It is with great pleasure that I introduce Carla Heiney. I met Carla when we both lived in Pennsylvania many moons ago, and, to this day, my former dance partner and I still talk about watching Carla dance. Carla is a world-renowned Lindy Hopper, dance instructor, and choreographer. She was most recently featured on the Discovery 
Channel’s “Time Warp” with her partner, Nick Williams (check out the video here). When she’s not circling the globe, spreading the gospel of dance, Carla teaches weekly at Swing Central in the Bay area.
1. Tell me a little about yourself as a dancer and teacher.
Wow! This is actually a hard question. A little bit about myself….hmmm, where to start.
I am in love with life and want to make sure that I live it as fully as I can. Dancing is something that brings me so much joy and happiness and has brought me wonderful opportunities; It enriches my life in so many ways and has introduced me to some of the most amazing people, including the man I am going to marry, my love, Rye Crowen. Not only do I get to do something I love and am passionate about for my livelihood, but I also get to share it with other people. Thinking about all the great people I have met, the beautiful places I have been to, and oh the countless memories and exciting times, well, I hope as a dancer and teacher I can bring that to other people too. I dance so that I can teach and I teach so that I can dance. If I were to stop doing those things, I would be giving up something I love. Dancing, in general, just makes me so happy, well most of the time. I am not going to say it is easy all the time. There are certainly obstacles and sometimes, some really big ones too; however, if I remember why I dance, & then ground myself, I find even more motivation to dance harder and more and give more because the more I give, the more I get back too. I know dancing has empowered me and enriched my life and why wouldn’t I want to share that with other people. I know art and dance lift people up and enhance the world. I want to be a part of that – of enhancing the quality of life for my own sake and for others too – making the world a more beautiful place.
I really value my life and what I do with my time. Dancing is a way for me to express myself, work on body control, work on communication both verbally and physically, and create art with my movement and with the movement of others in choreography etc. When I teach I try to remember what it is like to be in the students shoes; I mean I take classes too and am learning all the time. It is not about what you cannot do, but about what you CAN do. I often see students and dancers think they are not good enough and or cannot do something; they limit themselves but I think with the right kind of cheerleader in their court and right kind of support, people can reach great heights. I think this empowerment in dancing flows over into other areas of one’s life. So, I think if someone has a good day in dance and can overcome a hurdle in dancing, then that will translate into another area of their life as well. I know it often does for me as well. Teaching someone and then seeing them go out and perform or social dance allows me to also feel a part of something bigger and it is so rewarding to see my hard work as a teacher and dancer pay off by seeing other dancers, students, friends accomplish something on the dance floor. It is a powerful, warm fuzzy feeling.
This is a little bit about me as a dancer and teacher, but really just as a person. I know dancing is hard. I mean freakin’ really hard at times. We have so many parts to keep track of and then we have another person, our partner to worry about, and then we have the music…wow! I know it is hard so, to be able to move gracefully even for just a few moments and to feel connected to the music and another person and then to be able to convince, through training and hard work and repetition, your body to do what you want it to do when the music is on and you are moving with another person and to be able to relax and enjoy that feeling – wow, now that is a beautiful feeling and I crave that feeling over and over and I want others to have the opportunity to experience that type of feeling while dancing. So, I teach what I do to the best of my ability and am alway checking in with myself to see what “am I actually doing!” How can I communicate that to other people. Then, how can I keep learning from trial and error and lots of experience and from many other people too. I love to go over the basics even with experienced dancers and I love to push people to keep learning and not give up : ) I try to emphasize technique while still maintaining a fun learning environment.
2. What inspired you to get involved with the 24 Hour Dance-a-thon?
I have been marginally involved with it by sending donations and telling people about it the last few years, but unable to attend because I was teaching at other events. I realized that other things are more important that gigs sometimes and this is certainly one of them. I have also recently seen more firsthand the effects of cancer on individual’s lives. It has touched, in some shape or form, nearly every close friend I have. I am inspired by the many people who work hard in science and in the medical field. I am inspired by people’s stories of battling cancer and by friends who helped others battle cancer. I am inspired by the hard work that Nikki and Shesha put into this event. I am inspired by my friends for working so hard to raise so much money for this cause. I am inspired because I value life and health.
3. What class will you be teaching during the Dance-a-thon?
I am teaching “The Lindy Hop” with Shesha Marvin at 3pm. I am very excited to teach with Shesha and I think it is a Beginner Class, but really, open to anyone who wants to hone his or her skills!!
4. What is your favorite dance move?
Unfair question : ) The Lindy Hop!!
5. What is your strategy for staying awake during the 24 hours?
Taking some naps here and there. I kind of feed off of energetic atmospheres and I know this will be one so, I think I will make it through okay. Also, soy lattes and ample water and stretching.
6. What is the one dance tip that you think every dancer needs to know?
Can I give 2, please?
1. Always work on your basics; they are foundation of every other movement. If you neglect any part of your basics, it will show as you progress. It is like a runner warming up before a marathon or training before a marathon – it is like playing scales and warming up before you play an instrument – it is like building a solid house; the foundation needs to be brilliant!
2. I hope more people remember not to judge a person’s character based on their dance skills alone. We all started at the same place in the dance: at the beginning with the basics. I do not equate good dancing with a good person and vice versa, I don’t think someone is somehow less of a person for having a “less efficient swingout,” you know what I mean ; ) This is really important to me. I think if more people thought about this more often, we would have an even BIGGER scene and a healthier and more inviting one.
More information about Carla can be found at her website.
