmate was taking ballroom dancing lessons and looking for a partner. Her mother suggested that my mother bring me to a trial class. At the time, I was choosing between soccer and dancing. Gradually, I became more involved, and performances and competitions followed. My mother helped me make the choice, and I've been dancing ever since.
Oksana: I attended the Gnessin Music School and sang in the Central Television and Radio Children's Choir. I started ballroom dancing at around eleven, continued after moving to France, and focused on it even more after moving to Canada at seventeen.
– How did your studio come about?
Oksana: I was living in Montreal, while Yuri was in Halifax. He was looking for a dance partner and contacted me through a dance chat. We met at an international competition in Kingston, started communicating, and eventually began dancing together. When Yuri was transferred to Ottawa for work, I followed him. We were already married by then. We began teaching here and eventually opened our own studio.
– Learning from champions might seem a little intimidating for beginners, wouldn't it?
Oksana: Competitive experience certainly helps us develop a deep understanding of technique and demonstrate it properly through our own example. But a good teacher is not simply someone who dances well. It is equally important to know how to explain things and find the right approach for each student.
Everyone absorbs information differently. Some people understand movements better through images and associations, others need clear technical explanations, while still others need to experience the movement physically. That's why the same movement may require completely different explanations for different students.
We also continue learning ourselves. We attend seminars, take lessons and masterclasses, and study different teaching methods for both children and adults.
Yuri: Our experience as adjudicators also helps. We can identify what a student needs to work on, whether it's musicality, coordination, or technique, and structure the training more effectively. Exercises are selected individually.
– "I have no sense of rhythm," "I've never danced before." Where should people like that begin?
Oksana: By getting to know the studio and the teachers. We show visitors around, ask what brought them here and what dances they enjoy. It's important to create a comfortable atmosphere where people want to return and socialize.
Then we begin with simple movements, develop coordination, and learn how the arms and legs work together.
Yuri: We take into account whether someone has played soccer or hockey, practiced martial arts, or studied other dance styles. These skills can help with learning.
Salsa and bachata are excellent choices for beginners. But if someone has always dreamed of learning the slow waltz, we'll gladly help them start with that dance.
– Can someone come alone? And what does dancing offer adult couples?
Oksana: A partner is absolutely not required. You can take private lessons or join group classes with an instructor or assistant. Some students prefer dancing solo, and that's perfectly comfortable for them.
People also meet and socialize here. Couples have even formed at our studio. Recently, I met a married couple who first met here and have now been together for more than ten years.
Yuri: For couples, dancing is an opportunity to learn together and enjoy a shared activity. We see this especially clearly when preparing wedding dances.
We consider the music, the couple's wishes, the time available for preparation, and even the size of the dance floor. We try to make the lessons an enjoyable part of wedding preparations. Some couples later bring their children to us.
– Why should parents consider ballroom dancing for their children?
Oksana: Ballroom dancing develops coordination, musicality, discipline, and social skills. It teaches children to respect their partners and those around them and to interact respectfully with the opposite sex.
Perhaps these benefits become especially important later, when children enter their teenage years.
Regular training from childhood builds the habit of setting goals and working toward them step by step. Performances, tournaments, new routines, and personal achievements give children a sense of direction at a time when many teenagers are searching for their identity, questioning their interests, and trying to understand what they want.
– What if a child is shy and doesn't want to join a group?
Oksana: With younger children, we begin through play. We need to capture their interest and show them that dancing is fun.
Families can first come to meet us or watch videos of children's dancing. Recently, a boy and a girl came to our studio but were too shy to join the group. We suggested one-on-one lessons so they could try dancing in a calm environment.
Every child develops at their own pace. We offer open classes and individual trial lessons to help determine the best way to begin.
– Does a child need to find a dance partner in advance?
Oksana: Not at all. Both boys and girls can dance solo, whether simply for enjoyment or to participate in competitions.
Solo dancing is a complete discipline in its own right. Children learn to control their bodies independently, maintain balance, and respond to music.
They can also dance with partners, and there are opportunities to train and perform with more experienced students. Not having a partner should never prevent a child from getting started.
– What changes in your students bring you the greatest joy?
Oksana: Probably the most rewarding moments are when children begin to open up, become more confident, and stop being afraid to express their emotions.
Recently, we've been paying even more attention to this aspect of dancing. In addition to our regular teaching, we frequently invite instructors from Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto to conduct special masterclasses.
Dance requires expression, and children need to discover that they are capable of expressing themselves.
It's also wonderful to see people return. Some of our students first came to us many years ago when they were very young. They took lessons and danced themselves, and today they have become parents and bring their own children to us.
It's a beautiful continuity: we once taught them to dance, and now we're teaching their little ones. For us, that's a very warm and special feeling.
– Is it necessary to aim for tournaments and medals?
Yuri: Of course not. Not every child wants to compete, and that's perfectly normal.
Children can dance simply for their own enjoyment, develop physically and creatively, acquire new skills, and build confidence.
Our program is not limited to ballroom dancing. Children also take classical dance classes that include stretching, strengthening the leg and back muscles, footwork, posture, balance, and turns. All of this supports balanced physical development and provides an excellent foundation for dancing.
But one of our main goals is to create a friendly, welcoming community where everyone belongs.
We love and value all our students, regardless of their age, experience, achievements, or whether they want to participate in competitions.
Every child should feel noticed, supported, and valued within the group.
We teach our students the same principles: to respect and support one another and celebrate the achievements of others, regardless of age or skill level.
There's another important point we'd like to emphasize: our studio is not exclusively a Russian-speaking community.
We have many Canadian students from diverse backgrounds and with different native languages.
We teach in four languages: English, French, Ukrainian, and Russian.
It's important to us that everyone who comes to our studio feels comfortable and can learn in a language they understand.
If you've been thinking about dancing, come with a partner or on your own, or encourage your children to give it a try.
Find out about our next open class or trial lesson, or arrange to visit and watch a class.
Come meet us, experience the atmosphere, and ask your questions.
Watch the video recording of the interview: nashaottawa.ca/dancewithus
Registration and information:
613-406-0066
38 Antares Drive, Suite 800
dancewithusottawa.com
info@dancewithusottawa.com