Hello, my name is Nathalie Blais. I was born on March 4th 1967, and work as a line dancing instructor in Montreal, Quebec.

I started dancing in 1998 at a gym I used to go to, where they began offering trial line dancing classes. In the beginning, I did not even want to try the classes, thinking stereotypically that it wouldn’t be fun, or that I would feel embarrassed because I felt that “line dancing is for old people”. However, my friend Angie finally pushed me to try it out, and within two classes I was hooked. Then, in the spring of 2005, two of my dance teachers were no longer going to teach in my area. I actually wasn’t there that night this news was announced. The next day, I was told the very bad news, but I was also told that many of the other students in the class felt I should start teaching. Although I didn’t think I’d be any good, my friends kept convincing me that I should go for it, and that I would succeed. So, I had a job interview with the city of Dorval. I began working as an instructor in September of 2005.

I have now been teaching for 11 years, and I can honestly say that I love it more and more every day. I really think my students can feel the passion I have for line dancing, and I think they perhaps feel inspired, because now four of them have gone off to become passionate teachers as well. I love my supportive students and I’m lucky to have the best of them – they are an extension of my family. What I love most about my job is when they leave my class with huge smiles on their faces.

I guess you can say that I am totally obsessed with line dancing. No matter what I do during the day, line dancing is always on my mind. I practice in my head while driving. I practice with my fingers (moving them around as if they were my legs), and I dance around in my house as I put on my makeup. I also call my dances in my head at night when I am trying to fall asleep. Some would say that line dancing keeps me sane, however I’m sure others (my husband – lol) would argue that it could sometimes make me a little bit insane. But in my opinion, line dancing is the greatest pastime.