•Pets atHome
“There are shortcuts to happiness and dancing is one of them.”
Vicki Baum (author & woman’s rights pioneer 1888-1960)
T Sally Paul and Kissy share a moment as they dance to Side by Side. Photo Courtesy Nancy Marston
The Art of Dancing With Your Dog By Amee Abel
he Pandemic may have us holding people at arm’s length, however partnering with our dogs for a spin around the floor is a super way to keep us dancing. Dancing with your dog combines tricks, movement and music to create a performance that is both artistic and athletic. As an activity in your living room, it’s called fun. As a competitive sport, it’s called Musical Freestyle. Many Americans first exposure to Musical Freestyle was watching Britain’s Got Talent in 2012 when an amazing young dancer, Ashleigh Butler and her dog Pugsy won Simon Cowell’s heart and the competition. Butler explains the sport as “choreograph a routine to music for you and your dog.” Since its beginnings in the early 1990s, Musical Freestyle has grown in popularity and spread throughout the world. Classes and competitions are held throughout Europe, in Japan, in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the U.S. The surge in U.S. musical freestyle has paralleled the increasing understanding that “training” doesn’t mean “punishment.” Owners who attend modern manners classes see how much their dogs love to learn. It’s easy to get hooked on the fun of teaching their dogs new things. Musical Freestyle combines tricks, manners, creativity, music, and fun. No wonder dogs and people love it. Computers, smartphones, and the internet have given a big boost to Musical Freestyle. It’s easier for this small sport to reach a big audience, thanks to Youtube; on Facebook, Musical Freestyle affinity groups allow enthusiasts to share training tips and recorded performances. Music itself is more portable (and more editable) than it has ever been before. The ease of making videos has aided both the learning and the performance end of the sport. Yet, nothing beats the camaraderie and fun of learning in a live class. My students at Monadnock Humane Society’s Training Center enjoy a weekly get-together where they can experiment with new moves and practice dance sequences. We’ve also done some mash-up videos that highlight students’ increasing skills. You can watch the 2019 Holiday video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP7LJLX1Zyk.
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