Instructor Bio
Barb Guenette
Certified Clogging Instructor
Barb Guenette
Barb Guenette
I have been teaching Clogging classes in the Nanaimo area since approximately 1994 (I don’t remember the exact date since I never dreamed I would still be teaching now!)
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It all started because a friend from Square Dancing came home from a National Square Dance Convention with a fun “new” dance she had learned there. We practiced a bit & then asked the local caller for the Teen Square Dance Club if we could show it to the Teens. Well, they weren’t interested but the adults were. We were off & running! (or should I say dancing?) When she moved to Victoria after getting married, I carried on with the group & still have it today.
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​I received my CCI (Certified Clogging Instructor) designation at the National Clogging Convention in Nashville, TN in 1998. The training involved sessions in the history of clogging, marketing, how to teach, etc. After attending both sessions (at separate times), I felt I was ready to test. Being an adult & having to “test” again was quite the ordeal but I did it!
I felt strongly enough about the CCI program to bring it to Canada for our Clogging Instructors here. We held sessions in Kelowna in 2002 for 20 aspiring candidates! And I was invited to be one of the instructors. The other 2 instructors came from Louisianna & South Carolina. Nowadays I am on the Steering Committee for C.L.O.G. (the National Clogging Organization) & help to mentor others who wish to earn their designation too.
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I was on the Board of Directors for the Northwest Clogging Association for 18 years, serving in several capacities. I am presently on the Board of Directors & Executive Committee for C.L.O.G. & am the Director of Programming for the annual Convention. I have taught at the last 19 National Clogging Conventions. I was the Featured instructor for the Kootenay Spring Stomp Clogging Workshop for 27 years. (declining numbers resulted in the cancellation of that workshop). I have taught at 7 BC Provincial Square Dance Conventions & co-ordinated the Clogging program for 5 of those years. I have also taught at 2 Canadian National Square Dance Conventions & the first (& only so far) Canadian Clogging Convention. I have taught in Alberta & Manitoba at clogging workshops & was featured both times I taught in Manitoba.
The highlight was in 2000 when I was invited to take my group to the Austrian Alps Performing Festival! That is an invitation-only event so we felt very honored to represent Canada.
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I love to choreograph my own Clogging routines & love to hear that other groups are enjoying my routines. We also dance to many other instructors’ routines. I enjoy teaching all levels of Clogging & love to watch the joy on a dancer’s face when they “get” that difficult step! I especially like the comraderie & FUN that is a part of the Clogging Community & try to put as much of that into my classes as I can.
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I have my own YouTube channel (Barb Guenette) & have posted
some routines there (mainly for my own dancers during Covid).
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We dance to all kinds of music – country, pop, rock & roll, swing, etc. My personal favourites are Bluegrass & Rockabilly.
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I have been married 52 years to Larry. We have 3 beautiful daughters, 7 grandchildren & 1 great grandson.
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When I am not clogging, I volunteer in the tasting room at a local winery on Vancouver Island & have been there the past 8 years. Before that (& retirement) I was an X-ray Technologist at the hospital in Nanaimo for over 20 years. I also, along with Larry, lead wine tours when the cruise ships visit Nanaimo. I also enjoy hiking, camping, boating & spending time with my family.
Austrian Alps Performing Festival, 2000