Dancers with Woofs Dance Teams

By: Daryl L. Skaradzinski

While the thought of dogs dancing with a human may conjure up visions of something from America’s Funniest Home Videos, it really is based upon basic obedience training, while adding other dimensions such as music, timing, costuming and showmanship.

Or, for members of Dancers with Woofs, the area’s only canine freestyle dance organization, it provides an opportunity for dogs of all breeds to enhance the bond with their owners, while bringing joy to someone else’s life, said Diane Jones, head of public relations for the non-profit group. "There’s a special bond that exists with our dogs, so being able to apply that bond and extensive training to bring joy to someone’s life is very rewarding and special,” said Jones. “We’ve performed at nursing homes, schools, senior centers-anywhere and any place where dogs are welcomed, we’ll go.”

“We’re the only group in the state,” declared Jones. “There are groups in Michigan, Ohio, New York and other states along the East Coast, but for some reason, it hasn’t caught on here,” said Jones. “We’re working to change that.”

The group has a full schedule of activities, ranging from demonstrations at area senior living communities and day care centers to performances at local pet stores and special events. It recently hosted its third annual Freestyle Dance Camp, and will even be appearing at a Christmas tree lightning ceremony, where members and their canine partners are learning new routines using popular holiday music. It’s also planning to host Wisconsin’s first canine freestyle dance competition in April 2010.

The World Canine Freestyle Organization (WCFO) founded in 1999 and the sport’s governing body, defines canine freestyle as a “choreographed musical program performed by handlers and their dogs. The object of musical freestyle is to display the dog and handler in a creative, innovative and original dance, using music and intricate movements to showcase teamwork, artistry, costuming, athleticism and style in interpreting the theme of the music.”

Judging in the sport is very much based upon Olympic sports, Jones said.  “Technical merit comprises 50% of the overall score and includes how accurate one is doing the movements, the precision and execution of the moves and the degree of difficulty involved in performing them,” explained Jones. There’s even a requirement that the dog and its handler during any freestyle routine must use at least 75% of the area of the performance ring.

Artistic impression comprises the remainder of the score and includes “the animation and enthusiasm of the performers, how they appeal and connect with the audience and the creativity of the choreography of dance in the routine.” Costumes—minimally for the dog, more so for the handler—and how they relate to the music and appeal to the audience also are judged.

“Any dog is a good candidate for freestyle dancing,” exclaimed Jones. “Anyone, any dog, any breed, mixed breeds and any size are welcome—it’s absolutely for all dogs and their owners. You don’t have to have a pedigreed dog to enjoy the sport. We’ve had dogs from Border Collies to St. Bernard’s participate in freestyle dance.”

“It truly is one of those activities where what you put into it is what you get out of it, and it requires a lot of training,” explained Jones. “Many people fail to realize that an hour’s worth of basic dog training for eight to 10 weeks is quickly forgotten and needs to be reinforced. Freestyle dancing requires a commitment to regular training.”

Not only are the dogs diverse, but participating owners and handlers are as well. Titling competitions are held in several divisions based upon skill and age levels of both the owner and the dog, including junior, senior, beginner, intermediate, advanced and even a Handi Dandi division for the physically challenged dog and/or handler.

According to the WCFO, the origins of musical canine freestyle dancing were found in Canada in the late eighties, in Europe in the late eighties and early nineties and in the USA in the early nineties. Various individuals—obedience trainers, dressage trainers, choreographers and show business personalities—claim to have invented the sport.

In the mid-90s canine freestyle demonstrations started becoming part of dog obedience trials. As trainers and others became interested, the sport slowly gained credibility. Sponsorship of larger, popular events by pet food manufacturers fueled the dog owning public’s interest until the WCFO was founded to spread awareness of the sport.

Some of Dancers with Woofs founding members initially saw a demonstration of canine freestyle dance during the late 90s at an Illinois dog show. Intrigued by it, they eventually formed Dancers with Woofs in 2005 with eight founding members.

Dancers with Woofs welcomes anyone interested in learning more about canine freestyle or the group to attend one of its free practices every Monday at For Pet’s Sake in Mukwonago, call Mary Ann Coutley at 262-684-5191 or visit the group’s website at www.dancerswithwoofs.com.

Daryl L. Skaradzinski and his wife Anne, who also has written articles for Fetch, share their home with three dogs. He's General Manager of the Milwaukee Post newspaper, and enjoys traveling, camping with their pets, hot, spicy foods with cold beers and all are avid Packers fans.