Winner for two years running of the Humanitarian Award at the Vegas Dance Explosion,
Valarie Keller is a hardworker with extraordinary determination and an addicted Line dancer.
Vivienne Scott met up with this amazing woman for a Linedancer magazine exclusive report.
Val started Line dancing 15 years ago as she friends also dedicated to this cause, and across Ontario. By the time the dancers
needed exercise and loved to dance. Not Val credits them with making it all possible arrive the large hall is always colourful
long into her learning curve her teacher left and adds that “without the Line dancers and welcoming and Val is at the front door
to pursue other interests. Valarie was asked themselves the event and the fund raising waiting to welcome the dancers. The event
to take over the class and has not stopped would not be a success”. So it takes the starts with the Friday evening dance at
instructing since. Val has always been an whole package. which dancers know the instructors will
enthusiastic volunteer and so she decided to be subject to a game created by Val’s
help out at a Line dance workshop. As with But let me tell you a little about the event. vivid imagination which will have them
her class, when the Event Director quit, Val First of all it is held close to Wasaga Beach in gales of laughter. Saturday is a day
took over. She had her own ideas though, in Ontario, Canada, a beautiful soft sand of workshops. Every year Val invites
and she renamed the event calling it ‘Dancin’ beach that seems to go on forever. Quite a different Ontario Instructors to teach, she
For Miracles’ and chose to raise funds for a few people go up a little earlier so they can is a great believer in local talent and she
charity with her own personal connection. walk the beach and have a swim in the balmy has been proven correct again and again.
She lost her Dad to cancer and since then waters of Georgian Bay. The instructors always teach an excellent
has lost a number of her close friends and mix of dances. The classes are often
family. As Valarie told me: “The money we There is lots to do in the area, cycling, interrupted however by Valarie and her ever
raise goes only to research and that was my walking, great golf courses, good eating tolerant volunteers garbed in weird and
choice because so many people who attend and much more. However, for the Ontario wonderful costumes intended to ensure
the event have also lost family and friends. dancers, it is ‘Dancin’ For Miracles’ that the paying customers ache with
We could not save my dad but maybe that is the area’s greatest attraction. It laughter by the time they go home! Val tells
someday we can help towards fi nding a cure has become a meeting spot, a place to the story of the time one of the instructors
and make cancer history”. catch up with old friends and meet new, had to be carried onto the stage because
all who share the same love of dance she had two rubber alligators strapped to
These are lofty goals and some people might and the huge hall is always packed. her and couldn’t bend her legs! Valarie
question whether an individual could put I should add here that Valarie lives miles will do anything for a laugh, “Good for the
much of a dent in the money needed to away from Wasaga Beach, it is not her soul”, she reckons.
fund cancer research but Val has raised hometown. She and her family and friends
over $75,000 in seven years. How did pack three long trucks full of decorations, Every year there is a theme and Val comes
she do it you might ask? Well fi rst of all she prizes, equipment, registration packages, equipped with outrageous costumes that she
has supportive and encouraging family and etc. etc. and the convoy makes its way has accumulated over the years. This year for
Val Keller 1 30/10/08, 11:15:42 am
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