Lola Volair embodies that definition perfectly, and takes it, pardon the pun, a step further.
She’s commonly referred to in the dance world as a legend. If you haven't yet, at some point, you should have a coaching lesson with her to see for yourself. To help in that process, we interviewed her, so more Arthur Murray students can understand who she is, and where she came from. Lola Volair is truly one of the great mentors in the Arthur Murray world today, and the next time you see her... you'll even know what she likes for breakfast.
AM: What were the sequence of events that led you to Arthur Murray in the first place?
LV: Initially, I went to Arthur Murray's for a very short time and took some lessons. Then I attended the University of British Columbia, where I joined the dance team with over 1500 members. We had great teachers and I took lessons there for a couple of years. From there, I got more interested in dancing and I inquired about becoming a teacher at Arthur Murray’s.
AM: When was the moment that you realized that Arthur Murray was it for you?
LV: I always knew it was where I belonged, but because of external pressures, it took me a long time to have the conviction to be there.
AM: What dance is the most fascinating to you?
LV: If I have great music, and a wonderful partner, I love slow foxtrot. English Rumba, American Cha-Cha… it all depends on the situation, the partner, and the place.
LV: I do Pilates, I walk, and go out social dancing.
AM: Who plays the role of you in a Hollywood adaptation of your teaching life?
LV: (Gasp) No idea! I don’t watch movies very much. Bette Davis?
AM: (Laughs)
AM: Oooh, Cyd Charisse.
LV: That would be my dream person, but would I be worthy of that? Never.
AM: What do you admire most about her?
LV: She was a person who moved effortlessly, but had fabulous training to look natural and organic
AM: I know that you go to a lot of competitions, not only to judge professionals but also students. What’s the first thing you look at when you’re watching someone in a dance competition?
LV: Natural and Organic. Anything that we learn has to be so far into our cellular level that it has the feeling and appearance of natural and organic, not contrived.
LV: Oh that’s easy! If I’m at home, you really don’t want to know this, I have less than a half a cup of blueberries, the smallest banana I can find, kale (or some other deep green), pomegranate seeds. I add some sprouted seeds, liquid minerals, all the nutrients I can have for the day, in a smoothie - and add some hemp hearts. For my second course I have oatmeal with almond milk or quinoa with a salad.
AM: Sounds like a recipe for healthy living!
AM: As teachers, we focus a lot of time on technique. What’s a bit of technique that maybe we fuss about too much?
LV: I have to think. There can be no denying that cuban motion is important, but there is so much more to learning rhythm or latin dancing than just cuban motion. There’s rotation, there’s arm position, torque. We just get so immersed in cuban motion that everything else gets put aside and we don’t feel that organic movement of the dance.
AM: So what’s your comfort food? Like, something you eat on a rainy day?
LV: I try to pretend they don’t exist. I will say that potato chips are gone out of my life forever.
AM: How has Arthur Murray improved your health or well being?
LV: Oh my goodness! That’s why I’m here. I teach because it’s good for me as well as the students. I get the same benefits that the students get.
LV: Every day I have such a positive view of the world. I have tried retirement, or been off of work for health reasons, and my life was not as happy. So, I am happier because I have the same benefits that a student has, the same sense of achievement, and the same sense of being in the now and being engaged - which is a very hard thing to achieve elsewhere.
AM: How would you describe the difference in the Arthur Murray experience compared to everything else?
LV: Arthur Murray's, our organization, makes a commitment to being inclusive, and not excluding people. So we are an “inclusive society” that puts people first. That creates, for me, a positive environment for the students, and that’s the most important thing.
Cyd Charisse photo credit: www.theredlist.com
Evan Healy is the supervisor of the Arthur Murray Hayward location. Being that this is the former position of co-owner Chris Lynam in that school, Evan has some (literally speaking), big shoes to fill. The fact that Hayward has continued to finish as one of the top 10 Arthur Murray locations worldwide is evidence that the shoes fit just fine.
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