Pantuso Dance Founder,
Pat Pantuso

 

I began dancing at the age of five in Winnipeg, Manitoba. At the age of seven I changed dance schools and was one of the first students of Sam McConnell who had just emigrated from Ireland with his family. My knowledge, respect and love of Irish Dancing began at this time. I also learned tap, show dancing, and ballroom. As a teenager I had the good fortune to appear on many local CBC shows and for three years on the national show, Red River Jamboree. This was an excellent training ground for learning material quickly, gaining knowledge of many dance skills and also for performance experience.

Once I was married and my husband and I were starting a family, I taught briefly in New Westminster, Kamloops and Tsawassen. Each time I believed our family of five had reached our final destination. Fortunately, there was one more transfer to come!

In February1977 we were calling Courtenay our new home and I began teaching in the Rainbow Nursery space in the Courtenay United Church with 24 students attending. Pat Pantuso School of Dance was born! In the Fall of 1977, with 42 students and two other dance schools in the valley, our term began and I produced our first recital at Tsolum School in June of 1978. After teaching the second year in a garage, I moved to the Lower Native Sons Hall where the school has remained to this day.

Over the years, students performed in dance festivals, Expo ’67 in Vancouver, The B.C. Seniors Games as well as The B.C. Summer Games, The Olympic Torch passing through town, and many other events too numerous to mention. I, myself, have taken several workshops, mostly in Vancouver and have investigated and been instructed in various tap syllabus. I also had two years of ballet instruction and choreographed for the Co-Val Choristers for more than 20 years.

It is now time, after thirty years of teaching and managing the school, to pursue other interests. Family has always been my number one focus and there are grandchildren to enjoy.

I am thrilled that the newly named “Pantuso Dance” will continue under the direction of Lindsay Sterk and I look forward to being one of the schools’ most enthusiastic fans and staunch supporters.
"Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another." ~anonymous
"To tap or not to tap...silly question!!" ~anonymous

Happy dancing everyone!

Sincerely,
Pat Pantuso