Elizabeth Zahur
Life Reporter

Students have the opportunity to spice up the athletic studio by becoming part-time instructors.

Fitness program co-ordinator Leanne Henwood-Adam said she likes to give students the chance to instruct classes.

“We do have a core number of instructors who do this as a living.  They come in from outside the college to teach, but we also hire students who are certified,” she said.  “I check their qualifications, make sure that they are certified by a body that we recognize and if their references check out we bring them on board.”

Sal Erazo, a second-year justice studies student approached Henwood-Adam near the end of last semester to volunteer, but was hired as an instructor. His new latin dance class is offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and he plans on offering them again next year.

“When you come to my class you don’t have to worry about work, you don’t have to worry about relationships, you just have fun,”’ he said.

Erazo has been dancing for years, doing competitions and events.  He  also has experience teaching and has previously given lessons.

“I do it because I love it,” he said.

Last Thursday, his students showcased their newfound skills at Culture Shock – a talent show held in the Student Centre which aimed to showcase dances and music from different cultures while raising money for at-risk youth.

Decked in black and white outfits, Erazo led six of his students through a dance routine they had been working on in class at the event organized by the Guelph-Humber Student Association.

Anna Turynska, a second-year UNB-Humber nursing student; Marcia Lourenco, a second-year law clerk student; and Jody-Ann Howell, a first-year recreation and leisure services student, have been to all of Erazo’s classes and say they go because he’s a good teacher.