Jamie and Stephen Hawking are dancing up a storm since they found each other on the ballroom floor
Stephen and Jamie Hawkings share on their love of dance but most importantly, why they love dancing together.
As a pre-teen, Jamie Hawking’s potential to dance was seen by a friend of her mothers, while her husband, Stephen’s, love of the dancefloor also came when he was a child, after he quickly realised sports were just not for him.
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While Jaime started dancing with hip-hop and jazz lessons, Stephen found his love for the beat through creative dance, modern contemporary, and ballet. That is until about two years ago, when they found dancing in each others arms for the rest of their lives to be one the best things to come from the wooden floors. While still very new to the art form, Stephen’s best ballroom dance style is the quickstep, and Jamie’s is the tango. “I am still new to ballroom, so we can’t do much of the advanced stuff yet,” said Jamie.
Found dancing together at Roosevelt Park Recreation Centre, they say the art form has allowed for them to experience a sort of magic together. “There is this connection you just end up getting and if you just let go, and just move, it’s almost like there is this kinetic energy that takes over, and the body just knows what to do with it,” said Jamie.
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Stephen, who is also a dance teacher, first started dancing with his sister. The transition from dancing with his sister, who is shorter than Jamie, was interesting as it meant a reset. Ballroom dance allows for him to fulfill the deep desire he has – to dance until he is well over 80 years old. “I know of this couple who are in their 90s and are still dancing together. Having someone I can dance with until I’m old is very cool,” he said.
Jamie is undoubtedly happy that she snagged a boy she can dance with. “This was a dream I did not think possible. But now I get to dance with Stephen and I am really glad he wants to dance for the rest of our lives.”
They encourage others to take part in the sport too, as it is an easy way to exercise and it’s also so much fun.
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