Yummi Mummis experience dance

Written by Rebekah Benoit
Wednesday, 22 February 2012 10:18

Jaimsie Hughes (supplied)For most mommies out there, the opportunity to learn the graceful and eloquent art of dance passed us by in childhood, when we eschewed ballet or jazz class in favour of Brownies or volleyball club.

These days, at least in Fort McMurray, it seems the closest we moms can get to learning how to dance is watching our own little ones prance across the stage at the year-end dance recital, cheering at each arabesque and wishing we’d taken the chance to learn ourselves.

This is what local dancer and mom Jaimsie Hughes hopes to change with her new business, Yummi Mummi Dance.

Hughes is offering local women the chance to discover their own inner dancer through two types of classes.

The first, called “The Dancer In You,” is an eclectic mix of jazz, funk and lyrical styles in a traditionally formatted class, while the second, “Your Inner Seductress,” is a burlesque-style class aimed at helping women explore their feminine, seductive side with the use of props such as canes, boas and chairs.

Hughes, who came to Fort McMurray in 2010 with her family, has a long-established love affair with the art of dance, beginning her study at the tender age of three, along with gymnastics and modelling.

“Dance has always been my forte and my passion,” says Hughes.

“Self-expression through dance and performance is what has kept it real for me.”

Hughes began dancing professionally at the age of 16 in Calgary and soon found herself touring the United States with “The World Needs More Canada,” under the direction of the well-known Tom Jackson. Hughes spent six years as dance captain and assistant cruise director with Princess Cruises, travelling the world while sharing her talent and enthusiasm for dance.

Today, she and her family call Fort McMurray home, and Hughes hopes to  inspire the women in her new community with the same love of self-expression and freedom of movement that she has found in the art of dance.

“I’ve taken time off the last few years to have my family, but I always knew it was only a matter of time until I could reimmerse myself back into the world of dance,” Hughes says.

She describes her vision as the desire to empower women through the love of dance.

“It’s for the hard-working adult women living in the Fort McMurray community, to give them the opportunity to give back to themselves in a positively charged and fun environment,” says Hughes, adding that encouraging physical fitness is another important component in her program.

Hughes stresses that the key requirement to joining a Yummi Mummi class is the desire to have fun.

“There is absolutely no previous dance experience or dance training required,” she says. “These classes are for any and all women ages 18 or older. It’s going to be a blast, and I am so looking forward to getting started.”

Yummi Mummi started its premier class on Feb. 15 but there is still space available for session 1, which runs until April 4.

The program will run again May 2- June 20 and Sept. 26-Nov 23.

Classes are be held at Holy Trinity High School’s performing arts centre, and will run for an hour each week for seven weeks.

Requirements for each class are minimal—participants will need to wear comfortable clothing that enables easy movement, such as yoga wear, as well as jazz sneakers or shoes.

The “Inner Seductress” classes also require props for in-class use which can be purchased from Yummi Mummi. Those who can’t attend the entire class and are wanting to drop in, can do so.

For more information or to register, visit Yummi Mummi Dance’s website at www.yummimummidance.ca.