Volunteer Spotlight

Be Part of the Action

By Nicholas Westlake

Hands-on experience is the richest, most durable education. There’s just no better learning evironment than creating new things, solving problems, and working with a team to accomplish a common goal. Bonus: when you’re working on a real project that will impact real people, at the end you get to enjoy what you’ve made with a mob of smiling friends.

This is why I’ve taken every opportunity I could find in the last ten years to volunteer in the dance community. I’m proud to have been an integral part of bringing life-enriching experiences to thousands of people in my community and I’m grateful to have had the chance to learn from highly-skilled mentors in the process.

It started with a small emergency: one videographer was missing at a Twin Cities competition called Star of the North. I had just come to watch dancing all day, but when another volunteer asked me to fill in and run the camera, I said, “Sure!”

After a few hours my filming technique improved. With some notes from more experienced volunteers, some of whom were professional videographers, I was impressed with what great footage I was able to catch.

It exploded from there. I volunteered to set up and tear down events. That was a great place to make friends and I had a chance to apply my skills as an audio technician. After all, what would a dance event be without music?

Then I volunteered to be a bigger part of operating a competition. I learned to scrutineer the event: computing results and applying all the details of the rules so the competition is fair and runs smoothly.

I volunteered to design ads promoting community dance events. Shortly after, I joined the volunteer team that produced a monthly Twin Cities dance magazine called the Dancing Times.

During my time in that role, I got the chance to design the branding, programs, websites promotional materials, ads, and displays for two events that are now fixtures in Minnesota: Ballroom Blast and Dance Fest.

As dancers in a growing dance community, my partner Neli and I started volunteering to perform and teach at many events that promote dancing.

Which brings us to the present where I volunteer at Sheer Dance producing this community-focused magazine with a team of excellent volunteers. About half my volunteering time now goes to teaching others: new volunteers who want a chance to learn through experience and contribute to joy in this great community. I'm glad I have a chance to share what I've learned.