Stephanie Skrypec – Dance Biography

I started my love affair with dance from a young age, beginning with a German dance group called “Der Treue Husar”. I enjoyed many years and made many wonderful memories with this group, which lasted 13 years. I advanced through the ranks of this group from a junior dancer to captain, to eventually coming full circle instructing the group myself. As many people do, I found myself struggling with the idea that dance was a part of my youth, and that part of my life was now over. This notion however, only lasted a couple of years before the need to dance beckoned me again. This time taking the form of jazz dance, and from there I hungered to learn more. This led me to years of jazz dance, tap, hip-hop, swing, and my true passion, Latin dance.

Years of watching Latin ballroom dancers on PBS specials since I was a little girl, made me wonder if through dance, I too could emote that level of intensity, the beautiful lines, the power, the sexiness, the seductiveness, which was a far cry from the shy personality I was. I eventually surrendered yet again to my need for dance, and it led me to Shirley’s Dance Studio, where I met my teacher, mentor, and friend, Mr. Todd Parker. After my third lesson, Todd asked me if I would consider competing. After the initial shock wore off, I somehow or other agreed to do this, all the while juggling family life with a husband, two children, two jobs (working with my husband in the aviation industry and working for the Winnipeg Police as a 911 operator), and being in the process of building a new home and renovating our existing home. To say my plate was full is an understatement!

Somehow or other, I managed to get in many practices with my partner and friend Patrick Haines, lessons with Todd, and off we went to Vancouver for my first competition! It was full of excitement, not only performing myself, but watching the international professionals compete. It was truly an amazing experience. After returning from competition, I took a brief hiatus, but imagine my surprise when shortly after I returned, Todd and Shirley asked me if I would consider instructing for them.

As my husband Russell puts it, “Dancers need to dance, that’s what they do”. Dance is my soul, and whether it is performing myself or teaching others, sharing my passion of dance is not a hobby, but a necessity for me.